Let us take them to the earl for judgment." "Where is the earl ?" I asked.
"At Caistor," answered the man shortly, and I was glad that he was so near, for the matter would be quickly settled and I could go free.
"Unbind me, and I will go where you will," I said, but at that Beorn cried out.
"Loose him not, loose him not, I pray you!" "Tie their hands behind them and let us be gone," was the answer, and they did so, loosing my feet, and setting us on my horse and Lodbrok's.

And some of the men stayed behind with my serfs to make a litter on which to carry my friend's body, and follow us to Caistor.

So as I went I cried quickly to those two men of mine that they should go in all haste to Reedham and tell what had befallen me to our steward, who would know what to do.
"Reedham is too far for a rescue to reach you in time," said the leader of the earl's men grimly; "think not of it." "I meant not that, but to have witnesses to speak for me." "That is fair," said the man, after a little thought, "we will not hinder their going." Then they led us away, and presently reached that place where I had seen the broken arrow, and one picked it up, saying that here was surely the place where the deed was done, and that the arrow would maybe prove somewhat.

And I think that here Beorn had shot the jarl, for all around those other marks on the grass were the hoofmarks of the rearing and frightened horse, and there were many places where an archer might lie unseen in the thickets, after following us all day maybe, as Beorn must have done, thus to find fitting chance for his plan when we two were far apart.

And surely, had it not been for the dog, I think the fate of Lodbrok would have been unknown for many a long day, for but for him Beorn would have hidden his deed and ridden off before I had known aught.
Now, as the man handled the broken arrow, walking beside me, I saw it plainly, and knew it for one of my own, and one of four that I had lost at Thetford, though I did not know how.
At that I seemed to see all the plot, and my heart sank within me, for this Beorn was most crafty, and had planned well to throw doubt on me if things by ill chance fell out as they had, and so I rode in silence wondering what help should come, and whence.