So I put that away from me; I know naught of these two men but what I hear from witnesses." Some people at the end of the hall sought to praise the even handedness of that saying loudly, but the earl frowned and shouted: "Silence!--shall a judge be praised for doing right ?" "Then," said he, growing quiet again, and speaking plainly and slowly that all might hear, "this is how the matter stands.

Here are two men found fighting over the body of a third who is known, as men say, to have been friendly with both.

No man saw the beginning of the business.

Now we will hear what was seen, but first let this Wulfric speak for himself;" and he turned his bright eyes on me.
Now I told him all the truth from the time when I parted from Lodbrok until the men came.
Then the earl asked me: "Why thought you that Beorn slew the man ?" "Because there was no other man near, and because I know that he bore ill will towards him for the favour shown him by the king." "So," said Ulfkytel; "now let Beorn speak." Then that evil man, being very crafty, did not deny my words, but said that he had found the body lying with my arrow in its side.
And though he knew not why I had done the deed, for the sake of his friendship with my father and myself he would have hidden it, and even as he did so I came, falling on him.

Whereon he grew wroth, and fought.
"It seems to me," said the earl, "that a word from you should rather have made Wulfric help you and thank you; not fall on you.
Now let the witnesses say their say." So they stood forward, telling naught but the truth, as honest men.
And they seemed to think much of Beorn's having cried out for revenge.