Why not go and ask Jarl Osmund himself--or follow the crowd and hinder no one with questions ?" He hurried on; but then some men began to question us about the doings off Swanage, and Kolgrim told them such tales that they shivered, and soon we had a crowd round us listening.

Nor did I like to hurry away, for I heard a man say that we were Northmen, by our voices.

But there were plenty of our folk among the Danes.
Then came a patrol of horsemen down the street, and they bade the loiterers hurry.

I drew Kolgrim into an open doorway, and stood there till they passed, hearing them rate their fellows for delay.
"Wareham will be empty tomorrow," I said.

"Now we can go; we have learned enough." Still I would see more, for there seemed no danger.