I leaped at it, and cleared it fairly, felling a man on the other side as I did so.
Then I had Helmbiter in my hand, and I shouted, and stepped back to the narrow door of the dolmen, and there stood, while the wild men gathered in a ring and howled at me.

One ran and brought the long line that had noosed me before, but the stone doorway protected me from that; and one or two hurled spears at me, clumsily enough for me to ward them off.
So we stood and watched each other, and I thought they would make a rush on me.

Harek lay within sweep of my sword, and his weapon was nearer them than me, and one of them picked it up and went to plunge it in him.
Then I stepped out and cut that man down, and the rest huddled back a little at my onslaught.

Whereon I drew my comrade back to my feet, lest they should bring me out again and noose me.
As I did that, the one who seemed to be the chief leaped at me, club in air; but I was watching for him, and he too fell, and I shouted, to scare back the rest.
There was an answering shout, and Kolgrim, with the Berserker fury on him, was among the wild crowd from out of the darkness, and his great sword was cutting a way to my side.
Then they did not stay for my sword to be upon them also, but they fled yelling and terror stricken, seeming to melt into the mist.

In two minutes the firelit circle was quiet and deserted, save for those who had fallen; and my comrade and I stared in each other's faces in the firelight.
"Comrade," I cried in gladness, "I thought you were slain." "The good helm saved me," he answered; "but I came round in time.
What are these whom we have fought ?" I suppose the fury kept him up so far, for now I saw that his face was ashy pale, and his knees shook under him.
"Are you badly hurt ?" I asked.
"My head swims yet--that is all.