"It is a hard place maybe for us both, but there is only one way.

You must get back to the king, and I with you; for you have to answer for me, and my word is passed not to escape." Then Thora said: "The king is just, as all men know.

How should he slay you for what you cannot help ?" "Ay," he answered, smiling at her, "that is right." So she was satisfied, knowing nought perhaps of what the place of a hostage is.
So we started back to Chippenham quickly, and after us I heard Harek coming.

He had a led horse when he joined us, and I knew that none would take word to the Danish host that the king was warned.
When we came to the hilltop over which we had ridden so blithely an hour ago or less, we looked back, and at first saw nothing.

Then over the white brow of a rolling down that shone in the level sunlight came a black speck that grew and lengthened, sliding, as it were, like a snake down the hillside.