The courtmen were looking at him now, and her name was passing among them in undertones.

It was in Arnkel's power to make the best of the return if he would.
"Friends," said Gerda, "yonder man sent me to what he deemed my death in the ship which bore Thorwald to sea.

Will you welcome me back, if he will not ?" Then there was a great shout from the men who loved her, and I thought that all was well.

But suddenly that shout stilled, for Arnkel's voice came loud over it all.
"Hold, you fools," he cried.

"Look at yon armed men.