But he came not; and I wondered if he too were taken, or if he had turned craven and had fled, a thought that I put from me as sorely wronging the brave scald; and then wondered how long it would take him to reach the nearest outpost of our men and come to rescue us.
But now one was hammering flint on steel and making a fire in haste that he might see who they had caught.

And when it blazed up I saw that the men were Danes.

No doubt they were strangers to the place, men who had wandered here from the Leavenheath woods after the battle; for no Dane who came from close at hand would have dared to shelter in this place.

There were fourteen of them in all.
"Ho," said one who seemed to take the lead, "we have trapped some gay birds.

Now, who might you be ?" He spoke to Olaf, who answered nothing.