Rolf stood still, silent and trembling.
"Take courage, my old friend!" cried Sintram.

"Whatever thou mayest have to tell is truth and light from thy faithful mouth." "My dear master," began the old man, "be not angry, but as to burying that strange warrior whom you slew, it is a thing impossible.

Would that we had never opened that wide hideous visor! For so horrible a countenance grinned at us from underneath it, so distorted by death, and with so hellish an expression, that we hardly kept our senses.

We could not by any possibility have touched him.

I would rather be sent to kill wolves and bears in the desert, and look on whilst fierce birds of prey feast on their carcases." All present shuddered, and were silent for a time, till Sintram nerved himself to say, "Dear, good old man, why use such wild words as I never till now heard thee utter?
But tell me, Jarl Eric, did your ally appear altogether so awful while he was yet alive ?" "Not as far as I know," answered Jarl Eric, looking inquiringly at his companions, who were standing around.