Then we were alone, and while I set Arngeir's weapons in a corner, my
father put down the sack, and stood looking at it. It seemed to sway a
little, and to toss as it settled down. And now that there was light it
was plain that the shape of what was inside it was strangely like that
of a child, doubled up with knees to chin, as it showed through the sacking.
"Hodulf or no Hodulf," said my father, "I am going to see more of this."
With that he took a knife from the table and cut the cord that fastened
the mouth, turning back the sack quickly.
And lo! gagged and bound hand and foot in such wise that he could not
move, in the sack was a wondrously handsome boy of about the size of
Withelm; and for all his terrible journey across the king's saddle, and
in spite of our rough handling, his eyes were bright and fearless as he
looked up at us.
"Radbard," said my father, "what if Hodulf had met with a thrall who had
done his bidding in truth?"
I would not think thereof, for surely by this time there had been no
light in the eyes that seemed to me to be grateful to us.
Now my father knelt down by the boy's side, and began to take the
lashings from him, telling him at the same time to be silent when the
gag was gone.
And hard work enough the poor child had to keep himself from screaming
when his limbs were loosed, so cramped was he, for he had been bound
almost into a ball.
Pages:
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43