"Hold hard, friends!" he called, as the men came up and halted before
him; "what is all this?"
"Stand aside and let us get at them," said the foremost, panting.
"Nay," said Biorn; "what harm have they done?"
"Slain a dozen men and lamed twice as many more," answered several
voices; "have them forth straightway."
"They were attacked, and defended themselves," said the sheriff, "and it
is no fault of theirs that they had to do their best. Get you home, and
I will answer to the jarl for them. They are the jarl's guests."
Then was a howl that was strange, and with it voices which seemed to let
some light on the matter.
"They have slain the jarl's guests."
And then came forward a big black-bearded man whom I had seen in the
crowd already, and he squared up to Biorn.
"Lies are no good, master sheriff, for we know that the outlanders who
spoke the strange tongue must be the guests who came."
"I am no liar," answered Biorn. "Is there not one man here who saw the
ship and her folk this afternoon?"
Now this man seemed not to want that question answered, for he shouted
to the crowd not to waste time in wrangling, but to have out the
murderers; and he took a step towards Biorn, bidding him side no more
with the men, but let the folk deal with them.
"You overdo your business as sheriff!" he said.
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