sharp　iron　prow；　formed　for　running　down　a　hostile　boat。
  Some　of　them　were　of　great　length；　with　seats　for　twenty
  rowers　on　either　side；　while　all　were　provided　with　sails　as
  well　as　oars。　When　the　hour　for　dinner　approached　he　returned
  to　Siegbert's　tent。　The　jarl　had　not　yet　come　back　from
  the　council。　When　he　did　so　Edmund　perceived　at　once　that　he
  was　flushed　and　angry。
  〃What　has　disturbed　you；　father？〃　Freda　asked；　as　on
  hearing　his　voice　she　entered　the　tent。　〃Has　aught　gone　wrong
  at　the　council？〃
  〃Yes；〃　the　jarl　replied；　〃much　has　gone　wrong。　Bijorn
  and　I　had　not　concluded　our　bargain　when　we　went　to　the
  council。　We　had；　indeed；　no　difficulty　about　the　terms；　but
  we　had　not　clasped　hands　over　them；　as　I　was　going　back　to
  his　tent　after　the　council　was　over。　At　the　council　the
  expedition　against　France　was　discussed；　and　it　was　proposed
  that　we　should　consult　the　gods　as　to　the　chances　of　the
  adventure。　Then　the　Jarl　Eric　rose　and　proposed　that　it　should　be
  done　in　the　usual　way　by　a　conflict　between　a　Dane　and　a
  captive。　This　was　of　course　agreed　to。
  〃He　then　said　that　he　understood　that　there　was　in　the
  camp　a　young　Saxon　of　distinguished　valour；　and　that　he
  proposed　that　Sweyn；　the　son　of　Bijorn；　should　fight　with
  him。　Sweyn　had　expressed　to　him　his　willingness　to　do　so
  should　the　council　agree。　I　rose　at　once　and　said　that　the
  Saxon　was　no　longer　a　captive；　since　I　had　ransomed　him
  because　he　had　once　done　me　a　service；　but　upon　being
  pressed　I　was　forced　to　admit　that　the　bargain　had　not　been
  concluded。　I　must　acquit　Bijorn　of　any　share　in　the　matter；
  for　it　came　upon　him　as　much　by　surprise　as　it　did　upon　me。
  It　seems　that　it　is　all　Sweyn's　doing。　He　must　have　taken　the
  step　as　having　a　private　grudge　against　you。　Have　you　had
  any　quarrel　with　him？〃
  〃No；〃　Edmund　replied。　〃He　has　ever　shown　himself
  haughty　and　domineering；　but　we　have　come　to　no　quarrel。〃
  〃At　any　rate　he　wants　to　kill　you；〃　Siegbert　said。　〃I　did
  my　best　to　prevent　it；　pointing　out　that　the　combat　ought　to
  take　place　between　a　Frank　and　a　Dane。　However；　the
  Northmen　are　always　glad　to　see　a　good　fight；　and　having
  satisfied　themselves　that　in　point　of　age　and　strength　you
  were　not　unfairly　matched；　they　decided　that　the　conflict
  should　take　place。　He　is　taller；　and　I　think　somewhat　stronger
  than　you；　and　has　proved　himself　a　valiant　fighter；　and　I
  would　give　much　if　the　combat　could　be　avoided。〃
  〃I　fear　him　not；〃　Edmund　said　quietly；　〃though　I　would
  fain　that　this　could　be　avoided。　Had　I　met　Sweyn　upon　a
  battle…field　in　England　I　would　have　slain　him　as　a　natural
  enemy；　but　to　fight　him　in　cold　blood；　either　as　a　matter　of
  augury　or　to　furnish　amusement　for　the　assembly；　likes　me
  not。　However；　I　must　of　course　defend　myself；　and　if　harm
  comes　to　him　it　is　no　blame　of　mine。〃
  〃You　will　have　no　easy　victory；　I　can　tell　you；〃　Siegbert
  said；　〃for　none　among　our　young　Danes　bears　a　higher
  reputation。〃
  〃But　after　the　combat　is　over　how　shall　I　stand？〃　Edmund
  asked；　〃for　if　I　defeat　or　slay　Sweyn　I　shall　still　be　his
  father's　slave。〃
  〃That　will　you　not；〃　Siegbert　replied。　〃In　these　cases　the
  captive　if　victorious　is　always　restored　to　liberty；　but　at　any
  rate　you　shall　fight　as　a　free　man；　for　when　I　have　finished
  my　dinner　I　will　go　to　Bijorn　and　conclude　our　bargain。　Do
  not　look　so　cast　down；　Freda；　a　Northman's　daughter　must
  not　turn　pale　at　the　thought　of　a　conflict。　Sweyn　is　the　son
  of　my　old　friend；　and　was；　before　he　took　to　arms；　your
  playfellow；　and　since　then　has；　methought；　been　anxious　to　gain
  your　favour；　though　all　too　young　yet　for　thinking　of　taking　a
  wife；　but　never　mind；　there　are　as　good　as　he　to　be　found；
  and　if　our　young　Saxon　here　proves　his　conqueror　other
  suitors　will　come；　never　fear。〃
  Freda　was　silent；　but　her　face　flushed　painfully；　and
  Edmund　saw　the　tears　falling　down　her　cneeks　as　she　bent
  over　her　plate。
  After　the　meal　was　over　Siegbert　again　went　out；　and
  Edmund；　approaching　Freda；　said；　〃Do　not　fret；　Freda；　if　it
  should　be　that　I　find　my　skill　in　arms　greater　than　that　of
  Sweyn；　I　promise　you　that　for　your　sake　I　will　not　wound　him
  mortally。〃
  〃I　care　not；〃　the　girl　said　passionately；　〃spare　him　not
  for　my　sake；　for　I　hate　him；　and　were　there　no　other　Norseman
  in　the　world　I　would　never　be　wife　of　his。〃
  So　saying　she　left　the　tent。　Edmund　now　regretted　the
  chance　which　had　assigned　him　to　Siegbert；　for　he　would
  rather　have　taken　his　chance　of　escape　by　sea　than　have
  awaited　the　conflict　with　Sweyn。　But　he　could　not　carry　his
  plan　of　escape　into　effect　now；　for　it　would　seem　as　if　he　had
  fled　the　conflict。　That　this　would　be　a　desperate　one　he　did
  not　doubt。　The　course　which　Sweyn　had　taken　showed　a
  bitter　feeling　of　hatred　against　him；　and　even　were　it　not　so
  the　young　Northman　would；　fighting　in　the　presence　of　the
  leaders　of　his　nation；　assuredly　do　his　best　to　conquer。　But
  Edmund　had　already　tried　his　strength　with　older　and　more
  powerful　men　than　his　adversary　and　had　little　fear　of　results。
  The　news　of　the　approaching　conflict　caused　considerable
  excitement　in　the　Danish　camp；　and　Edmund's　figure
  was　narrowly　scrutinized　as　he　wandered　through　it。　All　who
  had　been　engaged　in　the　war　in　Wessex　had　heard　of　Edmund；
  and　there　was　no　slight　curiosity；　when　the　news　went　abroad
  that　the　Saxon　leader　was　a　captive　in　the　camp；　to　see　what
  he　was　like。
  At　first　when　it　was　bruited　abroad　that　Sweyn；　the　son
  of　Jarl　Bijorn；　was　to　fight　this　noted　Saxon　champion　the
  idea　was　that　the　enterprise　was　a　rash　one；　strong　and
  valiant　as　Sweyn　was　known　to　be　for　a　young　man；　but　when　it
  was　seen　that　Edmund　was　no　older　than　he；　and　to　the　eye
  less　strong　and　powerful；　they　felt　confident　in　the　power　of
  their　champion　to　overcome　him。
  Siegbert　spared　no　pains　to　see　that　his　guest　had　an
  even　equal　chance。　He　procured　for　him　a　strong　and　well…made
  helmet　which　fitted　him　comfortably；　and　gave　him
  the　choice　out　of　a　large　number　of　shields　and　swords。
  Edmund　selected　a　weapon　which　answered　nearly　in　weight
  and　balance　that　which　he　was　accustomed　to　wield。　There
  was　feasting　again　that　night　in　Siegbert's　tent；　but　he　did
  not　allow　Edmund　to　join　in　it；　insisting　after　the　meal　was
  over　that　he　should　retire　to　a　small　hut　hard　by。
  〃You　will　want　your　head　and　your　nerves　in　good　order
  to…morrow；〃　he　said。　〃Feasting　is　good　in　its　way；　and　the
  night　before　battle　I　always　drink　deeply；　but　for　a　single
  combat　it　were　best　to　be　prudent。〃　As　Edmund　left　the　tent
  Freda；　who　had　not　appeared　at　dinner；　came　up　to　him。
  〃I　have　been　crying　all　day；〃　she　said　simply。　〃I　know
  not　why；　for　I　have　often　seen　my　father　go　out　to　battle
  without　a　tear。　I　think　you　must　have　upset　me　with　your　talk
  this　morning。　I　hope　that　you　will　win；　because　it　was　wrong　and
  unfair　of　Sweyn　to　force　this　battle　upon　you；　and　I　hate　him
  for　it！　I　shall　pray　Odin　to　give　you　victory。　You　don't　believe
  in　him；　I　know；　still　my　prayers　can　do　you　no　harm。〃
  〃Thank　you；〃　Edmund　said。　〃I　shall　pray　to　One　greater
  and　better　than　Odin。　But　weep　not　any　longer；　for　I　trust
  neither　of　us　will　be　killed。　I　shall　do　my　best　to　guard　myself；
  and　shall　try　not　to　slay　him；　for　this　fight　is　not　for　my
  nation　or　for　my　religion；　but　concerns　myself　only。〃
  The　following　morning　the　Northmen　assembled。　The
  jarls　and　other　leading　men　formed　the　inner　line　of　a　circle
  some　thirty　yards　in　diameter；　the　others　stood　without；　Jarl
  Eric　entered　the　ring　with　Sweyn；　while　Edmund；　accompanied
  by　Siegbert；　entered　at　the　other　side　of　the　circle。
  〃I　protest；〃　Siegbert　cried　in　a　loud　voice；　〃against　this
  conflict　taking　place。　Edmund　the　Saxon　is　no　captive　here；
  but　a　free　man；　and　my　guest；　moreover；　being　a　Saxon；　the
  issue　of　this　fight　between　him　and　a　Northman　can　serve　no
  purpose　as　an　augury　as　to　the　success　of　our　expedition
  against　the　Franks。　Therefore　do　I　protest　against
  the　conflict。〃
  There　was　again　a　consultation　between　the　leaders；　for
  a　murmur　of　approbation　had　run　round　the　ranks　of　the
  spectators；　who　it　was　evident　were　impressed　in　favour　of
  the　young　Saxon；　and　considered　that　the　jarl's　words　were
  just　and　reasonable。　Eric　spoke　for　a　minute　with　Sweyn。
  〃I　feel；〃　he　said　in　a　loud　voice；　〃that　what　Jarl　Siegbert
  says　is　reasonable；　that　no　augury　can　be　drawn　from　the
  fight；　and　that；　since　Edmund　is　no　longer　a　captive；　and　a
  friend　of　Siegbert's；　he　cannot　be　forced　into　fighting　in
  order　that　we　may　have　an　augury。　But　the　Saxon；　though　so
  young；　has　won　a　reputation　even　among　us；　the　enemies　of
  his　race；　and　my　friend　Sweyn；　who　has　shown　himself　one　of
  the　bravest　of　our　young　men；　considers　that　he　has　cause　of
  quarrel　with　him；　and　challenges　him　to　fightnot　necessarily
  to　the　death；　or　till　one　is　slain；　but　till　the　jarls　here
  assembled　do　pronounce　one　or　the　other　to　be　the　victor。
  This　is　a　fair　challengefirst；　there　is　a　private　quarrel；
  next；　there　is　emulation　between　these　young　men；　who　may
  fairly　claim　to　be　the　champions　of　the　youth　of　the　two　races。
  Such　a　challenge　the　Saxon　will　hardly　refuse。〃
  In　accordance　with　the　customs　of　the　d