CHAPTER XX. OF ATLl's DREAMING.

NOW must we take up the tale of what they were about in the house at Otterdale : they slept in the store-house that night according to wont, and in the morning they were waked, because Atli in his sleep laboured so, that none of them might sleep because of it; for he tossed about and breathed heavily, and beat about with hand and foot in the bed ; till Torfi Valbrandson leapt up and woke him, saying that they might not sleep for him and his goings on. Then sat up Atli, stroking his bald head.

Howard asked if aught had been shown to him, and he said verily it was so : " Methought I went forth from the store-house, and I saw how wolves ran over the wold from the south eighteen in company, and before the wolves went a vixen fox, and so sly a creature as was that, saw I never erst ; exceeding ogre-like was it and evil ; it peered

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all about, and would have its eyes on everything", and right grimly methought all the beasts did look. But even as they were come to the stead Torfi woke me ; and well I wot that these are fetches of men ; so stand we up straightway."

Nor did Atli depart from his wont, but sprang up and cast his cape on him, and so out as swift as a bolt is shot, while they take their weapons and clothes and array themselves at their briskest ; and when they were well-nigh dight, cometh Atli back clad in a strong byrny, and with a drawn sword in his hand ; then spake Atli : " Most like it is that it falleth out now as many guessed it would, to wit, that it would avail not Steinthor my brotherin-law to find you a harbour here ; but I pray you to let me rule in what now lies before us ; and first it is my rede that we go out under the house- wall, and let them not gore us indoors ; as for fleeing away, I deem that hath not come into your heads/' And they say that so it shall be.