_Alf_.--Great news abroad! _Brand_.--We know what has happened, and that Thorolf Bjarnason is dead. _Alf_.--'Dog-like on crushed bones he fed, Tan of bark his hide dyed red.'[A] [Footnote A: Alf's lines are to be understood, so that Thorolf lived like a beggar in his youth, eating crushed bones (of dried fish; the dried fish are beaten with a hammer so as to crush the bones and separate them from the meat), and gnawing the bark of trees. (H. Hermannsson.) The lines are from a stanza made by one Gudmund Asbjarnason on Thorolf Sturlunga, ch. 122.] _Broddi_.--Shame on you, Alf, to make mock at Thorolf, now he is dead. (_Enter from the right_ LADY HELGA, ASBJORN, _and_ SALVOR. HELGA _in traveling costume, with a veil with long white tassels. All present are greatly alarmed as they see her_.) _Brand_.--Lady Helga! Hail, cousin! _Helga_.--Hail to all of you! (_They bow to her_.) What are you about, here, kinsman Brand? _Brand_.--I am biding for better weather. But what may be the purpose of your journey? _Helga_.--I am on a voyage to inspect our building of ships. In the snowstorm I and Asbjorn lost our way; but a short while ago we saw a fire or a light and turned that way. Now we are come here. _Brand_.--How fares Kolbein, your husband? _Helga_.--Very eager you are now to succeed to him. (_Smiles_. THOROLF'S _men, weaponless, come running up and stop behind_.) You here! _First Man_.--They have slain Thorolf Bjarnason. His body lies here! _Helga_ (_grasps at her heart for a moment_).--Thorolf Bjarnason! Slain! _Second Man_.--But this moment they beheaded him. _Helga_.--Oh, pity that I came too late! (_Shoves_ ASBJORN _aside and fixes her eyes on those present_.) Who of you slew T-h-o-r-o-l-f? _Helgi Skaftason_ (_advances and dries his axe on the fringes of her veil; she smiles at him_).--Here you may see the blood of Thorolf, your friend, my lady. Me you have to thank for it that his locks are bloody. _Asbjorn_ (_pushing forth between them_).--You wretched knave! _Broddi_.--Shame upon you, Helgi Skaftason! _Helga_.--What business of yours is it? (_Smiling, to_ HELGI.) You may depend upon me for rewarding you for the precious stain you have put on my veil. Not just now. I shall find you later, Helgi Skaftason! _Alf_ (_to_ BRODDI).--She will bring a plague upon us all; let us draw a sack over her head.[A] [Footnote A: A measure taken against the influence of the 'evil eye' of witches.] _Broddi_.--I shall kill you, Alf! _Helga_ (_to_ BRAND).--Is it from our kinsmen at Oddi that you have learned how to keep an eternal truce, Brand, 'a truce which shall persist the while the earth lasts and men live'? _Brand_.--Lady! _Broddi_.--Brand Kolbeinsson had no part in Thorolf's execution. _Helga_ (_smiling_).--Then it is clear he has kept the eternal truce. Perhaps neither you had a part in it, Broddi? _Broddi_.--I shall not deny that I had, lady.