_Salvor_.--Holy mother of God! Why are the people to suffer all that misery and affliction! Have there not been enough maimings and killings in the Westfirths? Be mindful, Thorolf, that you, too, may be taken captive and your bright coat of mail get a red collar. _Thorolf_.--Often have I thought of it. But he who lets himself be kept back by such thoughts had better never venture into danger. _Helga_.--Go now, Salvor, and attend to the patient! (_Exit_ SALVOR.) The life of my husband is in great danger! _Thorolf_. (_coming close to her_).--And shall I then become the Lord of Eyafirth? _Helga_ (_motioning him away_).--Kolbein the Young still lives. Whilst he is living the disposition of the dominions remains his matter. It may well be, though, that I succeed in making him give you Eyafirth, and then more people from here would settle there than are there now. Then I shall foster up young Kalf, the son of Brand, because he will inherit Skagafirth from his father; and while he is young, and I gain influence over him, it may happen that the men of Skagafirth and Eyafirth would work in unison in all undertakings, and rule the entire country alone. _Thorolf_.--Certainly! Certainly! _Helga_.--Swear allegiance to me, Thorolf! _Thorolf_.--I have ever been faithful to you. _Helga_.--Will you be obedient to me, Thorolf? _Thorolf_.--Yes, gladly (_kisses her hand_), now as always before. _Helga_ (_gently_).--You have always been true to me, and that shall be rewarded as soon as ever I can. (_Enter_ BRAND KOLBEINSSON, BRODDI, DEACON SIGURD, EINAR THE RICH, ALF, HELGI SKAFTASON, _together with six others_.) _Brand_.--Hail, lady! _Helga_.--Hail, my nephew! Hail, all of you! My husband has been expecting you with impatience. _Einar_ (_aside_).--Now we shall see how sick a man Kolbein is. _Helga_.--We pray you all to say the least possible about the infirmity of my husband; I have no more than sixty armed men about me. _Broddi_.--And who is their leader? _Helga_.--Thorolf Bjarnason, Asbjorn Illugason, and Haf Bjarnason. _Broddi_.--And Thorolf Bjarnason remains here? _Thorolf_.--First I shall return to my estate to give orders as to my affairs. _Helga_ (_aside to_ THOROLF).--You speak incautiously, to tell them where you mean to go. I read your death in their eyes. _Alf_.--You will not refuse me to keep you company on the way home? _Thorolf_.--No; I care not to have your company, you insolent fool! _Helga_.--You will remain here with us, Thorolf, on account of the infirmity of my husband and our defencelessness otherwise; you can send some one else to arrange matters on your estate. (LADY HELGA _and those about her exeunt by door_. BRODDI, ALF, _and_ EINAR THE RICH _remain behind in the foreground_.) _Broddi_.--Lady Helga has become suspicious of us. _Einar_.--Sharp are the eyes of my Lady Helga whenever Thorolf is concerned. _Alf_.--He has slipped from our grasp, the hellhound!