"That thou shalt not," answered Wulnoth quickly. And the other laughed and asked him why he should not. "Because I am Wulnoth," replied he, "and because I go to seek Guthred the Prince, and to bring him here to reign in his father's halls once more." "That thou shalt not," answered the other. "It seems to me, nameless one who callest thyself Wulnoth, that there is not room for us twain in the world, and that one of us must conquer the other. Therefore cast aside thy club and come holmgang with me. Yea, here in the place of desolation, with no arms but our strength, will we fight until one shall overcome the other." "I am well content," replied Wulnoth, and he cast aside the club. "Let it be as thou sayest, thou who callest thyself Wulnoth and who speakest a lie." "Deeds, not words, thou man with a woman's tongue," growled the other; and then they faced each other, and gripped, and swayed, and strained, while the black ashes and the gray dust of the ruins of Lethra rose in clouds about them. Now Wulnoth was strong, and he thought within himself that after his wrestling with Osth the giant, and his conquering of the bear, this would be but an easy matter, but to his surprise he found that the stranger was strong as he, and knew every one of his tricks, and could match him in every way, so that Wulnoth, strive as he might, could gain no victory. All the day they fought, until the evening shadows crept from the cloudland, and then they paused, and flung themselves panting on the ground, and the stranger laughed and said-- "Well wrestled, Wanderer. Thou hast tried, but thou canst not succeed, and when the day dawns we will fight again, and I shall conquer thee, and then I will either slay thee or make thee my thrall, and thou shalt know that I am Wulnoth, Cerdic's son." "Though you conquer and slay me," answered Wulnoth, "that will I not know. You may be warlock or mountain troll who has stolen my shape and who uses magic against me, but Wulnoth, the son of Cerdic, you are not." "Tarry till the morning and I will prove it," said the other. But Wulnoth answered-- "Nay, why should we tarry; by night as by day can we fight. Come, prove it now." "I am hungry and weary, and desire to quaff from the wine horn," the other replied. "Let us do that first and fight afterwards." "Not so," answered Wulnoth. "We will make an end of this matter, and that at once." "Now, evil seize thee," growled the other. "For this I will surely slay thee. Yet fight, if it is in thy mind to do so." So they gripped again, and wrestled, and strove, yet still Wulnoth could gain no victory; and as the night deepened, it seemed that the other grew the stronger, so that he cast Wulnoth to the earth and laughed and said-- "I conquer! I conquer, Wanderer, and bitter shall be the drink in which you pledge me. Now cry for mercy." "I cry for no mercy," answered Wulnoth, speaking short and hoarse. "Come, let us make an end of this."