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56 Brynjulf looked at the beautiful woman and groaned aloud. He glanced around. No one near but the maidens spinning. Where could he look for help? For the peasant knew from the earl’s tyrannical temper that he would brook no opposition and that it was imperative to hide Aasa from the messengers of Haakon.

Even as the peasant planned, Kark, with a larger number of thralls entered the cottage.

“What means this?” demanded Brynjulf angrily, as the women rose in fright and prepared to fly.

“It means this, insolent hind: thy master, Jarl Haakon, asked thee fairly for thy wife, and sent thee full gold. Now he doth no longer ask thee, but commands thee to send him the woman, and if thou dost refuse, I will cut off thy head, and then we shall have small trouble to take her.”

Aasa listened in terror. She sprang to her husband’s side and clasped her arms around him.

“O slay me with thy own knife!” she wailed, “and let us die together; but send me not to the wicked earl.”

As she spoke, the thralls seized her and bound her hands. Brynjulf was thrown to the ground, and his hands and feet tied. Over him stood Kark with his knife drawn.

“Lie still, thou unruly hind, and I will not harm thee! If thou dost make an outcry, I will slay thee, and thy children then will have neither father nor