So Matelgar was in possession, and now would be confirmed in the same.  What mattered that to an outlaw?  But I could have borne anything better than to think of him sitting in my place as reward for his treachery.  This was evidence of weakness, however, in his case, that he should have tried to have me slain.

Now I had learnt all I needed, and more, in the one thing next my heart, than I hoped, if that were true—­for still I could not but doubt the faith of all.  Only one thing more I would ask, and that was if Matelgar bided in his own or my hall.  The man told me that he kept in his own place.

“Now,” said I, “I had a mind to leave you bound here for the wolves, but you shall take a message to your master.”

On that the man swore to do my bidding, or, if I would, to follow me.

“Save your oaths,” I said.  “I have heard a many today, and I hold them as nothing.  Take these cast rags of mine, and bear them back to your master.  Give them to him, and then say to him whatsoever you will—­ either that you have slain me and these are the tokens, but that Gurth was by me slain, and you must leave him and his arms here because of the wolves which you feared; or else you can tell him the truth, as it has happened, and see what he does to you.  I mind how he hung up a thrall of his by the thumbs once for two days.  He will surely take good care of one of two who were beaten by an unarmed man.  But I think the lie will come easiest to your master’s man.”

Thus spoke I bitterly, and cut the belt which bound the man’s arms, thinking all the while that he would never go back at all if he were wise.  But he said he would go back and tell the lie, and I laughed at him.

It was dusk now, and though I feared not the man, I would play with him yet a little longer in my bitterness.  So I bade him keep still, and stir not till I gave him leave.  His feet were yet bound, and he would need an edge-tool to loose that binding.  Telling him, then, that I would not run the chance of his falling on me from behind, I took his dagger and the seax they had given me, and stuck them in the ground a full hundred yards away, and then bade him, when I was out of sight, crawl thither as best he might and so loose himself.

The poor wretch was too glad to be spared to do aught but repeat that he would do my errand faithfully, and thank me; and, but for the sort of madness that was still on me, I must have been ashamed to torture him so.  I am sorry now as I think of it, and many a man who has well deserved punishment have I let go since that day, fearing lest that old cruelty should be on me again, perhaps.

Then I turned and walked away, and even as I passed the weapons, I heard the low howl of a wolf from the swamp to my right.  Far off it was, but at that sound the man cast himself on hands and knees and began to crawl in all haste to free himself.

Then I laughed again, and plunging deeper into the wood, lost sight of him.