Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-04

idle play at fencing with her brother would
bear her out; she provided as many loop
holes as she could devise. Il think you will
find my skill slight. 1 have-I have grown
so fast that l lack strength in my arms.
And l have not exercised as much as
should have DONE"
1T is in my mind that you have been a
lazy cub" the warrior pronounced deliber-
ate sentence as he set down his goblet. 1T
is easily seen that Erode has been over
gentle with you But you will pay now for
your laziness by receiving a cut each time
pass your guard Stand forth and show
what your skill is worth. This sword will
not be too heavy" Selecting the smallest
of the jeweled blades upon the floor. he
thrust 1t into her hands.
1t is good to have in ones veins the LIQUID
fire of the north, blood to which the pres
ence of peril is like the touch of the ice
King to water. At the first clash of the
blades strange. tingling fires began to flash
through Randalin-and then a hardness
that burnt while it froze The first pass her
hands had parted seemingly by their own
instinct: now she flung back her tumbIing
curis and proceeded to give those hands the
aid OF her eyes. They were marvelousIv
quick eyes; for Fridtjofs thrusts. consult
ing no rule but his own will, had required
lightning to follow them and something like
m1ind-reading to anticipate them. Three
times her blade met Rothpar's soua reIv
and deity turned it aside. The big warrior
gave grunt Of approval and tried a more
complicated pass. Her backward leap. the
sudden doubling of her body and the ex-
cited ciaWing of her free hand, were not
gracefui workmanship, certainly, but her
steel was in the right place. The next in
slant she even drew little clink from one
OF the Jotun's silver buttons
AS she was recovering herself she felt
something like pin prick her wrist: and
she wondered vaguely what brooch had be-
come unfastened. But she gave 1t scant at
tentton, for the big blade was threatening
her from new direction. She leaped TO
meet II, and for the next minute was kept
turning. twisting, lodging. till her breath
began to come In gasps. and her exhausted
hand to relax its hold. Her weapon was
almost falling from 1t by the time the son
OF Lodbrok lowered his point Initiating
him. she stood leaning on her sword. MAX
Ing futile gasps after her lost breath.
A grin slowly wrinkled his face as he
watched her. TT appears that one who is
no bigger around than willow twig may
be capable of a berserk rage" he said. do
you not feel 1t that you are wounded?''
Following his eyes down to her hand, she
found blood trfckling from her sleeve. oh.
ana pain! Now that she had wakened to
ft-pain! prfcking. singing, stabbing. Drop
ping her sword, she caught at her wrist
How did it happenf I thought pin had
pricked me!''
Roaring with laughter, he caught her un-
der the arms and tossed her in the air.
"A pin!' he shouted. "A pint That IL
Erode himselfi A beard on your chin. and
you also will be q feeder of wolvest For
that you shall have share In the battle.
I swear It by the hilt OF the Hanger"
For tho moment, the girl forgot her
wound and hung limp in the great hands
This bAttle? she gasped I'll nghtr