Then answered he from the poop, “I am Styrbiorn, whom men call the Swedes’ Champion, son of Olaf the Swede-King. And this is my host, and we be of the Swede-realm.”
Palnatoki asked what was their errand.
Styrbiorn answered, they would have guesting there.
“This is no guesthouse of Jomsburg,” answered Palnatoki. “And I and my mates be no lovers of guests nor guestings.”
Styrbiorn said, “To him of you that is Toki Palni’s son would I talk: to thee, with the nose like an eagle; or art not thou he?”
Palnatoki answered, “I am that man.”
“Ay, and ’tis a bird hath claws,” cried Bui.
“We be not come hither a-begging,” said Styrbiorn to Palnatoki. “Neither art thou and thine wont to beg whether fee or forbearance at other men’s hands, nor yet the more am I and mine. This is mine errand: to offer you my friendship, and be with you in Jomsburg, and sail with you a-viking.”
“He stuttereth,” said Bui, “like a pig at the trough.”
Palnatoki gazed at Styrbiorn a minute narrowly, as a skipper studieth a ship or a horseman a horse. Then said he, “We need no man’s friendship, nor no help of thine. I have heard tell of thee. Thou art not yet grown to man’s estate. What can’st thou do?”
“I have harried two summers eastaway,” answered Styrbiorn. “And afore that, I slew mine uncle’s outlaw, Lambi the White, that was a sea-king of great note. That was off Skaney-side last summer.”
Palnatoki asked whence they were come now.
He answered, “From guesting east in Holmgarth. And we harried summer-long in Biarmaland and Balagarth-Side. And not bootless came we thence.”
“If hence thou sailest, I think thou’lt leave that booty here,” said Bui.
Sigvaldi spake: “The ships be manned, Toki. ’Twere well an we rowed out forthright: take these conies, ere they take fright and up scut and away.”
Earl Wolf, that was by Styrbiorn on the poop, spake in his ear: “This is a rash folly, as I told thee. Seest not how they do lay their noses together in deliberation what to do? And ’tis not for our comfort nor furtherance.”
“Let be,” said Styrbiorn. And he called out on high to Palnatoki, “Take to us: you shall not find that in seeking friends you found table-guts to eat you and your meat. And you lack a man, I am for you.”
“Thou art a boy,” shouted Palnatoki then. “Come back in a year or twain, with a beard grown. Then I’ll talk to thee.” But for all his scornful words, he stood looking still on Styrbiorn long and narrowly, as if taken by somewhat in the face of him, or in the carriage and gait of him, or in the voice of his speech. Styrbiorn’s brow blackened at his words.
Bui let out a great laugh, and cried aloud and said, “Home with thee to thy mammy, crow-chick. If I have not more hair of my tail than thou of thy face, let me end my days in a stinking swine-sty as dry-nurse to the new-weaned yelts.”
“There be hand-smiters here as well as tongue-smiters,” said Styrbiorn.
“And I have a switch,” cried Bui, “for to smite thy backside withal.”
Palnatoki abode yet looking on him from the wall, above the lazy wash and lap of the sea-swell. And now he shouted again to him on the ship and said, “I have told thee I am no lover of guests nor guestings. But my redes are reckoned wholesome. And this is my rede to thee, to put up your helm and get you away from Jomsburg whiles ye may.”
For answer, Styrbiorn let wear his ship yet closer for easier speech with them on the wall. And now might they have yet clearer sight of him, and of the great growth and strength that was his and the fair and likely seeming of the man, the while he spake with Palnatoki. And this was the end of their talking, that Styrbiorn said he was not minded to turn away from Jomsburg, but if they thought him over young to be had into their law and fellowship, then let them try it out, since by handy-stripes at equal odds is a man best known. And for that, let them row out a long-ship against his with an even number of men to match those that were with him ashipboard: “And do thou, Palnatoki, or whoso amongst you is held for the best man-at-arms, come with that ship to fight with me and my ship. And if thou slay me, there is an end, and my men shall yield up all these chattels and gear that we have fetched from the East aboard our ships. But if I overcome thee and slay thee, then may the Jomsburgers with right and justice take me for captain in thy stead, seeing that I should have shown myself by that deed to be the better man. And these things shall first be made fast betwixt us by strong oaths unto Thor, in whom most of all the Gods I do put my trust. And if there be any other God in whom you of Jomsburg do put your trust more than in Thor, then shall your oaths be unto that God and unto Thor besides.” Styrbiorn made Earl Wolf his foster-father speak all this on his behalf, since he himself made but a poor hand at speeches.
Now they of Jomsburg spoke many of them against this at first; and most of all Sigvaldi, which was by nature from his youth up crooked of counsel and loved not direct and open dealings, but was as ready for all deceits and flimflams as an oyster for a fresh tide. But Palnatoki, when all was said, spake among them: “Either of two things have we here: that this is a young braggart, or else a wolf-cub after mine own heart. A true word is that, that ‘Upward runs the young man’s path.’ And that is another, ‘Look for a
