"
Stamping with rage, the Jotun hammered his huge fist upon a tree-trunk until
bark flew in every direction. "King, I will give you every ring off my hand if
you will give me leave to strangle her!"
"You remind me that I will take one of your rings now," Canute said, reaching
out and opening the mallet-like fist that he might make his choice. Then, as
he fitted on his prize and held it critically to the light, he added with more
sympathy: "I will arrange for you a more profitable revenge than that. I will
make a condition with Edmund that the Etheling's odal shall not be included in
the land which is peace-holy, and that to ravage it shall not be looked upon
as breaking the truce. Then can you betake yourself thither and sit down with
your following, and have no one but yourself to blame if you fail a second
time. Only,"--he thrust his knuckles suddenly between the other's ribs,--
"only, before we get serious over it, do at least give one laugh. Though she
be Ran herself, the maiden has played an excellent joke upon you."
"I do not see how you make out that it is all upon me," Rothgar said sulkily.
"It did not appear that you got suspicious in any way, until I told you myself
what she talked like. You did not have the appearance of choking much on her
stories."
The King seemed all at once to recover his dignity. "I will not deny that," he
said gravely; "and have I not said that I expect to be angry about it
presently? Certainly I do not think she has treated me with much respect.
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