"It is upon me that all is not well." Now so urgent was the tone in which the Dane spoke that the priest went at once to the inner door and opened it very gently, and peered in.

Then he started forward suddenly and threw the door wide.
"Thanes!" he cried wildly, and we were at his side.
The room was empty.

There was naught but the bed in it, for even the great chair was gone.

Only where it had been there was a square patch of floor which was not covered with the sedges I had noted as so lavishly strown.

Nor was the king in the bed, whose coverings were unruffled.