It is just the old earth shaking herself after a sleep." The man's face cleared, and he shrank back with a low bow, frightened at his own boldness.

All seemed to have found their tongues again, and were telling how the matter had seemed to them without waiting to know whether they were listened to.
"No hurry," said Sighard; "the king cannot keep up that pace, and anywise will have to wait the pack-horse train somewhere.

Let us see all well first." Maybe we waited for half an hour after that, for the ladies were sorely frightened.

We had the horses walked to and fro for a while, and presently they were themselves again.

And there came no more trembling of the ground, while the clouds grew blacker, and a short, sharp thunderstorm swept over us.