You cannot ask any man to go in there.

_Sveinungi (to Jon)._

It would take you but a moment to bring out those few things. There's my tall chest-- you know where it stands-- and my old clock; you can unscrew it from the wall with your knife.

_Jon._

I am not going in there.

_Sveinungi._

Get drunk and brag-- that you know how to do, all of you. (_Starts into the ruins._)

_Jon._

Is master going in there?

_Sveinungi._

Do you think I will let my things be ruined, because you are a coward?

_Jon._

Then I will go with you. It's easier for two.

[_Sveinungi and Jon disappear from view._

_Jorunn._

No matter what happens to that man, he will never learn to bend. (_Goes to the ruins; looks in._) Can you see anything in there? Is it not too dark?

(_Silence._)

_Sveinungi and Jon appear, carrying the tall chest._

_Sveinungi._

Indridi and you, Helgi, come here and take it from us. Set it over there.

[_Sveinungi and Jon disappear again._

_Indridi (to Jorunn, as the men carry the chest out into the open)._

Can we leave it here?

_Jorunn._

Yes. (_She peers into the ruins again._)

_Enter Jakobina from the direction of the tent._

_Jakobina_ (_goes to Jorunn, lays her hand on Jorunn's shoulder_).

I must feel that you are indeed safe and sound. (_Stroking her arm._) When you went home, I was afraid that you would never come out of that house again. I thought your husband must be struck with blindness.

_Jorunn._

You don't know where Einar and Ljot have gone?

_Jakobina._

I saw Ljot going out on the _hraun_.

_Sveinungi and Jon appear, carrying the clock._

_Sveinungi._

You will have to be a little careful, the gla.s.s is broken. (_Steps out into the open. To Jon._) I dare say you have had enough of this.

_Jon._

I can't say it was any too cheerful in there.

_Sveinungi (to the men)._

You can carry the clock into the tent; the dampness here might be bad for it. And you, Bjrg, go and get a blanket to spread over the chest.

[_Exeunt Servants, Bjrn running, Indridi and Helgi carrying the clock, Jakobina following them._

_Jorunn._

You are lucky, Sveinungi, that you have not come to grief with your foolhardiness.

_Sveinungi._

It is nothing but my duty to care as best I can for what is mine. I have risked my life before in a good deal worse dangers than this. But I must send some one to look after the boy. He may have lost all the sheep.

Will you go, Jon?

_Jon._

I will.

_Sveinungi._

You had better drive the sheep home.

_Jorunn._

And if you should see Ljot and Einar, tell them to hurry.