s if they had arrived upon some fence or palpable obstruction。 Our party halted at this place； and looked about in this direction and that。 There was no wind； and no sounds were here； not the sound of birds or of any living animal； but only silence。
Buliwyf said； 〃Here begins the land of the wendol；〃 and the warriors patted their steeds upon the necks to fort them； for the horses were skittish and nervous in this region。 So also were the riders。 Buliwyf kept his lips tight； Ecthgow's hands trembled as he held the reins of his horse； Herger was gone quite pale； and his eyes darted to this way and that； so also the others in their way。
The Northmen say； 〃Fear has a white mouth；〃 and now I saw that this is true； for they were all pale around the lips and mouth。 No man spoke of his fear。
Now we left the dogs behind； and rode onward into more snow； which was thin and crunching underfoot； and into thicker mists。 No man spoke； save to the horses。 At each step these beasts were more difficult to prod onward； the warriors were obliged to urge them with soft words and sharp kicks。 Soon we saw shadowy forms in the mist ahead of us； which we approached with caution。 Now I saw with my own eyes this： on either side of the path； mounted high on stout poles； were the skulls of enormous beasts； their jaws opened in a posture of attack。 We continued； and I saw these were the skulls of giant bears； which the wendol worship。 Herger said to me that the bear skulls protect the borders of the land of the wendol。
Now we sighted another obstacle； gray and distant and large。 Here was a giant rock； as high as a horse's saddle； and it was carved in the shape of a pregnant woman； with bulging belly and breasts； and no head or arms or legs。 This rock was spattered with the blood of some sacrifices； verily it dripped with streaks of red； and was gruesome to look upon。
No man spoke of what was observed。 We rode on apace。 The warriors drew out their swords and held them in readiness。 Now here is a quality to the Northmen： that previously they showed fear； but having entered into the land of the wendol； close to the source of the fear； their own apprehensions disappeared。 Thus do they seem to do all things backward； and in perplexing manner； for verily they now appeared at ease。 It was only the horses that were ever more difficult to prod onward。
I smelled； now； the rotting…carcass odor that I had smelled before in the great hall of Rothgar； and as it reached my nostrils anew； I was faint of heart。 Herger rode alongside me and said in a soft voice； 〃How do you fare？〃
Not being capable of concealing my emotions； I said to him； 〃I am afraid。〃
Herger replied to me： 〃That is because you think upon what is to e； and imagine fearsome things that would stop the blood of any man。 Do not think ahead； and be cheerful by knowing that no man lives forever。〃
I saw the truth of his words。 〃In my society；〃 I said； 〃we have a saying which is： 'Thank Allah； for in his wisdom he put death at the end of life； and not at the beginning。' 〃
Herger smiled at this； and laughed briefly。 〃In fear； even Arabs speak the truth；〃 he said； and then rode forward to tell my words to Buliwyf； who also laughed。 The warriors of Buliwyf were glad for a joke at that time。
Now we came to a hill and； reaching the crest； paused and looked down upon the encampment of the wendol。 Here is how it lay before us； as I saw with my own eyes： there was a valley； and in the valley a circle of rude huts of mud and straw； of poor construction as a child might erect； and in the center of the circle a large fire； now smoldering。 Yet there were no horses； no animals； no movement； no sign of life of any kind； and this we saw through the shifting gauze of the mist。
Buliwyf dismounted his steed； and the warriors did likewise； myself among them。 In truth； my heart pounded and I was short of breath as I looked down at the savage encampment of the demons。 We spoke in whispers。 〃Why is there no activity？〃 I inquired。
〃The wendol are creatures of the night even as owls or bats； Herger replied； 〃and they sleep during the hours of the day。 So are they sleeping now； and we shall descend into their pany； and fall upon them； and slay them in their dreams。〃
〃We are so few；〃 I said； for there were many huts below which I perceived。
〃We are enough；〃 Herger said； and then he gave me a draught of mead； which I drank gratefully； with praise to Allah that it is not forbidden； or even disapproved of。34 In truth； I was finding my tongue hospitable to this very substance I once thought vile； thus do strange things cease to be strange upon repetition。 In like fashion； I no longer attended the hideous stench of the wendol； for I had been smelling it a goodly time and I no longer was aware of the odor。
The North people are most peculiar in the matter of smelling。 They are not clean； as I have said； and they eat all manner of evil food and drink； and yet it is true that they value the nose above all parts of the body。 In battle； the loss of an ear is no great matter； the loss of a finger or toe or a hand little more； and such scars and injuries they bear indifferently。 But the loss of a nose they count equal to death itself； and this even to the loss of a piece of the fleshy tip； which other people would say is a most minor injury。
The breaking of the bones of the nose； through battle and blows； is no matter； many of them have crooked noses for that cause。 I do not know the reason for this fear of cutting the nose。35
Fortified； the warriors of Buliwyf and I among them left our steeds upon the hill； but these animals could not go unattended； so affrighted were they。 One of our party was to remain with them； and I had hopes to be selected to this task； yet it was Haltaf； he being already injured and of least use。 Thus we others warily descended the hill among the sickly scrub and dying bushes down the slope to the encampment of the wendol。 We moved in stealth； and no alarm was raised； and soon we were in the very heart of the village of the demons。
Buliwyf never spoke； but gave all directions and orders with his hands。 And from him I took the meaning that we were to go in groups of two warriors； each pair in a different direction。 Herger and I were to attack the nearest of the mud huts； and the others were to attack others。 All waited until the groups were stationed outside the huts； and then； with a howl； Buliwyf raised his great sword Runding and led the attack。
I dashed with Herger into one of the huts； blood pounding in my head； my sword light as a feather in my hands。 Verily I was ready for the mightiest battle of my life。 I saw nothing inside； the but was deserted and barren as well； save for rude beds of straw； so clumsy in their appearance they seemed more to resemble nests of some animal。
We dashed outside； and attacked the next of these mud huts。 Again we found it empty。 Verily； all the huts were empty； and the warriors of Buliwyf were sorely vexed and stared one to the next with expression of surprise and astonishment。
Then Ecthgow called to us； and we gathered at one of these huts； larger than any of the others。 And here I saw that it was deserted as they were all deserted； but the interior was not barren。 Rather； the floor of the hut was littered with fragile bones； which crunched underfoot like the bones of birds； delicate and frail。 I was much surprised at this； and stooped to see the nature of these bones。 With a shock； I saw the curved line of an eye socket here； and a few teeth there。 Verily we stood upon a carpet of the bones of human faces； and for further proofs of this ghastly truth； piled high upon one wall of the hut were the head portions of the human skulls； stacked inverted like so many pottery bowls； but glistening white。 I was sick； and departed the hut to purge myself。 Herger said to me that the wendol eat the brains of their victims； as a human person might eat eggs or cheese。 This is their custom； vile as it is to contemplate such a matter； yet it is true。
Now another of the warriors called to us； and we entered another hut。 Here I saw this： the but was bare； except for a large throne…like chair； carved of a single piece of enormous wood。 This chair ha