about noon
`` A courteous and gallant man is Thorar , for a Jemtlander , '' said Helgi to Ketill , as they marched down to the town . `` Dogs and women are his people , '' replied Ketill . `` They are fit neither to be friends nor enemies . '' Estein liberated the prisoners they had taken on the march , and leaving Ketill in charge of the main force and the hostages , he and Helgi set forth about noon for the seat of King Bue . Their way at first took them over a flat , white waste by the shores of the lake . Estein fell back and let Helgi walk in front with Thorar ; behind those two marched the small band of wild , skin-coated followers of the lawman ; and after them came the mail-clad twenty , the shields which hung from their backs clanking now and again as they struck their harness . Last of all walked their leader .