The two sage men stood silent there for a moment, sipping their peat-moss with a philosophical air. On the horizon, night-break sprayed its first wisps of daughter-red through the darkness. The sound of dogs at a distance meant the finding-party was ready to begin the finding.

Beowulf turned to Filchurk as one man who has seen much of this world, good and bad, will turn to another man who has seen much of this world, good and bad, on a grim Scandinavian morning.

"What do you think, Filchurk? Wergild-related?"

"The way things are these days," said Filchurk darkly, "I wouldn't doubt it. I wouldn't doubt it."