Tosto

``Yes,'' said Cedric, half speaking to himself, and half addressing himself to Athelstane, ``it was in this very hall that my father feasted with Torquil Wolfganger, when he entertained the valiant and unfortunate Harold, then advancing against the Norwegians, who had united themselves to the rebel Tosti. It was in this hall that Harold returned the magnanimous answer to the ambassador of his rebel brother.

``The envoy of Tosti,'' he said, ``moved up the hall, undismayed by the frowning countenances of all around him, until he made his obeisance before the throne of King Harold.

`` `What terms,' he said, `Lord King, hath thy brother Tosti to hope, if he should lay down his arms, and crave peace at thy hands?'

``The baffled envoy,'' continued Cedric, pursuing with animation his tale, though it interested not the listener, ``retreated, to carry to Tosti and his ally the ominous answer of his injured brother.

conflict, in which, after displaying the most undaunted valour, the King of Norway, and Tosti, both fell, with ten thousand of their bravest followers.

`` `But should Tosti accept these terms,' continued the envoy, ` what lands shall be assigned to his faithful ally, Hardrada, King of Norway?'