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reath from the running dogs； and we pressed onward still。 After some travel until the middle period of the day； we arrived at a new landscape。 Here was a brackish tarn； no moor； or heath…a desolate land； most resembling a desert； yet not sandy and dry； but damp and soggy； and over this land lay the faintest wisps of mist。 The Northmen call this place the desert of dread。33
Now I saw with my own eyes that this mist lay upon the land in small pockets or clusterings； like tiny clouds seated upon the earth。 In one area； the air is clear； then in another place there are small mists that hang near the ground； rising to the height of a horse's knees； and in such a place we would lose sight of the dogs； who were enveloped in these mists。 Then； a moment later； the mist would clear； and we would be in another open space again。 Such was the landscape of the heath。
I found this sight remarkable； but the Northmen took it to be nothing special； they said the land in this region has many brackish pools and bubbling hot springs； which rise from rents in the ground； in these places； a small fog collects； and remains there all the day and night。 They call this the place of steaming lakes。
The land is difficult for horses； and we made slower progress。 The dogs also ventured more slowly； and I noted that they barked less vigorously。 Soon our pany had changed wholly： from a gallop； with yelping dogs in the forefront； to a slow walk； with silent dogs hardly willing to lead the way； and instead falling back until they were underfoot the horses； thus causing some occasional difficulty。 It was still very cold； indeed colder than before； and I saw here and there a small patch of snow upon the ground； though this was； by my best reckoning； the summer period。
At a slow pace； we proceeded for a goodly distance； and I had wonder that we should be lost； and never find our way back through this heath。 Now at a place the dogs halted。 There was no difference in the terrain； or any mark or object upon the ground； yet the dogs stopped as 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 nos