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twg_000012586100 | his brother's flaxen head. "I doubt if there is a fleeter foot in all the dale." "Away then," cried Ulf, handing the token to Alric, "and see that ye deserve all this praise. And now, sirs, let us fare to the hall to sup and prepare for our journey to the Springs." The crowd at once broke up and hurried | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586101 | away to Ulfstede in separate groups, discussing eagerly as they went, and stepping out like men who had some pressing business on hand. Alric had already darted away like a hunted deer. Erling turned hastily aside and went away alone. As soon as he reached a spot where the rugged nature of the ground concealed him from... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586102 | he started up the valley at his utmost speed, directing his course so as to enable him to overshoot and intercept his brother. He passed a gorge ahead of the boy; and then, turning suddenly to the left, bore down upon him. So well did he calculate the distance, that on turning round the edge of a jutting cliff he | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586103 | met him face to face, and the two ran somewhat violently into each other's arms. On being relieved from this involuntary embrace, Alric stepped back and opened his eyes wide with surprise, while Erling roared with laughter. "Ye are merry, my brother," said Alric, relaxing into a grin, "but I have seen thee often thus, ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586104 | observe thee now, seeing that it is nothing new." "Give me an arrow, thou rogue! There," said Erling, splitting the shaft into four parts, handing it back to the boy, and taking the baton from him. "Get thee gone, and use thy legs well. We must not do the King the dishonour to appear before him without our weapons in | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586105 | these unsettled times. Let the token be sent out north, south, east, and west; and, harkee, lad, say nothing to anyone about the object of the assembly." Alric's countenance became grave, then it again relaxed into a broad grin. Giving his brother an emphatic wink with one of his large blue eyes, he darted past him, an... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586106 | up the glen, running with the speed of a deer and waving the war-token over his head. CHAPTER FOUR. DESCRIBES WARLIKE PREPARATIONS, AND A NORSE HALL IN THE OLDEN TIME-- TELLS ALSO OF A SURPRISE. Instead of returning to Ulfstede, Erling directed his steps homeward at a brisk pace, and in a short space of time reached th... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586107 | his forge. Here he met one of his father's thralls. "Ho! fellow," said he, "is thy mistress at home?" "Yes, master, she is in the hall getting supper ready against your father's return." "Go tell her there will be no men to eat supper in the hall to-night," said Erling, unfastening the door of the forge. "Say that I am | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586108 | in the forge, and will presently be in to speak with her. Go also to Thorer, and tell him to get the house-carles busked for war. When they are ready let him come hither to me; and, harkee, use thine utmost speed; there may be bloody work for us all to do this night before the birds are on the | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586109 | wing. Away!" The man turned and ran to the house, while Erling blew up the smouldering fire of the forge. Throwing off his jerkin, he rolled up his sleeves, and seizing the axe on which he had been engaged when Hilda interrupted him, he wrought so vigorously at the stubborn metal with the great forehammer that in the c... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586110 | half an hour it was ready to fit on the haft. There was a bundle of hafts in a corner of the workshop. One of these, a tough thick one without knot or flaw, and about five feet long, he fitted to the iron head with great neatness and skill. The polishing of this formidable weapon he deferred to a | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586111 | period of greater leisure. Having completed this piece of work, Erling next turned to another corner of the forge and took up the huge two-handed sword which he had made for his friend Glumm. The weapon was beautifully executed, and being highly polished, the blade glittered with a flashing light in the ruddy glare of ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586112 | giant sat down on his anvil and put a few finishing touches to the sword, regarding it the while with a grim smile, as if he speculated on the probability of his having formed a weapon wherewith his own skull was destined to be cloven asunder. While he was thus engaged his mother Herfrida entered. The soft-eyed dame co... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586113 | be called a matronly personage. Having married when about sixteen, she was now just thirty-eight years of age; and though the bloom of maidenhood was gone, the beauty of a well-favoured and healthy woman still remained. She wore a cloak of rich blue wool, and under it a scarlet kirtle with a silver girdle. "How now, my... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586114 | "why these warlike preparations?" "Because there is rumour of war; I'm sure that is neither strange nor new to you, mother." "Truly no; and well do I know that where war is, there my husband and my son will be found." Herfrida said this with a feeling of pride, for, like most of the women of that time and country, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586115 | she esteemed most highly the men who were boldest and could use their weapons best. "'Twere well if we were less noted in that way, and more given to peace," said Erling half-jestingly. "For my own part, I have no liking for war, but you women will be for ever egging us on!" Herfrida laughed. She was well aware of | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586116 | what she was pleased to term her son's weakness, namely, an idea that he loved peace, while he was constantly proving to the world that he was just cut out for war. Had he ever shown a spark of cowardice she would have regarded those speeches of his with much anxiety, but as it was she only laughed at them. | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586117 | "Erling, my boy," she said suddenly, as her eye fell on the axe at his side,--"what terrible weapon is this? Surely thou must have purchased Thor's hammer. Can ye wield such a thing?" "I hope so, mother," said Erling curtly; "if not, I shall soon be in Valhalla's halls." "What are these rumours of war that are abroad j... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586118 | asked Herfrida. Erling replied by giving his mother an account of King Harald's recent deeds, and told her of the calling of the Thing, and of the appearance of the Danish vikings off the coast. "May good spirits attend thee, my son!" she said, kissing the youth's forehead fervently, as a natural gush of tenderness and... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586119 | breast for a moment. But the feeling passed away as quickly as it came; for women who are born and nurtured in warlike times become accustomed and comparatively indifferent to danger, whether it threatens themselves or those most dear to them. While mother and son were conversing, Thorer entered the smithy, bearing Erl... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586120 | and ready] enquired Erling as he rose. "Aye, master; and I have brought your war-gear." The man who thus spoke was Haldor's chief house-carle. He was a very short and extremely powerful man of about forty-five years of age, and so sturdy and muscular as to have acquired the title of Thorer the Thick. He wore a shirt of... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586121 | armour, rather rusty, and somewhat the worse of having figured in many a tough battle by land and sea. A triangular shield hung at his back, and his headpiece was a simple peaked helmet of iron, with a prolongation in front that guarded his nose. Thorer's offensive armour consisted of a short straight sword, a javelin ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586122 | a quiver of arrows. "How many men hast thou assembled, Thorer?" asked Erling as he donned his armour. "Seventy-five, master; the rest are up on the fells, on what errand I know not." "Seventy-five will do. Haste thee, carle, and lead them to my longship the Swan. Methinks we will skate upon the ocean to-night. [Longshi... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586123 | called ocean-skates.] I will follow thee. Let every man be at his post, and quit not the shore till I come on board. Now fare away as swiftly as may be, and see that everything be done stealthily; above all, keep well out of sight of Ulfstede." Thus admonished, Thorer quickly left the forge; and a few seconds later the | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586124 | clanking tread of armed men was heard as Erling's followers took their way to the fiord. "Now I will to the hall, my son, and pray that thou mayst fare well," said Herfrida, once more kissing the forehead which the youth lowered to receive the parting salute. The mother retired, and left her son standing in the forge g... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586125 | at the fire, the dying flames of which shot up fitfully now and then, and gleamed on his shining mail. If Erling the Bold was a splendid specimen of a man in his ordinary costume, when clad in the full panoply of war he was truly magnificent. The rude but not ungraceful armour of the period was admirably fitted to | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586126 | display to advantage the elegant proportions of his gigantic figure. A shirt or tunic of leather, covered with steel rings, hung loosely--yet, owing to its weight, closely--on his shoulders. This was gathered in at the waist by a broad leathern belt, studded with silver ornaments, from which hung a short dagger. A cros... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586127 | his right shoulder, and supported a two-edged sword of immense weight, which was quite as strong, though not nearly so long, as that which he had forged for Glumm. It was intended for a single-handed weapon, though men of smaller size might have been constrained, in attempting to wield it, to make use of both hands. Th... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586128 | were clothed in closely-fitting leather leggings, and a pair of untanned leather shoes, laced with a single thong, protected his feet. On his head he wore a small skull-cap, or helmet, of burnished steel, from the top of which rose a pair of hawk's wings expanded, as if in the act of flight. No gloves or gauntlets cove... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586129 | but on his left arm hung a large shield, shaped somewhat like an elongated heart, with a sharp point at its lower end. Its top touched his shoulder, and the lower part reached to his knee. This shield was made of several plies of thick bull-hide, with an outer coat of iron--the whole being riveted firmly together with ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586130 | It was painted pure white, without device of any kind, but there was a band of azure blue round it, near the margin--the rim itself being of polished steel. In addition to his enormous axe, sword, and dagger, Erling carried at his back a short bow and a quiver full of arrows. The whole of this war gear bore evidence | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586131 | of being cherished with the utmost care and solicitude. Every ring on the tunic was polished as highly as the metal would admit of, so that the light appeared to trickle over it as its wearer moved. The helmet shone like a globe of quicksilver, and lines of light gleamed on the burnished edge of the shield, or sparkled... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586132 | the ornamental points of the more precious metals with which the various parts of his armour were decorated. Above all hung a loose mantle or cloak of dark-blue cloth, which was fastened on the right shoulder with a large circular brooch of silver. The weight of this panoply was enormous, but long habit had so inured t... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586133 | the burthen of his armour that he moved under it as lightly as if it had been no heavier than his ordinary habiliments. Indeed, so little did it impede his movements that he could spring over chasms and mountain streams almost as well with as without it; and it was one of the boasts of his admiring friends that "he | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586134 | could leap his own height with all his war gear on!" We have already referred to Erling's partiality for the axe as an offensive weapon. This preference was in truth--strange though the assertion may appear--owing to the peculiar adaptation of that instrument to the preservation of life as well as the taking of it! The... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586135 | The rule among the Northmen in former years was to slay and spare not. Erling's tendency, and occasionally his practice, was to spare and not to slay, if he could do so with propriety. From experience he found that, by a slight motion of his wrist, the edge of his axe could be turned aside, and the blow which was | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586136 | delivered by its flat side was invariably sufficient, without killing, to render the recipient utterly incapable of continuing or renewing the combat--at least for a few days. With the sword this delicate manoeuvre could not be so easily accomplished, for a blow from the flat of a sword was not sufficiently crushing, a... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586137 | was apt to break. Besides, Erling was a blunt, downright, straightforward man, and it harmonised more with his feelings, and the energy of his character, to beat down sword and shield and headpiece with one tremendous blow, than to waste time in fencing with a lighter weapon. Having completed his toilet and concluded h... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586138 | perplexity, if one might judge from the frequency with which he shook his head--Erling the Bold hung Glumm's long sword at his back, laid his huge axe on his shoulder, and, emerging from the smithy, strode rapidly along the bridle path that led to the residence of Ulf of Romsdal. Suddenly it occurred to him that he had... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586139 | tried the temper of his new weapon, so he stopped abruptly before a small pine tree, about as thick as a man's arm. It stood on the edge of a precipice along the margin of which the track skirted. Swaying the axe once round his head, he brought it forcibly down on the stem, through which it passed as if | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586140 | it had been a willow wand, and the tree went crashing into the ravine below. The youth looked earnestly at his weapon, and nodded his head once or twice as if the result were satisfactory. A benignant smile played on his countenance as he replaced it on his shoulder and continued on his way. A brisk walk of half an | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586141 | hour brought him to Ulfstede, where he found the men of the family making active preparations for the impending journey to the Thing. In the great hall of the house, his father held earnest discussion with Ulf. The house-carles busied themselves in burnishing their mail and sharpening their weapons, while Ada and Hilda... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586142 | the board for the evening meal. Everything in the hall was suggestive of rude wealth and barbarous warlike times. The hall itself was unusually large--capable of feasting at least two hundred men. At one end a raised hearth sustained a fire of wood that was large enough to have roasted an ox. The smoke from this, in de... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586143 | chimney, found an exit through a hole in the roof. The rafters were, of course, smoked to a deep rich coffee colour, and from the same cause the walls also partook not a little of that hue. All round these walls hung, in great profusion, shields, spears, swords, bows, skins, horns, and such like implements and trophies... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586144 | the chase. The centre of the hall was open, but down each side ran two long tables, which were at this time groaning with great haunches of venison, legs of mutton, and trenchers of salmon, interspersed with platters of wild fowl, and flanked by tankards and horns of mead and ale. Most of the drinking cups were of horn... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586145 | many of these were edged with a rim of silver, and, opposite the raised seats of honour, in the centre of each table, the tankards were of solid silver, richly though rudely chased--square, sturdy, and massive, like the stout warriors who were wont to quaff their foaming contents. "I tell thee, Ulf," said Haldor, "thou... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586146 | to the Thing with men fully armed when the token was one of peace. The King is in no mood just now to brook opposition. If we would save our independence we must speak him smoothly." "I care not," replied Ulf gruffly; "this is no time to go about unarmed." "Nay, I did not advise thee to go unarmed, but | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586147 | surely a short sword might suffice, and--" At this moment Erling entered, and Ulf burst into a loud laugh as he interrupted his friend: "Aye, a short sword--something like that," he said, pointing to the huge hilt which rose over the youth's shoulder. "Hey! lad," exclaimed his father, "art going to fight with an axe in... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586148 | sword in the other?" "The sword is for Glumm, father. I owe him one after this morning's work. Here, friend Glumm, buckle it on thy shoulder. The best wish that thou and I can exchange is, that thy sword and my axe may never kiss each other." "Truly, if they ever do, I know which will fare worst," said Haldor, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586149 | taking the axe and examining it, "Thou art fond of a weary arm, my lad, else ye would not have forged so weighty a weapon. Take my advice and leave it behind thee." "Come, come," interrupted Ulf; "see, the tables are spread; let us use our jaws on food and drink, and not on words, for we shall need both | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586150 | to fit us for the work before us, and perchance we may have no longer need of either before many days go by. We can talk our fill at the Thing, an it so please us." "That will depend on the King's pleasure," replied Haldor, laughing. "So much the more reason for taking our arms with us, in order that | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586151 | we may have the means of talking the King's pleasure," retorted Ulf with a frown; "but sit ye down at my right hand, Haldor, and Hilda will wait upon thee. Come, my men all--let us fall to." It is scarcely necessary to say that this invitation was accepted with alacrity. In a few minutes about fifty pairs of jaws were | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586152 | actively employed in the manner which Ulf recommended. Meanwhile Erling the Bold seated himself at the lower end of one of the tables, in such a position that he could keep his eye on the outer door, and, if need be, steal away unobserved. He calculated that his little brother must soon return from his flying journey, ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586153 | to hear from him some news of the vikings. In this expectation he was right; but when Alric did come, Erling saw and heard more than he looked for. The meal was about half concluded, and Ulf was in the act of pledging, not absent, but defunct, friends, when the door opened slowly, and Alric thrust his head cautiously i... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586154 | His hair, dripping and tangled, bore evidence that his head at least had been recently immersed in water. He caught sight of Erling, and the head was at once withdrawn. Next moment Erling stood outside of the house. "How now, Alric, what has befallen thee? Hey! thou art soaking all over!" "Come here; I'll show you a fe... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586155 | tell you all about it." In great excitement the boy seized his brother's hand and dragged rather than led him round the end of the house, where the first object that met his view was a man whose face was covered with blood, which oozed from a wound in his forehead, while the heaving of his chest, and an occasional | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586156 | gasp, seemed to indicate that he had run far and swiftly. CHAPTER FIVE. THE VIKING RAID--ALRIC'S ADVENTURE WITH THE DANE--ERLING'S CUTTER, AND THE BATTLE IN THE PASS. "Whom have we here?" exclaimed Erling, looking close into the face of the wounded man. "What! Swart of the Springs!" Erling said this sternly, for he had... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586157 | a notorious character, belonging to one of the neighbouring fiords--a wild reckless fellow, and, if report said truly, a thief. "That recent mischief has cost thee a cracked crown?" asked Erling, a little more gently, as he observed the exhausted condition of the man. "Mischief enough," said Swart, rising from the ston... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586158 | the blood, dust, and sweat from his haggard face, while his eyes gleamed like coals of fire; "Skarpedin the Dane has landed in the fiord, my house is a smoking pile, my children and most of the people in the stede are burned, and the Springs run blood!" There was something terrible in the hoarse whisper in which this w... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586159 | hissed out between the man's teeth. Erling's tone changed instantly as he laid his hand on Swart's shoulder. "Can this be true?" he answered anxiously; "are we too late? are _all_ gone?" "_All_," answered Swart, "save the few fighting men that gained the fells." The man then proceeded to give a confused and disjointed ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586160 | the following is the substance. Skarpedin, a Danish viking, noted for his daring, cruelty, and success, had taken it into his head to visit the neighbourhood of Horlingdal, and repay in kind a visit which he had received in Denmark the previous summer from a party of Norsemen, on which occasion his crops had been burne... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586161 | his lands "herried", while he chanced to be absent from home. It must be observed that this deed of the Northmen was not deemed unusually wicked. It was their custom, and the custom also of their enemies, to go out every summer on viking cruise to plunder and ravage the coasts of Denmark, Sweden, Britain, and France, c... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586162 | the booty they could lay hold of, and as many prisoners as they wanted or could obtain. Then, returning home, they made slaves or "thralls" of their prisoners, often married the women, and spent the winter in the enjoyment of their plunder. Among many other simple little habits peculiar to the times was that called "St... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586163 | viking, when in want of provisions, landing with his men on any coast--whether that of an enemy or a countryman--and driving as many cattle as he required to the shore, where they were immediately slaughtered and put on board without leave asked or received! Skarpedin was influenced both by cupidity and revenge. Swart ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586164 | of the expedition which had done him so much damage. To the Springs therefore he directed his course with six "longships", or ships of war, and about five hundred men. In the afternoon of a calm day he reached the fiord at the head of which were the Springs and Swart's dwelling. There was a small hamlet at the place, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586165 | and upon this the vikings descended. So prompt and silent were they, that the men of the place had barely time to seize their arms and defend their homes. They fought like lions, for well they knew that there was no hope of mercy if they should be beaten. But the odds against them were overwhelming. They fell in heaps, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586166 | with many of their foes underneath them. The few who remained to the last retreated fighting, step by step, each man towards his own dwelling, where he fell dead on its threshold. Swart himself, with a few of the bravest, had driven back that part of the enemy's line which they attacked. Thus they were separated for a ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586167 | their less successful comrades, and it was not till the smoke of their burning homesteads rose up in dense clouds that they became aware of the true state of the fight. At once they turned and ran to the rescue of their families, but their retreat was cut off by a party of the enemy, and the roar of the | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586168 | conflagration told them that they were too late. They drew together, therefore, and, making a last desperate onset, hewed their way right through the ranks of their enemies, and made for the mountains. All were more or less wounded in the _melee_, and only one or two succeeded in effecting their escape. Swart dashed pa... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586169 | flight, and found it already down on the ground in a blazing ruin. He killed several of the men who were about it, and then, bounding up the mountain side, sought refuge in a ravine. Here he lay down to rest a few moments. During the brief period of his stay he saw several of his captured friends have their | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586170 | hands and feet chopped off by the marauders, while a terrible shriek that arose once or twice told him all too plainly that on a few of them had been perpetrated the not uncommon cruelty of putting out the eyes. Swart did not remain many moments inactive. He descended by a circuitous path to the shore, and, keeping car... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586171 | of sight, set off in the direction of Horlingdal. The distance between the two places was little more than nine or ten miles, but being separated from each other by a ridge of almost inaccessible mountains, that rose to a height of above five thousand feet, neither sight nor sound of the terrible tragedy enacted at the... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586172 | the eyes or ears of the inhabitants of Ulfstede. Swart ran round by the coast, and made such good use of his legs that he reached the valley in little more than an hour. Before arriving at Ulfstede his attention was attracted and his step arrested by the sight of a warship creeping along the fiord close under the shado... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586173 | of the precipitous cliffs. He at once conjectured that this was one of the Danish vessels which had been dispatched to reconnoitre Horlingdal. He knew by its small size (having only about twenty oars) that it could not be there for the purpose of attack. He crouched, therefore, among the rocks to escape observation. No... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586174 | time that Erling's brother Alric, having executed his commission by handing the war-token to the next messenger, whose duty it was to pass it on, came whistling gaily down a neighbouring gorge, slashing the bushes as he went with a stout stick, which in the lad's eyes represented the broadsword or battle-axe he hoped o... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586175 | fashion, on the heads of his foes. Those who knew Erling well could have traced his likeness in every act and gesture of the boy. The vikings happened to observe Alric before he saw them, as was not to be wondered at, considering the noise he made. They therefore rowed close in to the rocks, and their leader, a stout | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586176 | red-haired fellow, leaped on shore, ascended the cliffs by a narrow ledge or natural footpath, and came to a spot which overhung the sea, and round which the boy must needs pass. Here the man paused, and leaning on the haft of his battle-axe, awaited his coming up. It is no disparagement to Alric to say that, when he f... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586177 | himself suddenly face to face with this man, his mouth opened as wide as did his eyes, that the colour fled from his cheeks, that his heart fluttered like a bird in a cage, and that his lips and tongue became uncommonly dry! Well did the little fellow know that one of the Danish vikings was before him, for many | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586178 | a time had he heard the men in Haldorstede describe their dress and arms minutely; and well did he know also that mercy was only to be purchased at the price of becoming an informer as to the state of affairs in Horlingdal--perhaps a guide to his father's house. Besides this, Alric had never up to that time beheld a | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586179 | _real_ foe, even at a distance! He would have been more than mortal, therefore, had he shown no sign of trepidation. "Thou art light of heart, lad," said the Dane with a grim smile. Alric would perhaps have replied that his heart was the reverse of light at that moment, but his tongue refused to fulfil its office, so h... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586180 | sighed deeply, and tried to lick his parched lips instead. "Thou art on thy way to Ulfstede or Haldorstede, I suppose?" said the man. Alric nodded by way of reply. "To which?" demanded the Dane sternly. "T-to--to Ulf--" "Ha!" interrupted the man. "I see. I am in want of a guide thither. Wilt guide me, lad?" At this the... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586181 | blood rushed back to Alric's cheeks. He attempted to say no, and to shake his head, but the tongue was still rebellious, and the head would not move--at least not in that way--so the poor boy glanced slightly aside, as if meditating flight. The Dane, without altering his position, just moved his foot on the stones, whi... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586182 | effect of causing the boy's eyes to turn full on him again with that species of activity which cats are wont to display when expecting an immediate assault. "Escape is impossible," said the Dane, with another grim smile. Alric glanced at the precipice on his left, full thirty feet deep, with the sea below; at the preci... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586183 | which rose an unknown height above; at the steep rugged path behind, and at the wild rugged man in front, who could have clutched him with one bound; and admitted in his heart that escape _was_ impossible. "Now, lad," continued the viking, "thou wilt go with me and point out the way to Ulfstede and Haldorstede; if not ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586184 | good will, torture shall cause thee to do it against thy will; and after we have plundered and burnt both, we will give thee a cruise to Denmark, and teach thee the use of the pitchfork and reaping-hook." This remark touched a chord in Alric's breast which at once turned his thoughts from himself, and allowed his nativ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586185 | rise. During the foregoing dialogue his left hand had been nervously twitching the little elm bow which it carried. It now grasped the bow firmly as he replied: "Ulfstede and Haldorstede may burn, but thou shalt not live to see it." With that he plucked an arrow from his quiver, fitted it to the string, and discharged ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586186 | the Dane's throat. Quick as thought the man of war sprang aside, but the shaft had been well and quickly aimed. It passed through his neck between the skin and the flesh. A cry of anger burst from him as he leaped on the boy and caught him by the throat. He hastily felt for the hilt of his dagger, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586187 | and in the heat of his rage would assuredly have ended the career of poor Alric then and there; but, missing the hilt at the first grasp, he suddenly changed his mind, lifted the boy as if he had been a little dog, and flung him over the precipice into the sea. A fall of thirty feet, even though water | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586188 | should be the recipient of the shock, is not a trifle by any means, but Alric was one of those vigorous little fellows--of whom there are fortunately many in this world--who train themselves to feats of strength and daring. Many a time had he, when bathing, leaped off that identical cliff into the sea for his own amuse... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586189 | the admiration and envy of many of his companions, and, now that he felt himself tumbling in the air against his will, the sensation, although modified, was nothing new. He straightened himself out after the manner of a bad child that does not wish to sit on nurse's knee, and went into the blue fiord, head foremost, li... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586190 | He struck the water close to the vessel of his enemies, and on rising to the surface one of them made a plunge at him with an oar, which, had it taken effect, would have killed him on the spot; but he missed his aim, and before he could repeat it, the boy had dived. The Dane was sensible of | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586191 | his error the instant he had tossed Alric away from him, so he hastened to his boat, leaped into it, and ordered the men to pull to the rocks near to which Alric had dived; but before they could obey the order a loud ringing cheer burst from the cliffs, and in another moment the form of Swart was seen | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586192 | on a ledge, high above, in the act of hurling a huge mass of rock down on the boat. The mass struck the cliff in its descent, burst into fragments, and fell in a shower upon the Danes. At the same time Swart waved his hand as if to someone behind him, and shouted with stentorian voice: "This way, men! | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586193 | Come on! Down into the boats and give chase! huzza!" The enemy did not await the result of the order, but pulled out into the fiord as fast as possible, while Swart ran down to the edge of the water and assisted Alric to land. It was not until they heard both man and boy utter a cheer of defiance, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586194 | and burst into a fit of laughter, and saw them hastening at full speed towards Horlingdal, that the vikings knew they had been duped. It was too late, however, to remedy the evil. They knew, also, that they might now expect an immediate attack, so, bending to the oars with all their might, they hastened off to warn the... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586195 | at the Springs. "Now, Swart," said Erling, after hearing this tale to its conclusion, "if ye are not too much exhausted to--" "Exhausted!" cried Swart, springing up as though he had but risen from a refreshing slumber. "Well, I see thou art still fit for the fight. Revenge, like love, is a powerful stirrer of the blood... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586196 | I will lead the way, and do thou tread softly and keep silence. Follow us, Alric, I have yet more work for thee, lad." Taking one of the numerous narrow paths that ran from Ulfstede to the shores of the fiord, Erling led his companions to a grassy mound which crowned the top of a beetling cliff whose base was | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586197 | laved by deep water. Although the night was young--probably two hours short of midnight--the sun was still high in the heavens, for in most parts of Norway that luminary, during the height of summer, sinks but a short way below the horizon--they have daylight all night for some time. In the higher latitudes the sun, fo... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586198 | all the twenty-four hours round. Erling could therefore see far and wide over the fiord, as well as if it were the hour of noon. "Nothing in sight!" he exclaimed in a tone of chagrin. "I was a fool to let thee talk so long, Swart; but there is still a chance of catching the boat before it rounds the | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586199 | ness. Come along." Saying this hurriedly, the youth descended into what appeared to be a hole in the ground. A rude zigzag stair cut in the rock conducted them into a subterranean cavern, which at first seemed to be perfectly dark; but in a few seconds their eyes became accustomed to the dim light, and as they advanced... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
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