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twg_000012586600 | Glumm, with a smile. "I am not so sure of that," rejoined Erling, with a look of perplexity. "It is more the consequences of war--its evil effects on communities, on women and children--that I dislike, than the mere matter of fighting, which, although I cannot say I long for it, as some of our friends do, I can truly a... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586601 | I take some pleasure in, when engaged in it. Besides, in this case I do not wish to meet these fellows for a mere piece of brag, but I think it might teach King Harald that he has to do with men who have heart and skill to use their weapons, and show him what he may expect if he | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586602 | tries to subdue this district. However, be that as it may, the question is, shall we hang back and accept this challenge--for such I regard it--or shall we push on?" "Yonder is an answer to that question, which settles it for us," said Glumm quietly, pointing to a ridge on the right of the bridle path, which rose high ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586603 | the tree tops. A troop of horsemen were seen to cross it and gallop down the slope, where they quickly disappeared in the forest. "How many didst thou count?" asked Erling, with a look of surprise. "Only ten," answered Glumm. "Come," cried Erling cheerfully, as he drew his sword, "the odds are not so great as we had ex... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586604 | suppose that King Harald must have thought us poor-looking warriors, or perchance he has sent ten berserkers against us. Anyhow I am content. Only one thing do I regret, and that is, that, among the other foolish acts I have been guilty of at this time, I left my good battle-axe behind me. This is a level piece of swar... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586605 | Shall we await them here?" "Aye," was Glumm's laconic answer, as he felt the edge of his long two-handed sword, settled himself more firmly on his seat, and carefully looked to the fastenings of his armour. Erling did the same, and both drew up their steeds with their backs towards an impenetrable thicket. In front lay... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586606 | ground, encumbered only here and there with one or two small bushes, beyond which they had a view far into the dark forest, where the armour of the approaching horsemen could be seen glancing among the tree stems. "It is likely," muttered Erling, "that they will try to speak us fair at first. Most assassins do, to thro... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586607 | their guard. I counsel that our words be few and our action quick." Glumm gave vent to a deep, short laugh, which sounded, however, marvellously like a growl, and again said-- "Aye." Next moment the ten horsemen galloped towards them, and reined up at the distance of a few yards, while two of them advanced. One of thes... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586608 | no other than Krake the berserk, said in a loud, commanding voice-- "Yield thee, Erling, in the name of the King!" "That for the King!" cried Erling, splitting the head of Krake's horse with the edge of his sword, and receiving Krake himself on the point of it as he fell forward, so that it went in at his breast | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586609 | and came out at his back. At the same time Glumm's horse sprang forward, his long sword whistled sharply as it flashed through the air, and, next moment, the head of the second man was rolling on the ground. So sudden was the onset that the others had barely time to guard themselves when Glumm's heavy sword cleft the t... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586610 | of the shield and the helmet of one, tumbling him out of the saddle, while the point of Erling's lighter weapon pierced the throat of another. The remaining six turned aside, right and left, so as to divide their opponents, and then attacked them with great fury--for they were all brave and picked men. At first Erling ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586611 | enough to do to defend themselves, without attempting to attack, but at a critical moment the horse of one of Glumm's opponents stumbled, and his rider being exposed was instantly cut down. Glumm now uttered a shout, for he felt sure of victory, having only two to deal with. Erling's sword proved to be too short for su... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586612 | for his enemies were armed with long and heavy weapons, and one of them had a spear. He eluded their assaults, however, with amazing activity, and wounded one of them so badly that he was obliged to retire from the fray. Seeing this our hero made a sudden rush at one of the men who fought with a battle-axe, seized | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586613 | the axe by the handle, and with one sweep of his sword lopped off the man's arm. Then did Erling also feel that victory was secure, for he now wielded an axe that was almost as good and heavy as his own, and only one man stood before him. Under the impulse of this feeling he uttered a shout which | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586614 | rang through the forest like the roar of a lion. Now, well would it have been for both Erling and Glumm if they had restrained themselves on that occasion, for the shouts they uttered served to guide two bands of enemies who were in search of them. It will be remembered that Hake the berserk had gone after our heroes | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586615 | by the forest road, but, not finding them so soon as he had anticipated, and feeling a sort of irresistible belief that they had after all gone by the fells, he altered his own plans in so far that he turned towards the road leading by the mountains, before he reached the pine with the double stem. Thus he just | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586616 | missed those whom he sought, and, after some time, came to the conclusion that he was a fool, and had made a great mistake in not holding to his original plan. By way of improving matters he divided his little band into two, and sending five of his men in one direction, rode off with the remaining four in another. | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586617 | Krake, on the contrary, had fulfilled his orders to the letter; had gone to the split rock, and then hastened to the double-stemmed pine, not far from which, as we have seen, he found the men of whom he was in search, and also met his death. One of the bands of five men chanced to be within earshot when | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586618 | Erling shouted, and they immediately bore down in the direction, and cheered as they came in sight of the combatants. The three men who yet stood up to our friends wheeled about at once and galloped to meet them, only too glad to be reinforced at such a critical moment. There was a little stream which trickled over the... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586619 | of a rock close to the spot where the combat had taken place. Erling and Glumm leaped off their horses as if by one impulse, and, running to this, drank deeply and hastily. As they ran back and vaulted into their saddles, they heard a faint cheer in the far distance. "Ha!" exclaimed Erling, "Harald doubtless _did_ send... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586620 | after all, for here come the rest of them. It is good fortune that a berserk is seldom a good leader--he should not have divided his force. These eight must go down, friend Glumm, before the others come up, else are our days numbered." The expression of Glumm's blood-stained visage spoke volumes, but his tongue uttered... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586621 | there was no time for further speech, for the eight men, who had conversed hurriedly together for a few seconds, were now approaching. The two friends did not await the attack, but, setting spurs to their horses, dashed straight at them. Two were overturned in the shock, and their horses rolled on them, so that they ne... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586622 | the right Erling hewed down one man, and on the left his friend cut down another. They reined up, turned round, and charged again, but the four who were left were too wise to withstand the shock; they swerved aside. In doing so the foot of one of their horses caught in a bramble. He stumbled, and the rider was | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586623 | thrown violently against a tree and stunned, so that he could not remount. This was fortunate, for Erling and Glumm were becoming exhausted, and the three men who still opposed them were comparatively fresh. One of these suddenly charged Glumm, and killed his horse. Glumm leaped up, and, drawing his knife, stabbed the ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586624 | As it fell he caught his rider by the right wrist, and with a sudden wrench dislocated his arm. Erling meanwhile disabled one of the others, and gave the third such a severe wound that he thought it best to seek safety in flight. Erling now turned to Glumm, and asked if he thought it would be best to ride | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586625 | away from the men who were still to come up, or to remain and fight them also. "If there be five more," said Glumm, leaning against a tree, and removing his helmet in order to wipe his brow, "then is our last battle fought, for, although I have that in me which could manage to slay one, I have not | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586626 | strength for two, much less three. Besides, my good steed is dead, and we have no time to catch one of the others." "Now will I become a berserk," cried Erling, casting his gilt helmet on the ground and undoing the fastenings of his coat of mail. "Armour is good when a man is strong, but when he is worn | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586627 | out it is only an encumbrance. I counsel thee to follow my example." "It is not a bad one," said Glumm, also throwing down his helmet and stripping off his armour. "Ha! there are more of them than we counted on--six." As he spoke six horsemen were seen approaching through the distant glades of the forest. The two frien... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586628 | to the fountain before mentioned, slaked their thirst, and hastily bathed their heads and faces; then, seizing their swords and shields, and leaving the rest of their armour on the sward, they ran to a rugged part of the ground, where horses could not act. Mounting to the highest point of a rocky mound, they awaited th... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586629 | foes. Quickly they came forward, their faces blazing with wrath as they rode over the field of battle, and saw their slaughtered comrades. Hake the berserk rode in front, and, advancing as near as possible to the place where his enemies stood, said tauntingly: "What, are ye so fearful of only six men, after having slai... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586630 | would we make of thee and thy men, so that the crows might pick it easily, if we were only half as fresh as ye are," said Erling; "but we chose to rest here awhile, so if ye would fight ye must come hither to us on foot." "Nay, but methinks it would be well for both parties," returned the | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586631 | berserk, "that they should fight on level ground." Erling and Glumm had thrown themselves on the rocks to get as much rest as possible before the inevitable combat that was still before them. They consulted for a few seconds, and then the former replied: "We will gladly come down, if ye will meet us on foot." "Agreed,"... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586632 | leaping off his horse, and leading it to a neighbouring tree, to which he fastened it. The others followed his example. Then our two heroes arose and stretched themselves. "It has been a good fight," said Erling. "Men will talk of it in days to come, after we are far away in the world of spirits." There was deep pathos | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586633 | in the tone of the young warrior as he spoke these words, and cast his eyes upwards to the blue vault as if he sought to penetrate that spirit world, on the threshold of which he believed himself to stand. "If we had but one hour's rest, or one other man on our side; but--" He stopped suddenly, for the | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586634 | six men now stood in the middle of the little plain where Erling and Glumm had fought so long and so valiantly that day, and awaited their coming. Hastily descending the mound, the two friends strode boldly towards their opponents, scorning to let them see by look or gesture that they were either fatigued or depressed.... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586635 | Erling singled out Hake, and Glumm went towards a tall, powerful man, who stood ready with a huge sword resting on his shoulder, as if eager to begin the combat. Glumm had arranged in his own mind that that man and he should die together. Beside him stood a warrior with a battle-axe, and a steel helmet on his head. | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586636 | Before Glumm could reach his intended victim the tall man's sword flashed in the air like a gleam of light, and the head with the steel helmet went spinning on the ground! "That's the way that Kettle Flatnose pays off old scores," cried the Irish thrall, turning suddenly upon his late friends, and assailing one of them... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586637 | that he cut him down in a few seconds, and then ran to draw off one of the two who had attacked Erling. Glumm's amazement at this was, as may well be believed, excessive; but it was nothing to the intensity of his joy when he found suddenly that the fight was now equalised, and that there stood only one | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586638 | man to oppose him. His heart leaped up. New life gave spring to his muscles; and to these new feelings he gave vent in one loud shout, as he sprang upon his adversary and cleft him to the chin with one sweep of his sword! Meanwhile Kettle Flatnose had killed his man; and he was about to come up behind | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586639 | Hake and sweep off his head, when he was seized by Glumm and dragged violently back. "Would ye rob Erling of the honour of slaying this noted berserk?" he said sternly. "Truly," replied Kettle, somewhat abashed, "I did not know that he was noted; and as for the honour of it, I do think that Erling seems to have got | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586640 | honour enough to-day (if all this be his work) to content him for some time to come; but as ye will," he added, putting the point of his sword on the ground, and resting his arms on the hilt. Glumm also leaned on his sword; and standing thus, these two watched the fight. Now, it may perhaps seem to some | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586641 | readers that as the other men had been disposed of so summarily, it was strange that Erling the Bold should be so long in dispatching this one; but for our hero's credit, we must point out several facts which may have perhaps been overlooked. In the first place, Kettle Flatnose was a thoroughly fresh man when he began ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586642 | and although he killed two men, it must be remembered that one of these was slain while off his guard. Then, Glumm did indeed slay his man promptly, but he was one of King Harald's ordinary men-at-arms; whereas Erling was opposed by one of the most celebrated of the King's warriors--Hake, the berserk of Hadeland--a man... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586643 | were known far and wide, not only in Norway, but in Denmark, and all along the southern shores of the Baltic. It would have been strange indeed had such a man fallen easily before any human arm, much more strange had he succumbed at once to one that had been already much exhausted with fighting. True to the brotherhood... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586644 | which he belonged, the berserk attacked Erling with incredible fury. He roared more like a mad bull than a man as he made the onset; his eyes glared, his mouth foamed, and he bit his shield as he was driven back. Being fresh, he danced round Erling perpetually, springing in to cut and thrust, and leaping back to avoid ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586645 | terrific blows which the latter fetched at him with his weighty axe. Once he made a cut at Erling's head, which the latter did not attempt to parry, intending to trust to his helmet to defend him, and forgetting for the moment that he had cast that useful piece of armour on the plain. Luckily the blow was not truly | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586646 | aimed. It shore a lock from Erling's head as he swung his axe against his opponent's shield, and battered him down on his knees; but the berserk leaped up with a yell, and again rushed at him. Hake happened just then to cast his eyes on the two men who were quietly looking on, and he so managed the fight | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586647 | for a few moments afterwards that he got near to them. Then turning towards them with a howl of demoniacal fury, he made a desperate cut at the unsuspecting Glumm, who was taken so thoroughly by surprise that he made no movement whatever to defend himself. Fortunately. Kettle Flatnose was on the alert, but he had only ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586648 | his sword awkwardly between Glumm's head and the descending weapon. The act prevented a fatal gash, but it could not altogether arrest the force of the blow, which fell on the flat of his sword, and beat it down on Glumm's skull so violently that he was instantly stretched upon the green sward. Erling's axe fell on the... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586649 | the berserk almost at the same time. Even in that moment of victory a feeling of respect for the courage and boldness of this man touched the heart of Erling, who, with the swiftness of thought, put in force his favourite practice--he turned the edge of the axe, and the broad side of it fell on the steel headpiece with | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586650 | tremendous force, causing the berserk of Hadeland to stretch himself on the green sward beside Glumm the Gruff; thus ending the famous battle of the "Berserkers and the Bold", in regard to which Thikskul the scald writes:-- "The Bold one and his doughty friend, Glumm the Gruff of Horlingsend, Faced, fought, and felled,... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586651 | crew Sent by King Harald them to slay-- But much he rued it--lack-a-day! The heroes cut and hacked them sore, Hit, split, and slashed them back and fore-- And left them lying in their gore." CHAPTER THIRTEEN. SHOWS THAT ELOQUENCE DOES NOT ALWAYS FLOW WHEN IT IS EXPECTED, AND THAT GLUMM BEGINS A NEW COURSE OF ACTION. On... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586652 | was found that Glumm's hurt was not severe. He had merely been stunned by the force of the blow, and there was a trifling wound in the scalp from which a little blood flowed. While Kettle held a helmet full of water, and Erling bathed the wound, the latter said: "How comes it, Kettle, that ye discovered our straits, an... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586653 | appeared so fortunately?" Kettle laughed and said: "The truth is, that accident brought me here. You know that I had all but wrought out my freedom by this time, but in consideration of my services in the battle at the Springs, Ulf set me free at once, and this morning I left him to seek service with King Harald Haarfa... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586654 | "That was thankless of thee," said Erling. "So said Ulf," rejoined Kettle; "nevertheless, I came off, and was on my way over the fells to go to the King when I fell in with Hake the berserk--though I knew not that it was he--and joined him." Erling frowned, and looked enquiringly at Kettle as he said: "But what possess... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586655 | that thou shouldst quit so good a master for one so bad, and how comes it thou hast so readily turned against the King's men?" "Little wonder that you are perplexed," said Kettle, "seeing that ye know not my motive. The truth is, that I had a plan in my head, which was to enter Harald's service, that I might | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586656 | act the spy on him, and so do my best for one who, all the time I have been in thraldom, has been as kind to me as if he had been my own father." "Thou meanest Ulf?" said Erling. "I do," replied Kettle with enthusiasm, "and I'd willingly die for him if need be. As ye know full well, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586657 | it needs no wizard to tell that such men as Ulf and your father will not easily be made to bend their necks to the King's yoke; and for this I honour them, because they respect the law of the land more than they respect the King. Happy is the nation where such men abound; and in saying this I | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586658 | do no dishonour to the King, but the reverse." Erling looked in surprise at Kettle, while he continued to bathe the face of his still unconscious friend, for his language and bearing were much altered from what they had been when he was in thraldom, and there was an air of quiet dignity about him, which seemed to favou... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586659 | common report that he had been a man of note in his own land. "Well," continued Kettle, "it is equally certain that Harald is not a man who will tamely submit to be thwarted in his plans, so I had made up my mind to take service with him, in order that I might be able to find out his | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586660 | intentions and observe his temper towards the men of Horlingdal, and thus be in a position to give them timely warning of any danger that threatened. On my way hither I met Hake, as I have said. On hearing that he belonged to King Harald, I told him that I had just got my freedom from Ulf, and wished to | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586661 | join the King. He seemed very glad, and said he thought I would make a good berserk; told me that he was out in search of some of the King's enemies, and proposed that I should assist him. Of course this suited me well; but it was only when we found you that I became aware who the King's enemies | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586662 | were, and resolved to act as ye have seen me do. I did not choose to tell Ulf my intention, lest my plan should miscarry; but, now that I find who the King counts his foes, and know how sharply he intends to treat them, it seems to me that I need go no farther." "Truly thou needst not," said | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586663 | Erling, "for Harald is in the worst possible humour with us all, and did his best to stop me from going home to tell the fact." "Then is my mission ended. I will return to Ulfstede," said Kettle, throwing the water out of his helmet, and replacing it on his head, as he rose and grasped his sword. "Meanwhile, I | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586664 | will cut off Hake's head, and take it back with me." "Thou wilt do so at thy peril," said Erling; "Hake fell to my hand, and I will finish the work which I have begun. Do thou go catch three or four of the horses, for I see that Glumm is recovering." "I will not interfere with your business," said | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586665 | Kettle, with a laugh, "only I thought you meant to leave his carcass lying there unheeded, and was unwilling to go off without his head as a trophy." Kettle went to catch the horses--three of which he tied to trees to be ready for them, while he loaded the fourth with the most valuable of the arms and garments of | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586666 | the slain. Meanwhile Glumm groaned, and, sitting up, rubbed his head ruefully. "I thought someone had sent me to Valhalla," he said, fetching a deep sigh. "Not yet, friend Glumm, not yet. There is still work for thee to do on earth, and the sooner ye set about doing it the better, for methinks the King will wonder what... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586667 | become of his berserkers, and will send out men in search of them ere long. Canst mount thy horse?" "Mount him? aye," said Glumm, leaping up, but staggering when he had gained his legs, so that Erling had to support him for a few minutes. He put his hand to his forehead, and, observing blood on it, asked: "Is the | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586668 | wound deep?" "Only a scratch," said Erling, "but the blow was heavy. If the sword of Kettle Flatnose had not caught it in time, it would have been thy death." "Truly it has not been far from that as it is, for my head rings as if the brain were being battered with Thor's hammer! Come, let us mount." As | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586669 | he spoke, Kettle brought forward the horses. Glumm mounted with difficulty, and they all rode away. But Erling had observed a slight motion of life in the body of Hake, and after they had gone a few yards he said: "Ride on slowly, Glumm, I will go back to get a ring from the finger of the berserk, which I | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586670 | forgot." He turned, and rode quickly back to the place where the berserk's body lay, dismounted, and kneeled beside it. There was a large silver ring on the middle finger of Hake's right hand, which he took off and put on his own finger, replacing it with a gold one of his own. Then he ran to the spring, and, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586671 | filling his helmet with water, came back and laved the man's temples therewith, at the same time pouring a little of it into his mouth. In a few minutes he began to show symptoms of revival, but before he had recovered sufficiently to recognise who his benefactor was, Erling had vaulted into the saddle and galloped awa... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586672 | Glummstede that evening about supper-time, but Glumm was eager to hear the discussion that was sure to take place when the news of the fight and of Harald's state of mind was told, so he rode past his own home, and accompanied his friend to Ulfstede. We cannot say for certain that he was uninfluenced by other motives, ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586673 | as the reader knows, was not a communicative man; he never spoke to anyone on the subject; we incline, however, to the belief that there were mingled ideas in his brain and mixed feelings in his heart as he rode to Ulfstede! Great was the sensation in the hall when Erling, Glumm, and Kettle entered with the marks of th... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586674 | recent fight still visible upon them-- especially on Glumm, whose scalp wound, being undressed, permitted a crimson stream to trickle down his face--a stream which, in his own careless way, he wiped off now and then with the sleeve of his coat, thereby making his aspect conspicuously bloody. Tremendous was the flutter ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586675 | this plight, for well did she know that deeds of daring had been done before such marks could have been left upon her gruff lover. The hall was crowded with armed men, for many bonders had assembled to await the issue of the decision at the Thing, and much anxiety as well as excitement prevailed. Ulf recognised his lat... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586676 | with a look of surprise, but each of them was made to quaff a brimming tankard of ale before being allowed to speak. To say truth, they were very willing to accept the draught, which, after the fatigues they had undergone, tasted like nectar. Erling then stood up, and in the midst of breathless silence began to recount... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586677 | which had befallen him and his companion while in the execution of their mission. "In the first place," he said, "it is right to let ye all know that the King's countenance towards us is as black as a thundercloud, and that we may expect to see the lightning flash out before long. But it is some comfort to add | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586678 | that Glumm and Kettle and I have slain, or rendered unfit to fight, twenty of Harald's men." In the midst of the murmur of congratulation with which this announcement was received, Erling observed that Hilda, who had been standing near the door, went out. The result of this was, that the poor youth's spirit sank, and i... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586679 | utmost difficulty he plucked up heart to relate the incidents of the fight, in which he said so little about himself that one might have imagined he had been a mere spectator. Passing from that subject as quickly as possible, he delivered his opinion as to the hopes and prospects before them, and, cutting his speech sh... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586680 | hall. Any little feeling of disappointment that might have been felt at the lame way in which Erling had recounted his exploits was, however, amply compensated by Glumm, who, although usually a man of few words, had no lack of ideas or of power to express them when occasion required, in a terse, stern style of his own,... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586681 | very telling. He gave a faithful account of the fight, making mention of many incidents which his friend had omitted to touch on, and dwelling particularly on the deeds of Kettle. As to that flat-nosed individual himself, when called upon to speak, he addressed the assembly with a dignity of manner and a racy utterance... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586682 | who had only known him as a thrall, and who now for the first time met him as a freed man. He moreover introduced into his speech a few touches of humour which convulsed his audience with laughter, and commented on the condition of affairs in a way that filled them with respect, so that from that hour he became | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586683 | one of the noted men of the dale. Erling meanwhile hurried towards one of the cliffs overlooking the fiord. He was well acquainted with Hilda's favourite haunts, and soon found her, seated on a bank, with a very disconsolate look, which, however, vanished on his appearing. "Wherefore didst thou hasten away just as I be... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586684 | somewhat reproachfully, as he sat down beside her. "Because I did not wish to hear details of the bloody work of which thou art so fond. Why wilt thou always be seeking to slay thy fellows?" The girl spoke in tones so sad and desponding, that her lover looked upon her for some time in silent surprise. "Truly, Hilda," h... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586685 | said, "the fight was none of my seeking." "Did I not hear thee say," she replied, "that Kettle and Glumm and thou had slain twenty of the King's men, and that ye regarded this as a comforting thought?" "Aye, surely; but these twenty men did first attack Glumm and me while alone, and we slew them in self-defence. Never ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586686 | I returned to tell it, had not stout Kettle Flatnose come to our aid." "Thank Heaven for that!" said Hilda, with a look of infinite relief. "How did it happen?" "Come. I will tell thee all from first to last. And here is one who shall judge whether Glumm and I are to blame for slaying these men." As he | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586687 | spoke, the hermit approached. The old man looked somewhat paler than usual, owing to the loss of blood caused by the wound he had received in his recent defence of Ulfstede. Erling rose and saluted him heartily, for, since the memorable prowess in the defence of Ulfstede, Christian had been high in favour among the peo... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586688 | and I were considering a matter of which we will make thee judge," said Erling, as they sat down on the bank together. "I will do my best," said the hermit, with a smile, "if Hilda consents to trust my judgment." "That she gladly does," said the maid. "Well, then, I will detail the facts of the case," said Erling; | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586689 | "but first tell me what strange marks are those on the skin thou holdest in thy hand?" "These are words," said the hermit, carefully spreading out a roll of parchment, on which a few lines were written. Erling and Hilda regarded the strange characters with much interest. Indeed, the young man's look almost amounted to ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586690 | had never seen the scroll before, although Hilda, to whom it had several times been shown and explained, had told him about it. "These marks convey thoughts," said Christian, laying his forefinger on the characters. "Can they convey intricate thoughts," asked Erling, "such as are difficult to express?" "Aye; there is n... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586691 | man and enter the understanding of another which may not be expressed by these letters in different combinations." "Dim ideas of this have been in my mind," said Erling, "since I went on viking cruise to the south, when first I heard of such a power being known to and used by many, but I believed it not. If this | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586692 | be as thou sayest, and these letters convey thy thoughts, then, though absent, thy thoughts might be known to me--if I did but understand the tracing of them." "Most true," returned the hermit; "and more than that, there be some who, though dead, yet speak to their fellows, and will continue to do so as long as the rec... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586693 | preserved and the power to comprehend them be maintained." "Mysterious power," said Erling; "I should like much to possess it." "If thou wilt come to my poor abode on the cliff I will teach it thee. A few months, or less, will suffice. Even Hilda knows the names of the separate signs, and she has applied herself to it ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586694 | little more than a few days." Hilda's face became scarlet when Erling looked at her in surprise, but the unobservant hermit went on to descant upon the immense value of written language, until Hilda reminded him that he had consented to sit in judgment on a knotty point. "True, I had forgotten.--Come now, Erling, let m... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586695 | at once began, and in a few minutes had so interested his hearers that they gazed in his face and hung upon his words with rapt attention, while he detailed the incidents of the combats with a degree of fluency and fervour that would have thrown the oratory of Glumm and Kettle quite into the shade had it been told | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586696 | in the hall. While Erling was thus engaged, his friend Glumm, having finished the recital of his adventures for the twentieth time, and at the same time eaten a good supper, was advised by his companions to have the wound in his head looked to. "What! hast thou not had it dressed yet?" asked Ulf; "why, that is very foo... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586697 | Knowest thou not that a neglected wound may compass thy death? Come hither, Ada; thy fingers are skilled in such offices. Take Glumm to an inner chamber, and see if thou canst put his head to rights." "Methinks," cried Guttorm Stoutheart, with a laugh, "that she is more likely to put his heart wrong than his head right... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586698 | wicked black eyes of hers. Have a care, Glumm: they pierce deeper than the sword of the berserk." Ada pretended not to hear this, but she appeared by no means displeased, as she led Glumm to an inner chamber, whither they were followed by Alric, whose pugnacious soul had been quite fascinated by the story of the recent... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012586699 | who was never tired of putting questions as to minute points. As Glumm sat down on a low stool to enable Ada to get at his head, she said (for she was very proud of her lover's prowess, and her heart chanced to be in a melting mood that night), "Thou hast done well to-day, it would seem?" "It is | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
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