id stringlengths 16 16 | text stringlengths 150 2.3k | word_count int64 30 60 | source stringclasses 1
value | book_id stringclasses 1
value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
twg_000012587200 | to the inner part of the cave that was farthest from the secret opening, shouting as he ran, and making as much noise as possible. The berserk and his men followed. The instant he reached the extremity of the place Alric became as silent as a mouse, kicked off his shoes, and ran nimbly round by the intricate turnings o... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587201 | the inner wall, until he came to the foot of the dark natural staircase, which has been referred to at the beginning of our tale. Up this he bounded, and reached the open air above, while his pursuers were still knocking their shins and heads on the rocks at the wrong end of the cave below. Without a moment's pause | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587202 | the exulting boy dashed away towards Ulfstede. He had not run two hundred yards, however, when he observed three men standing on the top of the little mound to which the people of Ulfstede were wont to mount when they wished to obtain an uninterrupted view of the valley and the fiord. They hailed him at that moment, so... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587203 | turned aside, and found, on drawing near, that they were his brother Erling, Glumm the Gruff, and Kettle Flat-nose. "Why, Alric!" exclaimed Erling in surprise, on seeing the boy's swelled and bloody face, "what ails thee?" "Quick, come with me, all of ye! There is work for your swords at hand. Lend me thy sword, Erling... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587204 | one, and the axe will be enough for thee." The excited lad did not wait for permission, but snatched the sword from his brother's side, and without further explanation, ran back towards the cliffs, followed closely by the astonished men. He made straight for the hole that led to the cave, and was about to leap into it ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587205 | stepped out and almost received him in his arms. Before the berserk could plant his feet firmly on the turf, Alric heaved up his brother's sword and brought it down on Hauskuld's head with right good will. His arm, however, had not yet received power to cleave through a steel helmet, but the blow was sufficient to give... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587206 | a dint that its wearer tumbled back into the hole, and went rattling down the steep descent heels over head into the cave. The boy leaped down after him, but Hauskuld, although taken by surprise and partially stunned, had vigour enough left to jump up and run down to the boat. His men, on hearing the noise of his fall, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587207 | had also rushed to the boat, and pushed off. The berserk sprang into the water, and swam after them, just as his pursuers reached the cave. Seeing this, his men being safe beyond pursuit, lay on their oars and waited for him. But Hauskuld's career had been run out. Either the fall had stunned him, or he was seized with | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587208 | a fit, for he suddenly raised himself in the water, and, uttering a cry that echoed fearfully in the roof of the cavern, he sank to the bottom. Still his men waited a minute or two, but seeing that he did not rise again, they pulled away. "It is unlucky that they should have escaped thus," said Alric, "for they | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587209 | go to tell King Harald what they have seen." "Friends," said Erling, "I have a plan in my head to cheat the King. I shall send Thorer round with my Swan to this cave, and here let it lie, well armed and provisioned, during the battle that we shall have to fight with Harald ere long. If ill luck should | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587210 | be ours, those of us who survive will thus have a chance of escaping with the women." "What need is there of that?" said Glumm; "we are sure to give him the tooth-ache!" "We are sure of nothing in this world," replied Erling, "save that the sun will rise and set and the seasons will come and go. I shall | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587211 | do as I have said, chiefly for the sake of the women, whom I should not like to see fall into the hands of King Harald; and I counsel thee to do the same with thy small ship the Crane. It can well be spared, for we are like to have a goodly force of men and ships, if I | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587212 | mistake not the spirit that is abroad." "Well, I will do it," said Glumm. "And Alric will not object, I dare say, to stand sentinel over the ships in the cave with two or three men till they are wanted," said Erling. "That will not I," cried Alric, who was delighted to be employed in any service rather than be | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587213 | left at home, for his father, deeming him still too young, had strictly forbidden him to embark in the fleet. "Well then, the sooner this is set about the better," said Erling, "for there is no counting on the movements of the King." "Humph!" ejaculated Glumm. "Ill luck to the tyrant!" said Kettle Flatnose, as they tur... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587214 | cave. CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. GLUMM GAINS A GREAT PRIVATE VICTORY--THE DALESMEN ASSEMBLE TO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM--THE FOE APPEARS, AND THE SIGNAL OF BATTLE IS SOUNDED. Again we return to the mound near Ulfstede, the top of which was now bathed in the rays of the morning sun--for the day had only begun, the events narrated at ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587215 | last chapter having occurred within a period of less than three hours. Here stood the fair Hilda and the volatile Ada, the former leaning on the arm of the latter, and both gazing intently and in silence on the heart-stirring scene before them. Once again Horlingdal with its fiord was the scene of an assembly of armed ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587216 | time the concourse was grander, because much greater, than on a previous occasion. Men had learned by recent events that momentous changes were taking place in the land. The news of the King's acts had been carried far and wide. Everyone felt that a decisive blow was about to be struck somewhere, and although many hund... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587217 | opinion of their own as to what was best for the interests of the kingdom, they knew that a side must be taken, and were quite willing to take that which appeared to be the right, or which seemed most likely to win, while a large proportion of them were intelligently and resolutely opposed to the King's designs. Thus, ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587218 | the war-token was sent round, it was answered promptly. Those who dwelt nearest to the place of rendezvous were soon assembled in great numbers, and, from the elevated point on which the girls stood, their glittering masses could be seen on the shore, while they launched their longships and loaded them with stones--the... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587219 | and fro with arms and provisions; while all up the valley, as far as the eye could see, even to the faint blue distance, in the haze of which the glaciers and clouds and mountain tops seemed to commingle, troops of armed men could be seen pouring down from gorge and glen, through wood and furze and fen. On the | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587220 | fiord, too, the same activity and concentration prevailed, though not quite to the same extent. Constantly there swept round the promontories to the north and south, boat after boat, and ship after ship, until the bay close below Ulfstede was crowded with war-craft of every size--their gay sails, and in some cases gild... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587221 | and their shield-circled gunwales reflected clearly in the sea. "What a grand sight!" exclaimed Ada with enthusiasm, as she listened to the deep-toned hum of the busy multitude below. "Would God I had never seen it!" said her companion. "Out upon thee, Hilda! I scarce deem thee fit to be a free Norse maiden. Such a sce... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587222 | heart of stone." "It _does_ stir my heart strangely, sister," replied Hilda, "I scarcely can explain how. I feel exultation when I see the might of our district, and the bold bearing of our brave and brisk men; but my heart sinks again when I think of what is to come--the blood of men flowing like water, death sweeping... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587223 | down like grain before the sickle; and for what? Ada, these go not forth to defend us from our enemies, they go to war with brothers and kindred--with Norsemen." Ada beat her foot impatiently on the sod, and frowned a little as she said-- "I know it well enough, but it is a grand sight for all that, and it | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587224 | does no good to peep into the future as thou art doing continually." "I do not peep," replied Hilda; "the future stares me full in the face." "Well, let it stare, sister mine," said Ada, with a laugh, as she cleared her brow, "and stare past _its_ face at what lies before thee at present, which is beautiful enough, tho... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587225 | must allow." At that moment there seemed to be increasing bustle and energy on the part of the warriors on the shore, and the murmur of their voices grew louder. "What can that mean, I wonder?" said Ada. "Fresh news arrived, perhaps," replied her friend. "The Christians' God grant that this war may be averted!" "Amen, ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587226 | will," said a deep voice behind the girls, who turned and found the hermit standing at their side. "But, Hilda," he continued, "God does not always answer our prayers in the way we expect--sometimes because we pray for the wrong thing, and sometimes because we pray that the right thing may come to us in the wrong way. ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587227 | best to end my petitions with the words of my dear Saviour Jesus Christ--`Thy will be done.' Just now it would seem as if war were ordained to go on, for a scout has just come in to say that King Harald with his fleet is on the other side of yonder point, and I am sent to fetch thee | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587228 | down to a place of safety without delay." "Who sent thee?" demanded Ada. "Thy foster-father." "Methinks we are safe enough here," she said, with a gesture of impatience. "Aye, if we win the day, but not if we lose it," said the old man. "Come," said Hilda, "we must obey our father." "I have no intention of disobeying h... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587229 | the other, tossing her head. Just then Alric ran up with a look of anxiety on his swelled and blood-stained face. "Come, girls, ye are in the way here. Haste--ah! here comes Erling--and Glumm too." The two young men ran up the hill as he spoke. "Come with us quickly," cried Erling; "we do not wish the King's people to | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587230 | see anyone on this mound. Let me lead thee down, Hilda." He took her by the hand and led her away. Glumm went forward to Ada, whose old spirit was evidently still alive, for she glanced at the hermit, and appeared as if inclined to put herself under his protection, but there was something in Glumm's expression that arr... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587231 | His gruffness had forsaken him, and he came forward with an unembarrassed and dignified bearing. "Ada," he said, in a gentle but deliberate voice, while he gazed into her face so earnestly that she was fain to drop her eyes, "thou must decide my fate _now_. To-day it is likely I shall fight my last battle in my fatherl... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587232 | will be abroad on the fiord, more than willing to be courted by all who choose to woo him. Say, dear maid, am I to be thy protector or not?" Ada hesitated, and clasped her hands tightly together, while the tell-tale blood rushed to her cheeks. Glumm, ever stupid on these matters, said no other word, but turned on his | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587233 | heel and strode quickly away. "Stay!" she said. She did not say this loudly, but Glumm heard it, turned round, and strode back again. Ada silently placed her hand in his--it trembled as she did so--and Glumm led her down the hill. The girls were escorted by their lovers only as far as Ulfstede. With all the other women... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587234 | the place, and the old people, they were put under the care of the hermit, who conveyed them safely to Haldorstede, there to await the issue of the day. Meanwhile, Haldor, Erling, Glumm, Hakon of Drontheim, Ulf, Guttorm Stoutheart, and all the other Sea-kings, not only of Horlingdal, but of the surrounding valleys, wit... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587235 | and thralls, went down to the shores of the bay and prepared for battle. It is needless to say that all were armed to the teeth--with coats of mail and shirts of wolf-skin; swords and battle-axes, bows and arrows, halberds and spears, "morning stars" and bills, scythes, javelins, iron-shod poles--and many other weapons... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587236 | of course those belonging to Haldor, Ulf, and the wealthier men of the district. Some of these were very large--having thirty benches of rowers, and being capable of carrying above a hundred and fifty men. All of them were more or less decorated, and a stately brilliant spectacle they presented, with their quaint tower... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587237 | and numerous oars. Many proud thoughts doubtless filled the hearts of these Sea-kings as they looked at their ships and men, and silently wended their way down to the strand. In the case of Haldor and Erling, however, if not of others, such thoughts were tempered with the feeling that momentous issues hung on the fate ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587238 | was it for all concerned that the men who led them that day were so full of forethought and energy, for scarcely had they completed their preparations and embarked their forces when the ships of Harald Fairhair swept round the northern promontory. If the fleet of the small kings of Horlingdal and the south was imposing... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587239 | of Norway was still more so. Besides, being stronger in numbers, and many of the warships being larger--his own huge vessel, the Dragon, led the van, appearing like a gorgeous and gigantic sea-monster. The King was very proud of this longship. It had recently been built by him, and was one of the largest that had ever ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587240 | Norway. The exact dimensions of it are not now known, but we know that it had thirty-two banks for rowers, from which we may infer that it must have been of nearly the same size with the Long Serpent, a war vessel of thirty-four banks, which was built about the end of the tenth century, and some of the dimensions | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587241 | of which are given in the Saga of Olaf Tryggvesson. The length of her keel that rested on the grass, we are told, was about feet, which is not far short of the length of the keel of one of our forty-two gun frigates. As these warships were long in proportion to their breadth, like our modern steamers, this speaks | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587242 | to a size approaching tons burden. As we have said, the Dragon was a gorgeous vessel. It had a high poop and forecastle, a low waist, or middle part, and a splendidly gilt and painted stern, figurehead, and tail. The sides, which were, as usual, hung round with the red and white painted shields of the crew, were pierce... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587243 | sixty-four oars, that is, thirty-two on each side, being two oars to each bank or bench, and as there were three men to each oar, this gave a total crew of men; but in truth the vessel contained, including steersmen and supernumeraries, above men. Under the feet of the rowers, in the waist, were chests of arms, piles o... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587244 | to be used as missiles, provisions, clothing, goods, and stores, all of which were protected by a deck of movable hatches. On this deck the crew slept at nights, sheltered by an awning or sail, when it was not convenient for them to land and sleep on the beach in their tents, with which all the vessels of the Norsemen | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587245 | were usually supplied. There was but one great mast, forty feet high, and one enormous square sail to this ship. The mast was tipped with gilding, and the sail was of alternate strips of red, white, and blue cloth. Each space between the banks served as the berth of six or eight men, and was divided into half berths--s... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587246 | larboard--for the men who worked the corresponding oars. On the richly ornamented poop stood the King himself, surrounded by his bodyguard and chief men of the Court, including Jarl Rongvold and Thiodolph the scald. From the stem to the mid-hold was the forecastle, on which were stationed the King's berserkers, under H... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587247 | were splendid fellows; for King Harald, having a choice of men from the best of every district, took into his house troop only such as were remarkable for strength, courage, and dexterity in the use of their weapons. It must not be supposed that the rest of Harald's fleet was composed of small vessels. On the contrary,... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587248 | were not far short of his own in point of size. Many of his jarls were wealthy men, and had joined him, some with ten or twenty, and others with thirty, or even forty, ships of various sizes. Many of them had from twenty to thirty banks for rowers, with crews of or men. There were also great numbers of | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587249 | cutters with ten or fifteen banks, and from thirty to fifty men in each, besides a swarm of lesser craft, about the size of our ordinary herring boats. There were many men of note in this fleet, such as King Sigurd of Royer and Simun's sons; Onund and Andreas; Nicolas Skialdvarsson; Eindrid, a son of Mornef, who was th... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587250 | gallant and popular man in the Drontheim country, and many others; the whole composing a formidable force of seven or eight thousand warriors. With Haldor the Fierce, on the other hand, there was a goodly force of men and ships; for the whole south country had been aroused, and they came pouring into the fiord continuo... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587251 | number nearly so large a force as that under King Harald. Besides those who have been already named, there were Eric, king of Hordaland; Sulke, king of Rogaland, and his brother Jarl Sote; Kiotve the Rich, king of Agder, and his son Thor Haklang; also the brothers Roald Ryg, and Hadd the Hard, of Thelemark, besides man... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587252 | whole number did not exceed four thousand men; and the worst of it all was that among these there were a great many of the smaller men, and a few of the chiefs whose hearts were not very enthusiastic in the cause, and who had no very strong objection to take service under Harald Fairhair. These, however, held their pea... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587253 | because the greater men among them, and the chief leaders, such as Haldor and Ulf, were very stern and decided in their determination to resist the King. Now, when the report was brought that Harald's fleet had doubled the distant cape beyond Hafurdsfiord, the people crowded to the top of the cliffs behind Ulfstede to ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587254 | was clearly seen that it was so much larger than their own, there were a few who began to say that it would be wiser to refrain from resistance; but Haldor called a Thing together on the spot by sound of horn, and a great many short pithy speeches were made on both sides of the question. Those who were | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587255 | for war were by far the most able men, and so full of fire that they infused much of their own spirit into those who heard them. Erling in particular was very energetic in his denunciation of the illegality of Harald's proceedings; and even Glumm plucked up heart to leap to his feet and declare, with a face blazing wit... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587256 | wrath, that he would rather be drowned in the fiord like a dog, or quit his native land for ever, than remain at home to be the slave of any man! Glumm was not, as the reader is aware, famed for eloquence; nevertheless the abruptness of his fiery spirit, the quick rush of his few sputtered words, and the clatter | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587257 | of his arms, as he struck his fist violently against his shield, drew from the multitude a loud burst of applause. He had in him a good deal of that element which we moderns call "go". Whatever he did was effectively done. The last who spoke was Solve Klofe. That redoubtable warrior ascended the hill just as Glumm had ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587258 | his remarks. He immediately stood forward, and raised his hand with an impassioned gesture. "Glumm is right," he cried. "It is now clear that we have but one course to take; and that is to rise all as one man against King Harald, for although outnumbered, we still have strength enough to fight for our ancient rights. F... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587259 | the victory. If we cannot conquer, at all events we can die. As to becoming his servants, that is no condition for _us_! My father thought it better to fall in battle than to go willingly into King Harald's service, or refuse to abide the chance of weapons like the Numedal kings." "That is well spoken," cried Haldor, a... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587260 | shout with which this was received had subsided. "The Thing is at an end, and now we shall make ready, for it can be but a short time until we meet. Let the people take their weapons, and every man be at his post, so that all may be ready when the war-horn sounds the signal to cast off from | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587261 | the land. [See note .] Then let us throw off at once, and together, so that none go on before the rest of the ships, and none lag behind when we row out of the fiord. When we meet, and the battle begins, let people be on the alert to bring all our ships in close order, and ready to | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587262 | bind them together. Let us spare ourselves in the beginning, and take care of our weapons, that we do not cast them into the sea, or shoot them away in the air to no purpose. But when the fight becomes hot, and the ships are bound together, _then_ let each man show what spirit is in him, and how well | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587263 | he can fight for country, law, and freedom!" A loud ringing cheer was the answer to this speech, and then the whole concourse hurried down the hill and embarked; the vessels were quickly arranged in order according to their size; the war-horn sounded; thousands of oars dipped at the same moment, the blue waters of the ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587264 | milky foam, and slowly, steadily, and in good order the fleet of the Sea-kings left the strand, doubled the cape to the north of Horlingfiord, and advanced in battle array to meet the foe. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note . Signals by call of trumpet were well understood in ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587265 | advance, to attack, to retreat, to land, and also to attend a Court Thing, a House Thing, a General Thing. These instruments were made of metal, and there were regular trumpeters. CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. DESCRIBES A GREAT SEA FIGHT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. Harald Fairhair stood on the poop of the great Dragon, and held the st... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587266 | the fleet of the Sea-kings approaching, he called Jarl Rongvold to him and said-- "Methinks, jarl, that I now see the end of this war with the small kings. It is easy to perceive that the utmost force they are able to raise is here. Now, I intend to beat them to-day, and break their strength for ever. But when | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587267 | the battle is over, many of them will seek to escape. I would prevent that as much as may be." The King paused, as if engaged in deep thought. "How do you propose to do it, sire?" "By means of a boom," said the King. "Go thou, summon hither the trustiest man in the fleet for such a purpose, let | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587268 | him detach as many men and ships as he deems needful, and go into yonder small fiord where there is a pine wood on the hillside. There let him make a long and strong boom of timber, while we are engaged in the fight. I will drive as many of the ships as I can into Horlingfiord, and when that | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587269 | is done let him come out and stretch the boom right across, so that none of them shall escape. And, harkee, see that the man thou choosest for this duty is an able man, and does it well, else shall his head be lopped off." After issuing this command the King resigned the helm, and ordered his banner to be | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587270 | set up, which was done immediately. At the same time his opponents shook out their banners, and both fleets were put in order of battle. As both were arrayed much in the same way, it will be sufficient to describe the arrangements made by Haldor the Fierce, who had been elected commander-in-chief of the small kings' fl... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587271 | the King's banner displayed, he unfurled his own in the centre of the fleet, and arranged his force for attack right against it. Alongside of him on the right was Ulf of Romsdal with thirty ships, and on his left was old Guttorm Stoutheart with twenty-five ships. These composed the centre of the line. Kettle Flatnose c... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587272 | the forecastle in Ulf's longship, and Thorer the Thick was over those in Haldor's vessel. The right wing was commanded by Solve Klofe, under whom were Eric of Hordaland with fifteen ships; Sulke of Rogaland and his brother Sote with thirty ships, as well as Kiotve of Agder, and some others with many ships--all of large... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587273 | was led by King Hakon of Drontheim, under whom were Roald Ryg and Hadd the Hard, and Thor Haklang, with a good many ships. Solve Klofe laid his ships against King Harald's left wing, which was under Eindrid, son of Mornef, and Hakon laid his against King Sigurd of Royer, who led Harald's right wing. All the chiefs on e... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587274 | side laid their ships according as they were bold or well equipped. When all was ready, they bound the ships together by the stems, and advanced towards each other at the sound of the war-trumpet. But as the fleets were so large, many of the smaller vessels remained loose, and, as it were, went about skirmishing indepe... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587275 | forward in the fight, according to the courage of their commanders, which was very unequal. Among these roving warriors were our heroes Erling and Glumm, each in one of his own small cutters, with about forty men. As soon as the war-blast sounded the men rode forward to the attack, and soon narrowed the small space tha... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587276 | hostile fleets. Then Haldor and the other commanders went down to the sides of their ships, where the men stood so thick that their shields touched all round, and encouraged them to fight well for the freedom of old Norway--to which they replied with loud huzzas. Immediately after the air was darkened with a cloud of a... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587277 | began. There were scalds in both fleets at that fight, these afterwards wrote a poem descriptive of it, part of which we now quote: "With falcon eye and courage bright, Haldor the Fierce prepared for fight; `Hand up the arms to one and all!' He cries. `My men, we'll win or fall! Sooner than fly, heaped on each other, E... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587278 | man will fall across his brother!' Thus spake, and through his vessels' throng His mighty warship moved along. He ran her gaily to the front, To meet the coming battle's brunt-- Then gave the word the ships to bind And shake his banner to the wind. Our oars were stowed, our lances high Swung to and fro athwart the sky. | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587279 | Haldor the Fierce went through the ranks, Drawn up beside the rowers' banks, Where rows of shields seemed to enclose The ship's deck from the boarding foes, Encouraging his chosen crew, He tells his brave lads to stand true, And rows against--while arrows sing-- The Dragon of the tyrant King. With glowing hearts and lo... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587280 | in freedom's cause. The sea-steeds foam; they plunge and rock: The warriors meet in battle shock; The ring-linked coats of strongest mail Could not withstand the iron hail. The fire of battle raged around; Odin's steel shirts flew all unbound. The pelting shower of stone and steel, Caused many a Norseman stout to reel,... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587281 | rain; The foam was scarlet on the main; But, all unmoved like oak in wood, Silent and grim fierce Haldor stood, Until his axe could reach the foe-- Then--swift he thundered blow on blow. And ever, as his axe came down, It cleft or crushed another crown. Elsewhere the chiefs on either side Fought gallantly above the tid... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587282 | pressed King Sigurd sore, And Ulf made Hake the berserk roar, And Kettle Flatnose dared to spring On board the ship of Norway's King. Old Guttorm Stoutheart's mighty shout Above the din was heard throughout, And Solve Klofe, 'gainst Mornef's son, Slew right and left till day was done. While, all around the loose ships ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587283 | red stream flowed. Chief among these was Erling bold And Glumm the Gruff, of whom 'tis told They rushed in thickest of the fray-- Whatever part the line gave way-- And twice, and thrice, retrieved the day. But heart, and strength, and courage true, Could not avail where one fought two. King Harald, foremost in the figh... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587284 | resistless might, Pushed on and slew, and dyed with red The bright steel cap on many a head. Against the hero's shield in vain, The arrow-storm sends forth its rain. The javelins and spear-thrusts fail To pierce his coat of ringed mail. The King stands on the blood-stained deck; Trampling on many a foeman's neck; And h... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587285 | stound Of helm and axe, and ringing sound Of blade, and shield, and raven's cry Is heard the shout of--`Victory!'" In this poem the scald gives only an outline of the great fight. Let us follow more closely the action of those in whom we are peculiarly interested. For more than two hours the battle raged with unabated ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587286 | to neither side; but as the day advanced, the energy with which Solve Klofe pushed the right wing began to tell, and the King's men gave way a little at that part. Harald, however, was on the alert. He sent some of his loose ships to reinforce them, and so regained his position. A short time after that, some of | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587287 | Solve's ships were boarded, but at that moment Erling and Glumm chanced to pass in their cutters-- for they kept always close together--and they gave such a shout, while they turned and pulled to the rescue, that the men, who were wavering, took heart again and drove the foe overboard. Just then the ship on the right o... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587288 | vessel was also boarded by the enemy. Seeing this, Erling called to Glumm that there was need of succour there, and they rowed swiftly to the spot. "Art thou hard pressed, Solve?" asked Erling, as he ranged up to the stern of his friend's ship. Solve was so furious that he could not answer, but pointed to the ship next | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587289 | his, and sprang on the edge of his own, intending to leap into that of the enemy, and get to the forefront. At the same time Eindrid, son of Mornef, stood up on the high foredeck of his ship with a large stone in his hand. He was a very powerful man, and hurled the stone with such force against | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587290 | Solve's shield that it battered him down, and he fell back into his own ship much stunned. Seeing this, Erling bade two of his men follow him, leaped into Solve's ship, and thence into the one where the fight was sharpest. Glumm followed him closely with his long two-handed sword, and these two fought so dreadfully tha... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587291 | driven back into their own ship again. Then Erling ran to the place where the high stern was wedged between two of the enemy's ships, and sprang on the forecastle of Eindrid's ship. "Thou art a bold man!" said Eindrid, turning on him. "That may be as thou sayest," replied Erling, at the same time catching a thrust on h... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587292 | shield, which he returned with such interest with his axe that Eindrid's head was nearly severed from his body. At the same moment Glumm cut down a famous berserk who ran at him, and in a few minutes they had cleared the deck of the ship, and taken possession of it. But this was scarcely accomplished when a cry arose | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587293 | that the left wing under King Hakon was giving way. At once Erling and Glumm ran back to their cutters, and made towards that part of the line, followed by several of the loose ships. Here they found that King Hakon was very hard pressed by Sigurd of Royer, so they pushed in among the ships, and soon Erling's well-know... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587294 | war-cry was heard, and his tall form was seen sweeping men down before him with his great axe, like a mower cutting grass. Glumm, however, did not keep close to him this time, but made direct for Hakon's ship, for he remembered that he was Ada's father, and thought he might do him some service. As he was coming near | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587295 | he saw Swankie, a famous berserk, fighting furiously on board Hakon's ship, and roaring, as was the wont of berserkers sometimes, like a wild bull. Hakon's men had formed a shield-circle round their chief, and were defending him bravely; but the berserk was an uncommonly stout man, very brisk and active, and exceedingl... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587296 | weapons. He slew so many men that the shield-circle was broken, and he made at Hakon just as Glumm leaped into the ship at the stern. King Hakon was a stout man and brave, but he was getting old, and not so active as he used to be. Nevertheless he met Swankie like a man, and dealt him a blow | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587297 | on his helmet which made him stagger. The berserk uttered a fearful roar, and struck at Hakon so fiercely that he split the upper part of his shield and cut open his helmet. Hakon fell, but before he could repeat the blow Glumm was upon him. "What! is it thou, Swankie?" he cried. "Dog, methought I had killed thee long | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587298 | ago!" "That is yet to be done," cried the berserk, leaping upon Glumm with a sweeping blow of his sword. Glumm stooped quickly, and the blow passed over his head; then he fetched a sudden cut at Swankie, and split him down from the neck to the waist, saying, "It is done now, methinks," as he drew out his sword. | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587299 | Glumm did not go forward, but let his men drive back the foe, while he turned and kneeled beside Hakon. "Has the dog hurt thee badly?" he asked, raising the old warrior's head on his knee, and speaking in a voice of almost womanly tenderness. Hakon made an effort to speak, but for some time was unable to do so, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.