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twg_000012587300 | and Glumm held his shield over him to keep off the stones and arrows which fell thickly around them. After a few moments Hakon wiped away the blood which flowed from a deep wound in his forehead, and looked up wildly in Glumm's face. He tried again to speak, and Glumm, misunderstanding the few words he muttered, said: ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587301 | already avenged, King Hakon; Swankie the berserk is dead." The dying man made another effort to speak, and was successful. "That concerns me little, Glumm. Thou lovest Ada, I know. This ring-- take it to her, say her father's last thoughts were of her. Be a good husband, Glumm. The brooch--see." "Which?" asked Glumm, l... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587302 | which the old warrior's armour was fastened--"this one on thy breast?" "Aye, take it--it was--her mother's." The warrior's spirit seemed to be relieved when he had said this. He sank down into a state resembling sleep. Once or twice afterwards he opened his eyes and gazed up into the bright sky with a doubtful yet earn... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587303 | the breathing became fainter, until it ceased altogether, and Glumm saw that the old man was dead. Fastening the brooch on his own broad chest, and putting the ring on his finger, Glumm rose, seized his sword, and rushed again into the thick of the fight with tenfold more fury than he had yet displayed, and ere long th... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587304 | that threatened the left wing was for the time averted. Meanwhile in the centre there was an equally uncertain and obstinate conflict--for the chiefs on either side were mighty men of valour. Wherever Old Guttorm's voice was heard, there victory inclined. Haldor, on the other hand, did not shout, but he laid about him ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587305 | men quailed at the very sight of him, and wherever he went he was victorious. It was some time before he managed to get alongside of King Harald Fairhair's ship, but when he did so the fight became sharp in the extreme. All the men in King Harald's ship, except the berserks, were clad in coats of ring mail, and | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587306 | wore foreign helmets, and most of them had white shields. Besides, as has been said, each man was celebrated for personal strength and daring, so that none of those who were opposed to them could make head against them. The arrows and spears fell harmless from their shields, casques, and coats of mail, and it was only ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587307 | when a shaft happened to enter a man's eye--that any fell. When Haldor's forecastle men attacked the berserkers on the high fore deck of the Dragon, the fighting was terrible, for the berserkers all roared aloud and fought with the wild fury of madmen, and so fierce was their onslaught that Haldor's men were forced at ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587308 | But Thorer the Thick guarded himself warily, and being well armed escaped injury for a time. When he saw the berserkers beginning to flag, he leaped forward like a lion, and hewed them down right and left, so that his men drove the enemy back into the Dragon. Some of them slipped on the gun-wales, and so did some of | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587309 | Haldor's men, all of whom fell into the sea, and a few of them were drowned, while others were killed, but one or two escaped by swimming. Ulf's ship was also pretty close to the Dragon, and he wished greatly to board it, but was so hard beset by the ship of Nicolas Skialdvarsson that he could not do so | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587310 | for a long time. Here Kettle Flatnose did prodigies of valour. He stood on the high fore-deck with his favourite weapon, the hook, and therewith pulled a great number of men off the enemy's deck into the sea. At last he got a footing on their gunwale, dropped his hook, drew his sword, and soon cleared his way aft. Ulf | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587311 | leaped after him, drove the men into the waist, and then the most of them were slain, and lay in heaps one upon another. After that it was not difficult to clear the poop. Skialdvarsson defended it well, but he could not stand before Ulf, who finally cut off his head, and so the ship was won. This vessel lay | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587312 | alongside that of King Harald; and although the King was fully engaged with Haldor at the time, he observed the conquest of Skialdvarsson by Ulf, and also perceived that Ulf's men were crowding the side of the vessel, and throwing grappling-irons into his own ship with a view to board it; for there was a space between ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587313 | little too wide for men to leap. Springing to the side, the King cut the grappling-irons with a sweep of his sword. "That was well tried," he said. "It shall be tried again," cried Ulf, heaving another iron, which nearly struck the King, but Harald's sword flashed through the air, and again the iron was cut. At that mo... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587314 | Flatnose stepped back a few paces, and with a mighty rush leaped right over the space in all his war gear, and alighted on the Dragon's deck within a yard of the King. It was a tremendous leap, and so nearly beyond the compass of Kettle's powers that he was scarcely able to retain his foothold, but stood for a | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587315 | moment on the edge of the vessel with shield and sword upheaved, as he staggered to regain his balance. Thus exposed, he might have easily been slain; but the King, instead of using his sword, stepped forward, and with his left hand pushed the Irishman overboard. The cheer which greeted his daring leap had scarcely cea... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587316 | fell heavily into the sea. "A goodly man, and a bold attempt," said the King, with a smile, as he turned to Jarl Rongvold. "'Twould have been a pity to slay him outright. If he can swim he may yet live to fight another battle." "True, sire," replied the jarl, who was looking over the side at the place where | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587317 | Kettle fell; "but methinks he has struck his head on an oar, and will never succeed in swimming towards a friendly hand." This indeed seemed to be true; for Kettle lay with his arm over an oar, and his head hanging down in the water, like a dead man. Yet there was life in him, for his fingers moved. Ulf | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587318 | had witnessed all this, and was on the point of attempting to leap across to Harald's ship when Kettle fell. He paused, and, seeing that his comrade was apparently being drowned, at once dropped sword and shield, and sprang into the sea after him. At that moment a number of the King's boldest and best armed men observe... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587319 | two ships had drawn a little nearer to each other. In a moment they leaped across the intervening space, took their opponents by surprise, and quickly regained the ship. While this had been going on at the poop, the fight on the forecastle had raged with extreme fury, for Haldor the Fierce had gained a footing on the D... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587320 | and was engaged in mortal combat with Hake the berserk, whom he was slowly but surely driving back. His son Erling the Bold, who observed what was going on, had run his cutter along the stern of his father's ship, and was hastening to his aid, when King Harald became aware that his men were giving way, and rushed to | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587321 | their support. He went forward raging with anger, and as he ran he picked up a huge stone, which he hurled before him. Haldor was at the moment in the act of fetching a deadly cut at Hake, whom he had disarmed. The stone struck him full in the chest, and he fell backward just as Erling reached his side. | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587322 | A great cheer arose at this time on the right; for there the wing of the Southland men was broken, and everywhere King Harald's men were victorious. "Hold thou them in check, Glumm," cried Erling to his friend, as he quickly raised his father in his arms and bore him away to his cutter. Glumm, who had followed his frie... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587323 | like his shadow, sprang forward and engaged Hake, who had recovered his sword, and who found this new enemy little, if at all, less formidable than the other. Erling placed his father carefully in the cutter. "Here, Thorer," he said, "do thou guard my father, and hold thyself and the carles in readiness to push off. Th... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587324 | I see. I go to slay the King, and will return presently." He leaped away as he spoke, and regained the foredeck of the Dragon, where Glumm and his men were still engaged with the berserkers, just as the King came to the front. The instant he saw Erling he leaped upon him with a fierce shout, and shook back | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587325 | his shaggy flaxen locks as a lion might shake his mane. Erling was not a whit behind him in anxiety to meet. He sprang upon him with a crashing blow of his great pole-axe, which rang loudly on the King's shield, but did him no hurt. They were a well-matched pair. Harald was fully as stout, though not quite so | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587326 | tall as his opponent, whose fine silky hair was almost as bushy as that of the King, though neither so long nor so tangled. Men drew back and stood aside when they heard the shock and shout of their onset, and suspended the fight around them, while they gazed on in silent awe. For a time it seemed doubtful which | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587327 | was the better man; for the King's blade whirled incessantly around his head like flashing light, and rang on Erling's shield, which was ever upraised to meet it. At the same time the axe of our hero, if not so swift in its gyrations, was more tremendous in its action; more than once the King was seen to stagger beneat... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587328 | its thundering blows, and once he was beaten down on one knee. How long this might have lasted it is impossible to tell; but, seeing that the King was likely to get the worst of it, one of his men crept round by the outside of the ship, and coming suddenly up behind Erling, put out his hand and caught | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587329 | him by the leg, causing him to stagger backwards, so that he fell overboard. In falling our hero caught the man by the throat, and both fell into the sea together. It was seen that Erling dived with his foe and dragged him down as if to force him to perish along with him, and everyone looked for a few | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587330 | moments at the water, expecting to see them rise. Glumm gazed among the rest; and he had leaped down into Haldor's ship to be ready to lend a hand. But Erling did not rise again. Seeing this, Glumm sprang up with sudden fury and dashed at the enemy, but by this time they had recovered from their surprise, and now | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587331 | poured into the ship in such overwhelming numbers that the men were driven back and slain, or they leaped overboard and trusted to escape by swimming. Meanwhile Erling the Bold having choked off his antagonist, dived under his father's ship and came up at the stern of his own cutter, into which he speedily clambered by... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587332 | which hung over the side. He found that his father was seated on the poop with his head resting on the gunwale, recovering consciousness slowly, and Thorer was engaged in the difficult task of preventing the men from leaving the vessel to succour their comrades. "Keep back, men," cried Erling in a voice which none dare... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587333 | ye are and get out the oars.--Come, Thorer, follow me with a stout man, and keep them back while I rescue Glumm." He jumped into Haldor's ship, and ran to the fore part of the poop, where Glumm was fighting against overwhelming odds, with the blind desperation of a man who has resolved to sell his life as dearly as | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587334 | he can. Thorer and a tall stout man followed him, and instantly assailed King Harald's men with such fury that they gave back a little. At the same moment Erling seized Glumm by the neck; almost strangled him; dragged him violently to the stern, and half sprang, half tumbled with him into the cutter, where, despite his... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587335 | rise, he held him down. "Now, my brisk lads," shouted Erling, who was gasping by this time, "come back and jump in! Push off an ell or so. Steady!" Thorer and the other man heard the shout, and, turning at once, ran to the stern and leaped into the cutter, which was instantly thrust off, so that one or two | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587336 | of their opponents who ventured to jump after them were left floundering in the sea. By this time King Harald's victory was complete. Both wings had been beaten for some time, and now the centre had given way--only one or two of the more desperate leaders were still keeping up the fight. As Erling rowed towards the sho... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587337 | see that all the loose vessels of the fleet were flying up the fiord, pursued by a few of the loose vessels of the enemy. But the greater part of both fleets being tied together, could take no part in the chase until they were cut asunder. "The day is lost, father," said Erling, as he stood by the steering | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587338 | oar. "I know it, my son," replied Haldor, who was now able to sit up and look about him; "Norway is henceforth enthralled." He said this in a tone of such deep sadness that Erling forbore to continue the subject. "They are cutting asunder the fleet," observed Glumm, who had recovered self-possession, and stood looking ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587339 | the recent conflict; "surely some of them are trying to escape." As he spoke, one of the large vessels shot out from among the others, and rowed rapidly away. There was desperate fighting on board of it for a few minutes, and then a number of men were pushed or thrown overboard, and a loud cheer of victory arose. "Well | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587340 | done, Solve Klofe!" cried Erling with enthusiasm. "That is his shout. I should know it among a thousand. He at least is bent on being free!" Several of Harald's ships, which had been also cut loose, immediately gave chase, but Solve's men pulled so well that they soon left them behind, and hoisting their sail to a ligh... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587341 | was blowing just off the mouth of the fiord, soon doubled the point and bore away to the south. "Is that someone swimming in the water?" asked Erling, pointing as he spoke to an object which moved forward among the debris of oars, portions of clothing, and wreck, which was floating about everywhere. One of the men at t... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587342 | oar stood up, and after a short glance, said that he thought it was a man. "Look out on the starboard bow. Mind your oars and be ready, someone, to lean over the waist and catch hold of him." As he spoke, the cutter ranged up to the object, which appeared to be the dishevelled and blood-bespattered head of a | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587343 | man. He suddenly gave vent to a wild shout--"Come on, thou tyrant! Down with ye, dog--huzza!" At the last shout a pair of arms were swung wildly in the air, and the next moment the man's voice was stifled in the water as he sank, while another head appeared beside him. "That is the voice of Kettle Flatnose, or his | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587344 | wraith," exclaimed Erling; "pull gently, lads; hold water." "Why, Ulf, is it thou?" "Truly," exclaimed Ulf, grasping the extended hand of Glumm, "I don't feel quite sure! Haul gently, Glumm. I've got Kettle here. Another hand or two. Now then, heave together!" Several stout men leaned over the side, and, acting in acco... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587345 | out of the sea; the former in a state of great exhaustion, the latter almost dead, for his last dip had well-nigh choked him. "It has been a long swim," said Ulf, sitting down and leaning languidly against the bulwarks, while Glumm and Haldor proceeded to chafe the Irishman into a state of consciousness. "Once or twice... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587346 | him, for he was very wild when he came to himself, after I got hold of him, and struggled to be up and fight the King; but I held him fast. Yet methought once or twice," added Ulf, with a smile, "that I had at last got into Valhalla." A horn of ale refreshed Ulf, and another of the same | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587347 | was shortly after given to Kettle, by which his wandering faculties were soon restored. By this time they were drawing near the bay at Ulfstede, and Erling urged on the rowers, for they could see that Harald's ships were now cast loose, and giving chase to those that endeavoured to escape, while several of the largest,... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587348 | direct for the land. "Our whole effort now," said Haldor, "must be to rescue the women." "That will not be easy," observed Ulf gloomily. "But it is not impossible," said Erling with decision. "We shall have time to get into the woods, and so round to the cave. By the way, does anyone know aught of Hakon of Drontheim?" ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587349 | is dead," said Glumm. "Dead!" At that moment Haldor started up with a wild exclamation, and pointed towards the spot on which his own dwelling stood, where, above the trees, there arose a cloud of dense black smoke. The truth was soon all too plain, for, on rounding the point which had hitherto concealed the bay from t... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587350 | of the enemy's largest ships were seen with their bows on the shore. It was evident that part of the left wing of the enemy, which was first victorious, had, unobserved by them, made for the shore, and landed a large force of men, who had hastened to Ulfstede, and, finding it deserted, had pushed on to Haldorstede, whi... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587351 | had set on fire. "Now indeed would death be welcome!" cried Haldor, stamping fiercely on the deck, while every feature of his face blazed with wrath. We need scarcely say that the hearts of all had sunk within them, but Erling said--"Death would be unwelcome yet, father. The men, no doubt, are killed, but be sure they ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587352 | the women while King Harald is on his way to the stede. We may yet die in defending them, if we cannot save them." "True, my son," said Haldor, clasping his hands, and looking upwards with a solemnity of expression that was in strong contrast with his recent burst of passion; "we may perchance save them, as thou sayest... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587353 | woe is me for poor Alric!" "Alric is safe, I am certain," said Erling energetically, as he turned a meaning glance on Glumm. "How knowest thou that?" asked Haldor. Erling hesitated to reply, not wishing to raise hopes that after all might prove to be fallacious. Before the question could be repeated the cutter's keel g... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587354 | a small bay which was close to the large one, and concealed from it by a small rocky islet. Here they all jumped ashore--all except Kettle Flatnose, who, on attempting to rise, found himself so weak that he fell down again, and nearly fainted. "This is bad," said Erling. "But come, we have no time to waste. Give me the | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587355 | chief command of our men, father; I have a plan in my head." "Do as thou wilt," said Haldor, with a strange mixture of despair, resignation, and ferocity in his tone. "Come then, form up, men, and follow me!" So saying, Erling lifted Kettle in his arms, and hurried away with him as if he had been no heavier than | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587356 | a little boy! He led the way to the secret entrance to the cave, where, true as steel to his trust, little Alric was found with a few men guarding the two warships of Erling and Glumm. CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. THE END OF AN OLD SEA-KING. Haldor the Fierce said nothing when he heard Alric's blithe voice in the cavern, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587357 | but he caught him up in his arms, and gave him a hug that almost made him cry out. "Why, father, what ails thee?" asked the boy in surprise, when Haldor set him free. "Never mind, lad," interposed Erling, "but lend a hand to keep Kettle in order. He is a little wild just now, and as I intend to | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587358 | leave him in thy charge we must restrain him a bit. Hand me that rope." The boy obeyed in silence, but with much wonder depicted on his face while Erling lashed Kettle's hands together, and, lifting him in a half-unconscious state into his ship, bound him in as comfortable a position as he could, to one of the rowers' ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587359 | "Now, Alric, come aside with me, quick! I have only time for a few words. It is enough to tell thee that the day is lost. I go with our father and the men to save our mother and the other women, or to die. Thou wilt stay here with a few men to guard the ships, and be ready | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587360 | to cast off at a moment's notice. If we return not before night, do thou creep out and try to ascertain what has become of us, and if ye have reason to think we are killed, cut Kettle's bonds and let him do what he will, poor fellow. At present his head has got a knock that renders him a | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587361 | dangerous comrade, so he must remain tied. Of course, if the cave is attacked thou wilt set him free at once. There is a little boat at the stern of my Swan. Escape if thou canst. But be watchful. We may return in a few hours. If so, all shall yet be well. Dost understand me, boy?" "I do, but | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587362 | methinks ill luck awaits us." Erling made no reply, but, kissing Alric's forehead, he returned to his men, of whom there were about sixty, and led them out of the cave, leaving six with his little brother to guard the ships. While our hero is thus hastening to the rescue, let us turn aside for a little to follow the | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587363 | course of Guttorm Stoutheart. That brave old Sea-king had escaped scathless throughout the whole of the disastrous day until near the end, when he received his death-wound from a javelin which pierced his thigh, and cut some important blood vessel, to stanch which defied the skill of his attendants. He immediately orde... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587364 | was among the first to escape round the southern point of the fiord, just before the battle ended. At first the men pulled as if their lives depended on it. So great was their haste that they did not take time to throw their dead comrades overboard, but left them lying in a ghastly heap on the lower deck. When, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587365 | however, they got round the next point, and found that no pursuit was made, they slackened speed and began to heave out the dead, when Guttorm, who reclined near the helm, steering the vessel, ordered them to desist. "My men," said he, in a voice which had already lost much of its deep richness of tone, "we will land o... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587366 | the next point. My days are run out. I go to Odin's halls, and I am glad, for it becomes not an old warrior to die in his bed, which I had begun to fear was going to be my fate; besides, now that Norway is to be no longer a free land, it is time that the small kings | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587367 | should be going home. Ye will carry me to the top of yonder headland cliff, and leave me where I can see the setting sun, and the fords and fells of my native land. Would that my bones might have been burned, as those of my fathers were! but this may not be. Ye can lay beside me the comrades | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587368 | who have gone before, and then push off and leave me with the dead." There was a low murmur among the men as they again dipped their oars, but not a word was spoken in reply. Just as they reached the point a vessel came in sight behind them under sail. "Too late!" muttered Guttorm bitterly, as he looked back; | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587369 | "we are pursued, and must hold on." "Not so," answered one of his chief men; "that is Solve Klofe's ship." "Is that so?" cried Guttorm, while the colour mounted to his pale cheek, and the fire shone in his old eyes; "then have I better luck than I had looked for. Quick, get to land! The breeze that brings Solve | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587370 | down will reach us soon. Get out your arms, and go hail Solve as he passes. Ye shall sail with him to-night. I will hie me out upon the sea." He spoke somewhat like his former self for a moment, but soon his voice sank, for the life-blood was draining fast away. Ere many minutes had passed, the breeze freshened | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587371 | into a squall of considerable force. It came off the land, and swept down the fiord, lashing its waters into seething waves. Solve answered the hail of Guttorm's men, and landed. "What news?" he asked: "there is but short space for converse." The men told him that old Guttorm was dying in his ship. He walked up the pla... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587372 | lay from the shore to the gunwale, and found the old warrior lying on the poop beside the helm, wrapped in his mantle, and giving directions to his men, who were piling brushwood on the deck. "This is an ill sight," said Solve, with much feeling, as he knelt beside the dying chief, who received him with a smile, and | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587373 | held out his hand. "Ha! Solve, I am glad thou art here. My last battle has been fought, and it has been a good one, though we did get the tooth-ache. If it had only been a victory, I had recked little of this wound." "Can nothing be done for thee?" asked Solve. "Perchance I may be able to stop | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587374 | the bleeding." Guttorm shook his head, and pointed to the blood which had already flowed from him, and lay in a deep pool in the sides of the ship. "No, no, Solve, my fighting days are over, and, as I have said, the last fight has been a good one! Ye see what I am about, and understand how to | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587375 | carry out my will. Go, relieve me of the trouble, and see that it is done well. I would rest now." Solve pressed the hand of his friend in silence, and then went forward to assist actively in the preparations already referred to. The men heaped up the funeral pile round the mast, fastened the stern ropes to the shore, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587376 | plied the dead upon the deck, and, when all was ready, hoisted sail. The squall had increased so that the mast bent, and the ship strained at her stern ropes like an impatient charger. Then the men went on shore, and Solve, turning to Guttorm, bent over him, and spoke a few words in a low, earnest tone, but the | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587377 | old man's strength was almost gone. He could only utter the single word "Farewell", and wave his hand as if he wished to be left alone. Solve rose at once, and, applying a light to the pile, leaped ashore. Next moment the cables were cut; the brushwood crackled with a fierce noise as the fire leaped up and the "ocean | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587378 | steed" bounded away over the dark blue sea. Guttorm was still seated by the helm, his face pale as death, but with a placid smile on his mouth, and a strange, almost unearthly, fire in his eyes. The longship rushed over the waves with the foam dashing on her bows, a long white track in her wake, and a dense | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587379 | black cloud curling overhead. Suddenly the cloud was rent by a fork of flame, which was as suddenly quenched, but again it burst upwards, and at last triumphed; shooting up into the sky with a mighty roar, while below there glowed a fierce fiery furnace, against which was strongly depicted the form of the grand old Sea... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587380 | at the helm. Swiftly the blazing craft dashed over the waves, getting more and more enveloped in smoke and flame. Ere long it could be seen in the far distance, a rushing ball of fire. Gradually it receded, becoming less and less, until at last it vanished, like a setting star, into the unknown waste of the great weste... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587381 | CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. HOPES AND FEARS--THE BURNING OF HALDORSTEDE, AND ESCAPE OF THE FAMILY. Meanwhile the family at Haldorstede had made a narrow escape, and some members of it were still in great peril. When Hilda and Ada were sent thither, with the females of Ulfstede, under the charge of Christian the hermit, as alr... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587382 | and her maidens busily engaged in making preparations for a great feast. "I prithee," said Dame Astrid, in some surprise, "who are to be thy guests to-night?" "Who should be," replied Herfrida, with a smile, "but the stout fellows who back my husband in the fight to-day! Among them thine own goodman, Dame Astrid, and h... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587383 | one is left at Ulfstede there can be no supper there for them; and as the poor lads are likely to be well worn out, we must have something wherewith to cheer them." "But what if ill luck betide us?" suggested Astrid. "Ill luck never betides us," replied Herfrida, with an expression of bland assurance on her handsome fa... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587384 | if it does, we shall be none the worse for having done our part." "_Some_ people are always forecasting evil," muttered Ingeborg, with a sour look, as she kneaded viciously a lump of dough which was destined to form cakes. "And some other people are always forecasting good," retorted Ada, with a smile, "so that things ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587385 | after all. Come now, Ingeborg, don't be cross, but leave the dough, and let us go to thy room, for I want to have a little gossip with thee alone." Ingeborg was fond of Ada, and particularly fond of a little gossip, either public or private. She condescended, therefore, to smile, as it were under protest, and, rubbing ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587386 | from her fingers, accompanied her friend to her chamber, while the others broke into several groups, and chatted more or less energetically as they worked, or idled about the house. "Is there any fear of our men losing the day?" asked Hilda of the hermit, who stood looking out of a window which commanded a view of the ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587387 | the ships of the opposing fleets could be seen engaged in the battle, that had just begun. Poor Hilda asked the question with a look of perplexity in her face; for hitherto she had been so much accustomed to success attending the expeditions of her warlike father and friends, that she had never given much thought to th... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587388 | defeat and its consequences. "It is not easy to answer that question," replied the hermit; "for the success or failure of thy father's host depends on many things with which I am not acquainted. If the forces on both sides are about equal in numbers, the chances are in his favour; for he is a mighty man of valour, as | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587389 | well as his son, and also thy father. Besides, there are many of his men who are not far behind them in strength and courage; but they may be greatly outnumbered. If so, defeat is possible. I would say it is probable, did I not know that the Ruler of events can, if He will, give victory to the weak | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587390 | and disaster to the strong. Thy father deems his cause a righteous one--perhaps it is so." "Well, then," said Hilda, "will not God, who, you say, is just and good, give victory to the righteous cause?" "He may be pleased to do so; but He does not always do so. For His own good and wise ends He sometimes permits | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587391 | the righteous to suffer defeat, and wrongdoers to gain the victory. This only do I know for certain, that good shall come out of all things to His people, whether these things be grievous or joyful; for it is written, `All things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called, according to Hi... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587392 | purpose.' This is my consolation when I am surrounded by darkness which I cannot understand, and which seems all against me. That things often pass my understanding does not surprise me; for it is written, `His ways are wonderful--past finding out.'" "Past finding out indeed!" said Hilda thoughtfully. "Would that I had... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587393 | enable thee to trust and rejoice in darkness as well as in sunshine." "Thou mayst have it, daughter," answered the hermit earnestly, "if thou wilt condescend to ask it in the name of Jesus; for it is written, `Faith is the gift of God;' and again it is written, `Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He will | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587394 | give it you.' One of our chief sins consists in our desire to produce, by means of our own will, that faith which God tells us we cannot attain to by striving after, but which He is willing to bestow as a free gift on those who ask." The conversation was interrupted here by the old house-carle Finn the One-eyed, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587395 | who said in passing that he was going down to the cliffs to see and hear what was doing, and would return ere long to report progress. For an hour after that, the people at Haldorstede continued to watch the fight with intense interest; but although they could see the motion of the ships on the fiord, and could hear | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587396 | the shout of war, as it came floating down on the breeze like a faint murmur, the distance was too great to permit of their distinguishing the individual combatants, or observing the progress of the fight. That it was likely to go ill with their friends, however, was soon made known by Finn, who returned in hot haste t... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587397 | them to prepare for flight. "Be sure," said Dame Herfrida, "that there is no need to flee until Haldor or Erling come to tell us to get ready." "That may be so," said Finn; "but if Haldor and Erling should chance to be slain, ill will it be for you if ye are not ready to fly." "Now it seems | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587398 | to me," said Dame Astrid, who was of an anxious temperament, "that thou art too confident, Herfrida. It would be wise at all events to get ready." "Does anyone know where Alric is?" asked Ingeborg. As everyone professed ignorance on this point, his mother said that she had no doubt he was safe enough; for he was a bold... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012587399 | man, and quite able to take care of himself. "If he has had his own way," observed Ivor the Old, who came in at that moment, "he is in the fleet for he is a true chip of the old tree; but we are not like to see him again, methinks, for I have seen the fleet giving back on | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
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