The Thrall of Leif the Lucky

hing

lways to

ten for a tr

vam

Leif returned to Nidaros. Alwin was brought to the n

of arrows and a bag of food, and set out for the mountains,-to hunt, he told Tyrker, sullenly, as he passed. Two hours later, Valbrand call

, her frank glance, and her beautiful glowing face made all other maidens seem dull and lifeless. Alwin dimly felt that hating her was going to be no easy task, and he dared not raise hi

an is such that a blow is like poison in his blood. It must rankle and fester and break out before he can be healed. I do not think he could have be

I have always thought you," answered Sigurd,

y a man with a broken leg and a man with a sprained shoulder, throwing dice on a bench in the sun; Alwin, whistling absently as he swept out

e with t

n the ti

Gothland

ath to the

ng and humming, he was presumably thinking up some other diversion,-and the frequent glanc

e, Englishman! Come hither and tell me

sword. He came and lifted the great blade, and made passe

er than those gold things on Sigurd Haraldsson's sword. What is it called?"

e handle fits your grasp so well, will you not hold it a little longer, while I borrow Long Lodin's weapon here, and we try each other's skill?" He ma

y back on a challenge; and never will I, while the red blood runs in my veins. Get your weap

o imitate him. He remained sitt

ves across the river to Thorgrim Svensson's camp and see the horse-fight he is going to have. He has a black stallion of Keingala's breed, named Flesh-tearer, that it is not necess

wn, surely that ended the matter. A horse fight? He had enjoyed no such spectacle as that since the Michaelmas Day when his fat

k, when a thought caught him like a lariat and whirled him back. "I am forgetting the yoke upon m

ou think I have so little authority. I tell you now that you will always be free to do whatever I ask of you. If there is

ver Alwin like a burning wave. It benumbed him for

I ask you to forget that for a moment I thought myself a man." In sudden frenzy, he whirled the great swor

autiful things; musicians, acrobats, and jugglers with little trick dogs, were everywhere,-one had only to stop and look. A dingy trading vessel lay in the river, loaded with great red apples, some Norman's winter store. One of the crew who knew Rolf threw some after him, by way of greeting; and the two munched luxuriously as they walked along. They passed many Viking camps, gay with streamers and striped linens, where groups of brawny fair-haired men wrestled and tried each ot

tly saluted some young guardsman; and, to the thrall's surprise, the warrior answered not only with friendliness but even with respect. It seemed strange that one of Rolf's mild aspect should be held in any particular esteem by such young fire-eaters. Onc

son," he hiccoughed over and over in mau

such a coward as that," Alwin s

le. "It is your opinion, then, that

of a sudden it occurred to him t

were clustered. "These are Thorgrim Svensson's tents," he explained, following as coolly as though that were the accepted mode of entrance. "Yonder he is

in the midst of it all, examining and directing. He was dressed in coarse homespun of the dingy colors of trading vessels, gray and brown and rusty black, which contrasted oddly with the mantle of gorgeous purple velvet he was at that moment trying on. His little freckled

horse-fight. This is Alwin, Edmund Jarl's son, of England. Bad luck has

ing crew; yet they sobered as though their mirth had been turne

e to fight for a week. Do not go away on that account, however. My ship has brought me some cloaks even finer than the one you covet,"-here it seemed to Alwin as if the little man winked at Rolf,-"an

letters of gold and silver; its crumpled pages were of rarest rose-tinted vellum; its covers, sheets of polished wood gold-embossed and adorned with golden clasps. Even Alfred's royal kinswom

t him, he found,-once more with expectant grins. Opposite him an ungainly young fellow in slav

r said. "But I ask you to leave them a minute and listen to me. Thorgrim here has a thrall whom he holds to be most

aughtiness. "It is not likely that I will strive against a low-born serf, Rolf Er

ound the circle. Alwin braced himself to withstand Rolf's fist;

vowed never to turn your back on a challenge while the red blood ran in your veins. Have wit

Alwin's cheeks at this reminder. Those had

orses being only a pretext? Thorgrim's wink, his allusion to Alwin's swordsmanship, it had all been arranged between them; the velvet cloak was the clew! Rolf had wished to po

fair face was as innocent as those of the pictured saints in

oup believed that his hesitation arose from timidity. Ignoring the smart of yes

had let fall. As he picked it up and laid it r

raid to look a sword in the face, I will fight your serf,-on one condition: that thi

ed itself into a shrewd

on will pay for me. He has told me that while he is

t offended. "A quick wit answered that, Alwin of England," Rolf said with

motions. A flesh-wound in the hip; and the poor churl, who had little real skill and less natural spirit, began to blunder. A thrust in the arm that would have only redo

uggested that if he said anything, it would be something which he realized might be better left unsai

ng bear came upon Alwin afresh. When they stood once more in

uch matters. It is all well enough to scratch pictures on a rock or carve them on a door; but what will you do when you wish to move? Either you must leave

n somewhere and examine it," said he. "Yonder, where those trees stret

assented. To the shady spot

made a pillow of his arms. Alwin squatted down, his bac

e pictures!-no barbaric heart could resist them. What if the straight lines were crooked,-if the draperies were wooden,-the hands and the feet ungainly? They had been drawn with sparkles of go

Look at that horse,-it does not keep you guessing a moment to tell what it is. And yonder

e accomplishment, and his hair was gray. Neither would my mother have learned it, had it not been that Alfred was her kinsman and she was proud of his scholarship. Nor should I have kn

hed himself on his stomach, gripped one leg around the

in; his mother, erect and stern, bidding Brother Ambrose bear him away and flog him for his idleness; his mother hearing his lesson with one arm around him and the other hand holding t

curve swept a party of the King's guardsmen,-yellow hair and scarlet cloaks flying in the wind, spurs jingling, weapons

Olaf himself!" he

like a second Thor. Light flashed from his steel tunic and gilded helmet. His bronzed face had an eagle's beak for a no

ers go on without him, and, wheeling, rode back, followed only by a mounted thrall who was evidently his personal attendant. Alwin leaped up and attempted

ecause I go on a five days' journey, must it happen that my men l

his feet, tugging at his sword. Luckily, befor

e cried, dropping his weap

grim smile, as he yielded his hand

t in the Fiend's name do you here, asleep by the

have not been asleep. I have found a new and worthy enjoyment. I have be

s!" exclaimed the guar

aves with reverence, and crossing himself whenever he encountered a pictured cros

unusual accomplishment. It is not impossible that you might be useful

since you only wish for what is already yours. This is th

her. He sat staring down thoughtfully at the boy,-until his attendant

od thing. We will speak further of it. Now, Olaf Trygvasson is awaiting my report. Tell them I

d, in the courtier-phrase of the day. His chief gave him a short