The Thrall of Leif the Lucky: A Story of Viking Days

of thought than the departure from it had bee

e to have part in the fun,

of the night, Alrek's silence was so full of skepticism th

It seems to me sufficient to say only t

riefly. "Do you not see that this Skraelling m

nce lasted unbroken until they glided under the ship's pr

Was Thorwald lacking in hospitality?" the voices laughed, while the

cried the boy who, from the quality of his temper, was known as the Bull. "News! Let us have it out of

f crossly. "I have

ds in a fence. "Where is the Weathercock?" he inquired o

them still about him," Erlend answ

jest is not good enough to bear two tellings. Come after me if you want to hear it."

at bald-headed man with a heavy doughlike face and a grizzled beard that bristled like wiry beach-grass from his plucking at it while

wrong time is because there is no right time for such

id, saluting, "I want to tell you that when you go upon the Cape to-morrow you must go in war clot

dge leaned forward, palms curved around their ears. Only the

st is this?" he

om his belt. "One of the proofs

ands snatched at it; but old Grimkel bent for

he demanded. "You did

"I remember now," he said slowly, "and I remembered up to the

man who screamed that, his doughlike

al brown eyes. "You prove a go

while from the Weathercock went up smoke and

the Lawman? One thing after another, worse and worse, will be caused by this! The Skraellings may be surrounding us even as we speak; and we shall be forced to share your disobedience or else get killed-or, it may be, both fight an

this instead of the report I had expected to give!" He struck his fists together until it seemed as if he might forget the Sword-Bearer's free birth and lay them on him in blows. "Why did I not remember that you had outlaw blood under your fair speakin

pressing unreservedly what they thought of him for taking away their chance of going ashore. When he turned on them, his thick neck rumbling volcano-like, they even gave

hand upon his shoulder; and they proceeded to the little room under the fore-deck, which served on extraordinary

I should not starve however long I stayed here," Alr

he heart to pound you! After I had warned you how the Lawman is holding you in the balance!" He jam

unconcern. Holding out his wrists for the rope, he replied that if Karlsef

as making ready for his journey at Leif Ericsson's house in Greenland, he has counted on strengthening the settlement by making friends of the Skraellings; and planned to get knowledge from their experience of the country, and riches by trad

over it?" Alrek suggested; then went on to reques

re his exasperation could escape through his lips, a waking thrill ran along the Wind-Raven's sp

y square like a patch showed where the low doorway opened into the night. Gradually, the outside hu

Breast to breast they struggled, while the gray square melted shade by shade into cold

three days like this, I shall go out of my wits!" he cried to himself. "To lose all my chance with him is bad e