Hero-Myths & Legends of the British Race

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en recognised as paramount. In the early European communities a man's first duty was to stand by hi

t a kinsman should obtain a full wergild (or money payment) for his relative's death, unless he chose to take up the blood-feud against the murderer's family, we can hardly wonder that some of the heroes of early European literature are heroes of vengeance. Orestes and Electra are Greek embodiments of the idea of the sacredness of vengeance for murdered kinsfolk, and similar feelings are revealed in Gudrun's revenge for the murder of Siegfried in the "Nibelungenlied." To the Teutonic or Celtic warrior there would be

ak, friendless, who, in spite of terrible odds, succeeded in obtaining a late but sufficing vengeance for the cruel slaughter of their only son, the murderer being

ndic

urns in full possession of its body, but more evil-disposed to mankind than before death. It fights and wrestles, pummels its adversary black and blue, it is huge and bloated and hideous, it tries to strangle men, and leaves finger-marks on their throats. If the ghosts are th

Howard an

saga of "How

wman and arbitrator of Icefirth, was weak and easily cowed, so Thorbiorn's wrongdoing remained unchecked; many a maiden had he betrothed to himself, and afterwards rejected, and many a man had he ousted from his lands, yet no redress could be obtained, and no man was bold enough to attack so great a chieftain or resist his will. Thorbiorn's house at Bathstead was one of the best in the district, and his lands stretched down to the shores of the firt

is wife, Biargey, however, was an active and stirring woman, and their only son, Olaf, bade fair to become a redoubtable warrior. Though only fifteen, Olaf had reached full stature, was tall, fair, handsome, and stronger than most men. He wore his fair hair long, and always went b

Meets

heep had strayed in the hills. When those that had been gathered were divided Thorbiorn had lost at least sixty wethers, and was greatly vexed. Some weeks later Olaf Howardson went alone into the hills, and returned with all the lost sheep, having sought them with great toil a

Now Thorbiorn was curious to know what the business might be, and sent his nephew Vakr to see who was there; he went secretly and listened to the conversation between Sigrid and Olaf, but

and S

ghing, till Thorbiorn asked: "How now, nephew

oby of Bluemire, bringing back the s

ghbourly deed,"

Vakr. "He and Sigrid had a long talk together, and I saw her pu

ling heavily. Olaf had no thanks for his kindness, and was ill received whenever he came; yet he came often to see Sigrid, for

rn Insu

d brought back the stray ones. All thanked him, except the master of Bathstead, to whom Olaf drove back sixty wethers. Thorbiorn had grown daily more enraged at Olaf's pop

his way to the da?s where Thorbiorn sat; there he leaned on his axe, gazed steadily at the ma

honour to those who say naught. I have stood here long enough and had no word o

er; and we all know that thou hast come to claim some share of the sheep, as any other be

n, I will not seek thy lost sheep a third time." And as he turned and strode indign

since he could not otherwise obtain a share of them. This rumour came at last to Howard's ears, and he upbraided Olaf, saying, when his

room; and Howard smiled at the wrath which his son could no longer supp

the Wizar

Her dead husband (a reputed wizard) returned to his house night after night as a dreadful ghost, and no man

do you not ask Thorbiorn? He accounts himself to be chief he

too glad if Thorbiorn lets me al

ength with this ghost, for I am young and stronge

e more than mortal strength. They fought grimly till the lights died out, and the struggle raged in the darkness up and down the hall, and finally out of doors. In the yard round the house the dead wizard fell, and Olaf knelt upon him and broke his back, and thought him safe from doing any

"It is manifestly theirs," said he falteringly, for he dreaded Thorbiorn's wrath. "Whose saidst thou?" cried Thorbiorn, coming to him menacingly, with drawn sword. "Thine," said Thorkel, with downcast eyes

nd Fight wi

e an uncanny human form, with waving arms, stood in a narrow bend of the path and drove them back and scattered them. Brand told Olaf all the tale, and when the two we

I will find my scattered sheep," s

so down to the sea-shore. There Olaf, whose strength had been tried to the utmost, had the upper hand, and again broke the back of the dead wizard; but, seeing that that had

asking help of Olaf. The strife grew keen between them, almost to blows, and was only settled by Thorbiorn, who forbade Brand to praise Olaf or to accept help from him. His ill-will

eets T

proposed marriage, and Sigrid first heard of it when the wedding was over, and the bridal party would soon be riding home to Bathstead. Sigrid was very wroth that she must give up her control of the household to another, and refused to stay to serve under Thorbiorn's wife; accordingly she withdrew from Bathstead to a kinsman's house,

to Sigrid's house, to talk with her as usual. As they stood near th

lame. I fear they have done, or will do, some evil deed, and therefore I pray thee, Olaf, not to stay and meet them. He has hated thee

e Thorbiorn no wrong, and I will not flee

rmed with a magic sword? Thy words and thoughts are brave, as thou thyself art, but the odds are too great for thee: the

I will not seek a contest. If it must be so, I

will not live after thee to

left her there, and went down to the shore where his sheep lay. Thorbiorn and Vakr had just lande

am sorry that I must needs drive my sheep home, for Icefirth sheep-drovers

laf caught up a crooked cudgel with which to herd his sheep; he noticed, too, that Thorbi

Co

nd then Olaf knew that he had fallen into their snare. He ran up a bank beside the road, and the two set on him from below, and he defended himself at first manfully

Enem

t she sent a boy to learn the cause, and when he told her that Olaf Howardson was figh

for them. It is a shame for two to set on one man, and they su

ughter, not son, thou art, too timid to help thy kinsfolk. I

's D

o the house. Coming close to Olaf, the new assailant drove the axe in deep between his shoulders, and when Olaf felt the blow he turned and with a mighty stroke slew his last enemy. Th

that all men praised Olaf for his brave defence, and lamented his death. But when men sought for the fair Sigrid she could not be found, and was seen

ned bedridden for twelve months, leaving his wife Biargey to manage the daily fishing and the farm. Men thought

ims Wergil

to Howard where he lay in his bed, and ba

longer fight may well prove his valour by word of mouth, and if Thor

s errand to ask justice from Thorbiorn,

as an old man, to Bathstead, and

eat matter-to claim wergild for my dead

nce thou hast lost a brave son, and I will at least give thee something. There is an old horse named Dodderer out in the pastures, gr

door; and as he went down the hall Vakr shouted and jeered; but Howard said

s the house

at th

btain justice, for men loathed Thorbiorn's evil ways, and Howard would be sure to have many sympathizers. Howard was loath to go. "Thorbior

ords, husband! If Thorbiorn is condemned to pay thee money, and there is a large ring of assessors, it may be that when thou and he are in the ring together he will do something to grieve thee sorely. Then look thou well to it!

words, but this I know: I would do and bear all things

er with a great chieftain, Steinthor of Ere, who was kind to the old man, and gave Howard a place in his booth. Steinthor pra

and T

he felt helpless against Thorbiorn's evil words and deeds; but Steinthor bade him try to win Guest to his side-then he would succeed. Howard took heart, and set off for the

rt; still I remember his death; and now

wn country, and I may do somewhat for thee, but

roved that thou wilt do still less in thine own coun

stir up other men against me! Get thee gone,

such wrong; yea, and if Olaf were still alive thou wouldst not have flouted me thus." As he left Thorbiorn's sight his grief and anger were so gr

and

the booth he sat down b

hom I met leaving

to ask! How can I tell? So man

a brave warrior, and he was so wrathful that he did not know where he went.

said Thorbiorn. "He is a man from my dist

son Olaf whom thou d

nly," return

amended," said Guest, and sent an honourable man to bring Howard to him. Howard at first refused to face Thorbiorn again, but at last reluctantly consented to

orbiorn, choose one of two things: either my sister shall no longer be t

t and the Payme

judgment: "Thorbiorn, I cannot condemn thee to pay Howard all thou owest-with all thy wealth, thou hast not money enough for that; but for slaying Olaf thou shalt pay a threefold wergild. For the other wrongs

y: "I will pay him at home in my own country, i

nt." When this was agreed Howard sat down in the ring, and Guest gave him the one wergild (a hundred of silver), which Howard received in th

elf paid in full if I give him this!" and he flung into the old man's face, as he

eet, but he heeded it not at all. Blinded with blood, and furious, he broke through the ring of assessors, dashed one of th

d in all directio

surely repent it," he said; and he rode to Bathstead, took his sister away, with all her wealth, a

d, helpless, miserable man; but his wife, who saw her presage beginning to come true, kept

and her

with him, and her boat circled round the cutter while she asked his business, and learnt that he was going with Vakr to meet a brother and nephew of his, to bring them to Bathstead, and that he expected to be away from home for a week. The little skiff had now passed completely round the motionless cutter, and Olaf's mother, having lear

and said to her rower: "Now I feel sure that Olaf my son

shall we go?"

rother V

lb

settled down to a life of quiet and peace; he had, however, two promising sons, we

thee. Wilt thou abide with us this night,

"But there is help I would fain ask of thee. Wilt thou lend me t

ose for thyself. Here are three, one old and worn

eady for the day when I shall send and ask for them," Biargey repl

nd and

the loan of a trout-net, since she had not enough to catch the fish. Thorbrand offered her her choice-one old and worn

ce, and chose the new, untried cutter, instead of the old, rusty, notched one. Then Biargey bade farewell to Asbrand, refusing his offer of hospitality, and went hom

using o

. Thou must do it now or never, since now the opportunity has come. Knowest thou not that to-day Thorbiorn returns to Bathstead,

s, and he chanted songs of gladness in vengeance, and joy in strife, and evil omen to the death-doomed foe. Thus gladly, with spear in hand, he went forth to find his enemy and avenge his son; but he turned and ki

athers h

. "I am in haste, and have come to fetch the two new seal-nets thou didst lend to my wife," he said; and Valbrand understood him well. He called to his sons, "Come hither, lads; here is your kinsman Howard, with mighty work on

e promised new turf-cutter, and Asbrand's son, a tall and manly youth, joined the party. At their next visit, to Thorbrand's ho

rd's

ard replied: "It may be that we shall meet Thorbiorn, and when the meeting is over I shall not be a swordless man,

stead they saw a flock of ravens, which encouraged them yet more, since th

e quiet pool by the boathouse, and hid themselves where they could see, but remain themselves unseen. Ho

orn's

all. They had no suspicion of any ambush, and Thorbiorn said to Vakr: "It is a fine night, and dry, Vakr; we will leave

word, Warflame; drawing it, he gripped it hard and brandished it, for he would fain avenge Olaf with the weapon which had slain him. When Vakr came towards the ambush a second time he was laden with shields and helmets. Howard's men

iorn'

rbiorn. The latter had, however, a considerable start, and was both younger and stronger than his adversary, so that he was already on the rock and prepared to dash a huge stone at Howard, when the old man reached the islet. Now there seemed no hope for Howard, but still he clung fiercely to the rock and

lifted the

s men were dead, while he had only lost one serving-man, he rejoiced greatly; but h

r Shelte

Howard and his kinsmen took refuge with that Steinth

bring?" asked Steinthor as the lit

d. "We tell the slaying of Thorbiorn and his brothe

r at the Thing, and hast thou done these mighty deeds with only these youths to aid thee? This is a great marv

thy help if I should ever need it. Therefore have I co

h, if this be not the time? But bide ye all here in honour, and I will set

and Gues

as a great meeting, with many cases to judge. When the matter of the death of Thorbiorn's family was brought up Steinthor spoke on Howard's behalf, and offered

one wergild for Howard to pay-one hundred of silver-which was paid out of hand. In addition to this, Howard must change his dwelling, and his nephews must travel abroad for some years. This sentence pleased all men greatly, and they broke up the Thing in great content, and Howard rode home at the head of a goodly company to his stout-hearted wife Biargey, who had kept his house and lands