the path of the king-第4部分

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After　that　Leif　would　sit　in　long　spells　of　brooding；　for　he　had　a　sense　in　him　of　direction　to　which　he　sought　to　give　free　playa　sense　built　up　from　old　voyages　over　these　very　seas。　The　result　of　his　meditations　was　that　he　swung　more　to　the　south；　and　events　proved　him　wise。　For　on　the　fifteenth　day　came　a　lift　in　the　fog　and　with　it　the　noise　of　tides　washing　near　at　hand　on　a　rough　coast。　Suddenly　almost　overhead　they　were　aware　of　a　great　white　headland；　on　the　summit　of　which　the　sun　shone　on　grass。

Leif　gave　a　shout。　〃My　skill　has　riot　failed　me；〃　he　cried。　〃We　enter　the　Frankish　firth。　See；　there　is　the　butt　of　England！〃

After　that　the　helms　were　swung　round；　and　a　course　laid　south　by　west。　And　then　the　mist　came　again；　but　this　time　it　was　less　of　a　shroud；　for　birds　hovered　about　their　wake；　so　that　they　were　always　conscious　of　land。　Because　of　the　strength　of　the　tides　the　rowers　made　slow　progress；　and　it　was　not　till　the　late　afternoon　of　the　seventeenth　day　that　Leif　approached　Ironbeard　with　a　proud　head　and　spoke　a　word。　The　King　nodded；　and　Leif　took　his　stand　in　the　prow　with　the　lead　in　his　hand。　The　sea　mirroring　the　mist　was　leaden　dull；　but　the　old　pilot　smelt　shoal　water。

Warily　he　sounded；　till　suddenly　out　of　the　gloom　a　spit　of　land　rose　on　the　port；　and　it　was　clear　that　they　were　entering　the　mouth　of　a　river。　The　six　galleys　jolted　across　the　sandbar；　Leif　in　the　foremost　peering　ahead　and　shouting　every　now　and　then　an　order。　It　was　fine　weather　for　a　surprise　landing。　Biorn　saw　only　low　sand…dunes　green　with　coarse　grasses　and；　somewhere　behind；　the　darkness　of　a　forest。　But　he　could　not　tear　his　eyes　from　it；　for　it　was　the　long…dreamed…of　Roman　land。

Then　a　strange　thing　befell。　A　madness　seemed　to　come　on　Leif。　He　left　his　pilot's　stand　and　rushed　to　the　stern　where　the　King　stood。　Flinging　himself　on　his　knees；　he　clasped　Ironbeard's　legs　and　poured　out　supplications。

〃Return！〃　he　cried。　〃While　there　is　yet　time；　return。　Seek　England；　Gael…land；　anywhere；　but　not　this　place。　I　see　blood　in　the　stream　and　blood　on　the　strand。　Our　blood；　your　blood；　my　King！　There　is　doom　for　the　folk　of　Thorwald　by　this　river！〃

The　King's　face　did　not　change。　〃What　will　be；　will　be；〃　he　said　gravely。　〃We　abide　by　our　purpose　and　will　take　what　Thor　sends　with　a　stout　heart。　How　say　you；　my　brave　ones？〃

And　all　shouted　to　go　forward；　for　the　sight　of　a　new　country　had　fired　their　blood。　Leif　sat　huddled　by　the　bulwarks；　with　a　white　face　and　a　gasp　in　his　throat；　like　one　coming　out　of　a　swoon。

They　went　ashore　at　a　bend　of　the　stream　where　was　a　sandy　cape；　beached　the　galleys；　felled　trees　from　the　neighbouring　forest　and　built　them　a　stockade。　The　dying　sun　flushed　water　and　wood　with　angry　crimson；　and　Biorn　observed　that　the　men　wrought　as　it　were　in　a　world　of　blood。　〃That　is　the　meaning　of　Leif's　whimsies；〃　he　thought；　and　so　comforted　himself。

That　night　the　Northmen　slept　in　peace；　but　the　scouts　brought　back　word　of　a　desert　country；　no　men　or　cattle；　and　ashes　where　once　had　been　dwellings。

〃Our　kinsfolk　have　been　here　before　us；〃　said　King　Ironbeard　grimly。　He　did　not　love　the　Danes；　though　he　had　fought　by　their　side。

Half　the　force　was　left　as　a　guard　by　the　ships；　and　next　day　the　rest　went　forward　up　the　valley　at　a　slant　from　the　river's　course。　For　that　way；　ran　the　tale；　lay　a　great　Roman　house；　a　palace　of　King　Kristni；　where　much　gold　was　to　be　had　for　the　lifting。　By　midday　they　were　among　pleasant　meadows；　but　the　raiders　had　been　there；　for　the　houses　were　fired　and　the　orchards　hacked　down。　Then　came　a　shout　and；　turning　back；　they　saw　a　flame　spring　to　the　pale　autumn　skies。　〃The　ships！〃　rose　the　cry；　and　the　lightest　of　foot　were　sent　back　for　news。

They　returned　with　a　sorry　tale。　Of　the　ships　and　the　stockade　nothing　remained　but　hot　cinders。　Half　the　guard　were　dead；　and　old　Arnwulf；　the　captain；　lay　blood…eagled　on　the　edge　of　the　tide。　The　others　had　gone　they　knew　not　where；　but　doubtless　into　the　forests。

〃Our　kinsfolks'　handiwork；〃　said　Ironbeard。　〃We　are　indeed　forestalled；　my　heroes。〃

A　council　was　held　and　it　was　resolved　to　make　a　camp　by　the　stream　and　defend　it　against　all　comers；　till　such　time　as　under　Leif's　guidance　new　ships　could　be　built。

〃Axes　will　never　ring　on　them；〃　said　Leif　under　his　breath。　He　walked　now　like　a　man　who　was　fey　and　his　face　was　that　of　another　world。

He　spoke　truth；　for　as　they　moved　towards　the　riverbank；　just　before　the　darkening；　in　a　glade　between　two　forests　Fate　met　them。　There　was　barely　time　to　form　the　Shield…ring　ere　their　enemies　were　upon　thema　mass　of　wild　men　in　wolves'　skins　and　at　their　head　mounted　warriors　in　byrnies；　with　long　swords　that　flashed　and　fell。

Biorn　saw　little　of　the　battle；　wedged　in　the　heart　of　the　Shield…ring。　He　heard　the　shouts　of　the　enemy；　and　the　clangour　of　blows；　and　the　sharp　intake　of　breath；　but　chiefly　he　heard　the　beating　of　his　own　heart。　The　ring　swayed　and　moved　as　it　gave　before　the　onset　or　pressed　to　an　attack　of　its　own；　and　Biorn　found　himself　stumbling　over　the　dead。　〃I　am　Biorn；　and　my　father　is　King；〃　he　repeated　to　himself；　the　spell　he　had　so　often　used　when　on　the　fells　or　the　firths　he　had　met　fear。

Night　came　and　a　young　moon；　and　still　the　fight　continued。　But　the　Shield…ring　was　growing　ragged；　for　the　men　of　Hightown　were　fighting　one　to　eight；　and　these　are　odds　that　cannot　last。　Sometimes　it　would　waver；　and　an　enemy　would　slip　inside；　and　before　he　sank　dead　would　have　sorely　wounded　one　of　Ironbeard's　company。

And　now　Biorn　could　see　his　father；　larger　than　human；　it　seemed；　in　the　dim　light；　swinging　his　sword　Tyrfing；　and　crooning　to　himself　as　he　laid　low　his　antagonists。　At　the　sight　a　madness　rose　in　the　boy's　heart。　Behind　in　the　sky　clouds　were　banking；　dark　clouds　like　horses；　with　one　ahead　white　and　moontipped；　the　very　riders　he　had　watched　with　Leif　from　the　firth　shore。　The　Walkyries　were　come　for　the　chosen；　and　he　would　fain　be　one　of　them。　All　fear　had　gone　from　him。　His　passion　was　to　be　by　his　father's　side　and　strike　his　small　blow；　beside　those　mighty　ones　which　Thor　could　not　have　bettered。

But　even　as　he　was　thus　uplifted　the　end　came。　Thorwald　Thorwaldson　tottered　and　went　down；　for　a　hurled　axe　had　cleft　him　between　helm　and　byrnie。　With　him　fell　the　last　hope　of　Hightown　and　the　famished　clan　under　Sunfell。　The　Shield…ring　was　no　more。　Biorn　found　himself　swept　back　as　the　press　of　numbers　overbore　the　little　knot　of　sorely　wounded　men。　Someone　caught　him　by　the　arm　and　snatched　him　from　the　mellay　into　the　cover　of　a　thicket。　He　saw　dimly　that　it　was　Leif。

He　was　giddy　and　retching　from　weariness；　and　something　inside　him　was　cold　as　ice；　though　his　head　burned。　It　was　not　rage　or　grief；　but　awe；　for　his　father　had　fallen　and　the　end　of　the　world　had　come。　The　noise　of　the　battle　died；　as　the　two　pushed　through　the　undergrowth　and　came　into　the　open　spaces　of　the　wood。　It　was　growing　very　dark；　but　still　Leif　dragged　him　onwards。　Then　suddenly　he　fell　forward　on　his　face；　and　Biorn；　as　he　stumbled　over　him。　found　his　hands　wet　with　blood。

〃I　am　for　death；〃　Leif　whispered。　〃Put　your　ear　close；　prince。　I　am　Leif　the　Outborn　and　I　know　the　hidden　things。。。。　You　are　the　heir　of　Thorwald　Thorwaldson　and　you　will　not　die。。。。　I　see　a　long　road；　but　at　the　end　a　great　kingdom。　Farewell；　little　Biorn。　We　have　been　good　comrades；　you　and　I。　Katla　from　Sigg　spoke　the　true　word。　。　。　〃

And　when　Biorn　fetched　water　in　his　horn　from　a　woodland　pool　he　found　Leif　with　a　cold　brow。

Blind　with　sorrow　and　fatigue；　the　boy　stumbled　on；　without　purpose。　He　was　lonely　in　the　wide　world；　many　miles　from　his　home；　and　all　his　kin　were　slain。　Rain　blew　from　the　south…west　and　beat　in　his　face；　the　brambles　tore　his　legs；　but　he　was　dead　to　all　things。　Would　that　the　Shield　Maids　had　chosen　him　to　go　with　that　brave　company　to　the　bright　hall　of　Odin！　But　he　was　only　a　boy　and　they　did　not　choose　striplings。

Suddenly　in　a　clearing　a　pin…point　of　light　pricked　the　darkness。

The　desire　for　human　companionship　came　over　him；　even　though　it　were　that　of　enemy　or　outcast。　He　staggered　to　the　door　and　beat　on　it　feebly。　A　voice　spoke　from　within；　but　he　did　not　hear　what　it　said。

Again　he　beat　and　again　the　voice　came。　And　now　his　knocking　grew　feebler；　for　he　was　at　the　end　of　his　strength。

Then　the　bar　was　suddenly　withdrawn　and　he　was　looking　inside　a　poor　hut；　smoky　from　the　wood…fire　in　the　midst　of　it。　An　old　woman　sat　by　it　with　a　bowl　in　her　hand；　and　an　oldish　man　with　a　cudgel　stood　before　him。　He　did　not　understand　their　speech；　but　he　gathered　he　was　being　asked　his　errand。

〃I　am　Biorn；〃　he　said；　〃and　my　father　was　Ironbeard；　the　King。〃

They　shook　their　heads；　but　since　they　saw　only　a　weary；　tattered　boy　they　lost　their　fears。　They　invited　him　indoors；　and　their　voices　were　kindly。　Nodding　with　exhaustion；　he　was　given　a　stool　to　sit　on　and　a　bowl　of　coarse　porridge　was　put　into　his　hands。　They　plied　him　with　questions；　but　he　could　make　nothing　of　their　tongue。

Then　the　thrall　rose；　yawned；　and　dropped　the　bar　over　the　door。　The　sound　was　to　the　boy　like　the　clanging　of　iron　gates　on　his　old　happy　world。　For　a　moment　he　was　on　the　brink　of　tears。　But　he　set　his　teeth　and　stiffened　his　drooping　neck。

〃I　am　Biorn；〃　he　said　aloud；　〃and　my　father　was　a　king。〃

They　nodded　to　each　other　and　smiled。　They　though　his　words　were　a　grace　before　meat。



CHAPTER　2。　THE　ENGLISHMAN

Part　1

The　little　hut　among　the　oak　trees　was　dim　in　the　October　twilight　on　the　evening　of　St。　Callixtus'　Day。　It　had　been　used　by　swineherds；　for　the　earthen　floor　was　puddled　by　the　feet　of　generations　of　hogs；　and　in　the　corner　lay　piles　of　rotting　acorns。　Outside　the　mist　had　filled　the　forest；　and　the　ways　were　muffled　with　fallen　leaves；　so　that　the　four　men　who　approached　the　place　came　as　stealthily　as　shades。

They　reconnoitred　a　moment　at　the　entrance；　for　it　was　a　country　of　war。

〃Quarters　for　the　night；〃　said　one；　and　put　his　shoulder　to　the　door　of　oak…toppings　hinged　on　strips　of　cowhide。

But　he　had　not　taken　a　step　inside　before　he　hastily　withdrew。

〃There　is　something　there；〃