Erling the Bold

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

  SHOWS THAT ELOQUENCE DOES NOT ALWAYS FLOW WHEN IT IS EXPECTED, AND THATGLUMM BEGINS A NEW COURSE OF ACTION.

  On examination it was found that Glumm's hurt was not severe. He hadmerely been stunned by the force of the blow, and there was a triflingwound in the scalp from which a little blood flowed. While Kettle helda helmet full of water, and Erling bathed the wound, the latter said:

  "How comes it, Kettle, that ye discovered our straits, and appeared sofortunately?"

  Kettle laughed and said: "The truth is, that accident brought me here.You know that I had all but wrought out my freedom by this time, but inconsideration of my services in the battle at the Springs, Ulf set mefree at once, and this morning I left him to seek service with KingHarald Haarfager."

  "That was thankless of thee," said Erling.

  "So said Ulf," rejoined Kettle; "nevertheless, I came off, and was on myway over the fells to go to the King when I fell in with Hake theberserk--though I knew not that it was he--and joined him."

  Erling frowned, and looked enquiringly at Kettle as he said:

  "But what possessed thee, that thou shouldst quit so good a master forone so bad, and how comes it thou hast so readily turned against theKing's men?"

  "Little wonder that you are perplexed," said Kettle, "seeing that yeknow not my motive. The truth is, that I had a plan in my head, whichwas to enter Harald's service, that I might act the spy on him, and sodo my best for one who, all the time I have been in thraldom, has beenas kind to me as if he had been my own father."

  "Thou meanest Ulf?" said Erling.

  "I do," replied Kettle with enthusiasm, "and I'd willingly die for himif need be. As ye know full well, it needs no wizard to tell that suchmen as Ulf and your father will not easily be made to bend their necksto the King's yoke; and for this I honour them, because they respect thelaw of the land more than they respect the King. Happy is the nationwhere such men abound; and in saying this I do no dishonour to the King,but the reverse."

  Erling looked in surprise at Kettle, while he continued to bathe theface of his still unconscious friend, for his language and bearing weremuch altered from what they had been when he was in thraldom, and therewas an air of quiet dignity about him, which seemed to favour the commonreport that he had been a man of note in his own land.

  "Well," continued Kettle, "it is equally certain that Harald is not aman who will tamely submit to be thwarted in his plans, so I had made upmy mind to take service with him, in order that I might be able to findout his intentions and observe his temper towards the men of Horlingdal,and thus be in a position to give them timely warning of any danger thatthreatened. On my way hither I met Hake, as I have said. On hearingthat he belonged to King Harald, I told him that I had just got myfreedom from Ulf, and wished to join the King. He seemed very glad, andsaid he thought I would make a good berserk; told me that he was out insearch of some of the King's enemies, and proposed that I should assisthim. Of course this suited me well; but it was only when we found youthat I became aware who the King's enemies were, and resolved to act asye have seen me do. I did not choose to tell Ulf my intention, lest myplan should miscarry; but, now that I find who the King counts his foes,and know how sharply he intends to treat them, it seems to me that Ineed go no farther."

  "Truly thou needst not," said Erling, "for Harald is in the worstpossible humour with us all, and did his best to stop me from going hometo tell the fact."

  "Then is my mission ended. I will return to Ulfstede," said Kettle,throwing the water out of his helmet, and replacing it on his head, ashe rose and grasped his sword. "Meanwhile, I will cut off Hake's head,and take it back with me."

  "Thou wilt do so at thy peril," said Erling; "Hake fell to my hand, andI will finish the work which I have begun. Do thou go catch three orfour of the horses, for I see that Glumm is recovering."

  "I will not interfere with your business," said Kettle, with a laugh,"only I thought you meant to leave his carcass lying there unheeded, andwas unwilling to go off without his head as a trophy."

  Kettle went to catch the horses--three of which he tied to trees to beready for them, while he loaded the fourth with the most valuable of thearms and garments of the slain. Meanwhile Glumm groaned, and, sittingup, rubbed his head ruefully.

  "I thought someone had sent me to Valhalla," he said, fetching a deepsigh.

  "Not yet, friend Glumm, not yet. There is still work for thee to do onearth, and the sooner ye set about doing it the better, for methinks theKing will wonder what has become of his berserkers, and will send outmen in search of them ere long. Canst mount thy horse?"

  "Mount him? aye," said Glumm, leaping up, but staggering when he hadgained his legs, so that Erling had to support him for a few minutes.He put his hand to his forehead, and, observing blood on it, asked: "Isthe wound deep?"

  "Only a scratch," said Erling, "but the blow was heavy. If the sword ofKettle Flatnose had not caught it in time, it would have been thydeath."

  "Truly it has not been far from that as it is, for my head rings as ifthe brain were being battered with Thor's hammer! Come, let us mount."

  As he spoke, Kettle brought forward the horses. Glumm mounted withdifficulty, and they all rode away. But Erling had observed a slightmotion of life in the body of Hake, and after they had gone a few yardshe said: "Ride on slowly, Glumm, I will go back to get a ring from thefinger of the berserk, which I forgot."

  He turned, and rode quickly back to the place where the berserk's bodylay, dismounted, and kneeled beside it. There was a large silver ringon the middle finger of Hake's right hand, which he took off and put onhis own finger, replacing it with a gold one of his own. Then he ran tothe spring, and, filling his helmet with water, came back and laved theman's temples therewith, at the same time pouring a little of it intohis mouth. In a few minutes he began to show symptoms of revival, butbefore he had recovered sufficiently to recognise who his benefactorwas, Erling had vaulted into the saddle and galloped away.

  They arrived at Glummstede that evening about supper-time, but Glumm waseager to hear the discussion that was sure to take place when the newsof the fight and of Harald's state of mind was told, so he rode past hisown home, and accompanied his friend to Ulfstede. We cannot say forcertain that he was uninfluenced by other motives, for Glumm, as thereader knows, was not a communicative man; he never spoke to anyone onthe subject; we incline, however, to the belief that there were mingledideas in his brain and mixed feelings in his heart as he rode toUlfstede!

  Great was the sensation in the hall when Erling, Glumm, and Kettleentered with the marks of the recent fight still visible upon them--especially on Glumm, whose scalp wound, being undressed, permitted acrimson stream to trickle down his face--a stream which, in his owncareless way, he wiped off now and then with the sleeve of his coat,thereby making his aspect conspicuously bloody. Tremendous was theflutter in Ada's heart when she saw him in this plight, for well did sheknow that deeds of daring had been done before such marks could havebeen left upon her gruff lover.

  The hall was crowded with armed men, for many bonders had assembled toawait the issue of the decision at the Thing, and much anxiety as wellas excitement prevailed. Ulf recognised his late thrall with a look ofsurprise, but each of them was made to quaff a brimming tankard of alebefore being allowed to speak. To say truth, they were very willing toaccept the draught, which, after the fatigues they had undergone, tastedlike nectar.

  Erling then stood up, and in the midst of breathless silence began torecount the incidents which had befallen him and his companion while inthe execution of their mission.

  "In the first place," he said, "it is right to let ye all know that theKing's countenance towards us is as black as a thundercloud, and that wemay expect to see the lightning flash out before long. But it is somecomfort to add that Glumm and Kettle and I have slain, or rendered unfitto fight, twenty of Harald's men."

  In the midst of the murmur of congratulation wi
th which thisannouncement was received, Erling observed that Hilda, who had beenstanding near the door, went out. The result of this was, that the pooryouth's spirit sank, and it was with the utmost difficulty he plucked upheart to relate the incidents of the fight, in which he said so littleabout himself that one might have imagined he had been a mere spectator.Passing from that subject as quickly as possible, he delivered hisopinion as to the hopes and prospects before them, and, cutting hisspeech short, abruptly quitted the hall.

  Any little feeling of disappointment that might have been felt at thelame way in which Erling had recounted his exploits was, however, amplycompensated by Glumm, who, although usually a man of few words, had nolack of ideas or of power to express them when occasion required, in aterse, stern style of his own, which was very telling. He gave afaithful account of the fight, making mention of many incidents whichhis friend had omitted to touch on, and dwelling particularly on thedeeds of Kettle. As to that flat-nosed individual himself, when calledupon to speak, he addressed the assembly with a dignity of manner and aracy utterance of language which amazed those who had only known him asa thrall, and who now for the first time met him as a freed man. Hemoreover introduced into his speech a few touches of humour whichconvulsed his audience with laughter, and commented on the condition ofaffairs in a way that filled them with respect, so that from that hourhe became one of the noted men of the dale.

  Erling meanwhile hurried towards one of the cliffs overlooking thefiord. He was well acquainted with Hilda's favourite haunts, and soonfound her, seated on a bank, with a very disconsolate look, which,however, vanished on his appearing.

  "Wherefore didst thou hasten away just as I began to speak, Hilda?" hesaid, somewhat reproachfully, as he sat down beside her.

  "Because I did not wish to hear details of the bloody work of which thouart so fond. Why wilt thou always be seeking to slay thy fellows?"

  The girl spoke in tones so sad and desponding, that her lover lookedupon her for some time in silent surprise.

  "Truly, Hilda," he said, "the fight was none of my seeking."

  "Did I not hear thee say," she replied, "that Kettle and Glumm and thouhad slain twenty of the King's men, and that ye regarded this as acomforting thought?"

  "Aye, surely; but these twenty men did first attack Glumm and me whilealone, and we slew them in self-defence. Never had I returned to tellit, had not stout Kettle Flatnose come to our aid."

  "Thank Heaven for that!" said Hilda, with a look of infinite relief."How did it happen?"

  "Come. I will tell thee all from first to last. And here is one whoshall judge whether Glumm and I are to blame for slaying these men."

  As he spoke, the hermit approached. The old man looked somewhat palerthan usual, owing to the loss of blood caused by the wound he hadreceived in his recent defence of Ulfstede. Erling rose and saluted himheartily, for, since the memorable prowess in the defence of Ulfstede,Christian had been high in favour among the people of the neighbourhood.

  "Hilda and I were considering a matter of which we will make theejudge," said Erling, as they sat down on the bank together.

  "I will do my best," said the hermit, with a smile, "if Hilda consentsto trust my judgment."

  "That she gladly does," said the maid.

  "Well, then, I will detail the facts of the case," said Erling; "butfirst tell me what strange marks are those on the skin thou holdest inthy hand?"

  "These are words," said the hermit, carefully spreading out a roll ofparchment, on which a few lines were written.

  Erling and Hilda regarded the strange characters with much interest.Indeed, the young man's look almost amounted to one of awe, for he hadnever seen the scroll before, although Hilda, to whom it had severaltimes been shown and explained, had told him about it.

  "These marks convey thoughts," said Christian, laying his forefinger onthe characters.

  "Can they convey intricate thoughts," asked Erling, "such as aredifficult to express?"

  "Aye; there is no thought which can quit the tongue of one man and enterthe understanding of another which may not be expressed by these lettersin different combinations."

  "Dim ideas of this have been in my mind," said Erling, "since I went onviking cruise to the south, when first I heard of such a power beingknown to and used by many, but I believed it not. If this be as thousayest, and these letters convey thy thoughts, then, though absent, thythoughts might be known to me--if I did but understand the tracing ofthem."

  "Most true," returned the hermit; "and more than that, there be somewho, though dead, yet speak to their fellows, and will continue to do soas long as the records are preserved and the power to comprehend them bemaintained."

  "Mysterious power," said Erling; "I should like much to possess it."

  "If thou wilt come to my poor abode on the cliff I will teach it thee.A few months, or less, will suffice. Even Hilda knows the names of theseparate signs, and she has applied herself to it for little more than afew days."

  Hilda's face became scarlet when Erling looked at her in surprise, butthe unobservant hermit went on to descant upon the immense value ofwritten language, until Hilda reminded him that he had consented to sitin judgment on a knotty point.

  "True, I had forgotten.--Come now, Erling, let me hear it."

  The youth at once began, and in a few minutes had so interested hishearers that they gazed in his face and hung upon his words with raptattention, while he detailed the incidents of the combats with a degreeof fluency and fervour that would have thrown the oratory of Glumm andKettle quite into the shade had it been told in the hall.

  While Erling was thus engaged, his friend Glumm, having finished therecital of his adventures for the twentieth time, and at the same timeeaten a good supper, was advised by his companions to have the wound inhis head looked to.

  "What! hast thou not had it dressed yet?" asked Ulf; "why, that is veryfoolish. Knowest thou not that a neglected wound may compass thy death?Come hither, Ada; thy fingers are skilled in such offices. Take Glummto an inner chamber, and see if thou canst put his head to rights."

  "Methinks," cried Guttorm Stoutheart, with a laugh, "that she is morelikely to put his heart wrong than his head right with these wickedblack eyes of hers. Have a care, Glumm: they pierce deeper than thesword of the berserk."

  Ada pretended not to hear this, but she appeared by no means displeased,as she led Glumm to an inner chamber, whither they were followed byAlric, whose pugnacious soul had been quite fascinated by the story ofthe recent fight, and who was never tired of putting questions as tominute points.

  As Glumm sat down on a low stool to enable Ada to get at his head, shesaid (for she was very proud of her lover's prowess, and her heartchanced to be in a melting mood that night), "Thou hast done wellto-day, it would seem?"

  "It is well thou thinkest so," replied Glumm curtly, rememberingErling's advice.--"No, boy," he added, in reply to Alric, "I did notkill the one with the black helmet; it was Erling who gave him hisdeathblow."

  "Did Hake the berserk look _dreadfully_ fierce?" asked Alric.

  "He made a few strange faces," replied Glumm.

  "The wound is but slight," observed Ada, in a tone that indicated alittle displeasure at the apparent indifference of her lover.

  "It might have been worse," replied Glumm.

  "Do tell me all about it again," entreated Alric.

  "Not now," said Glumm; "I'll repeat it when Hilda is by; she has notheard it yet--methinks she would like to hear it."

  "Hilda like to hear it!" cried the lad, with a shout of laughter; "why,she detests fighting almost as much as the hermit does, though, I mustsay, for a man who hates it, he can do it wonderfully well himself! Butdo tell me, Glumm, what was the cut that Erling gave when he broughtdown that second man, you know--the big one--"

  "Which? the man whose head he chopped off, with half of the leftshoulder?"

  "No; that was the fourth. I mean the other one, with--"

  "Oh, the one he sp
lit the nose of by accident before battering downwith--"

  "No, no," cried Alric, "I mean the one with the black beard."

  "Ha!" exclaimed Glumm, "that wasn't the second man; his fall was muchfurther on in the fight, just after Erling had got hold of thebattle-axe. He whirled the axe round his head, brought it from over theleft down on Blackbeard's right shoulder, and split him to the waist."

  "Now, that is finished," said Ada sharply, as she put away the thingsthat she had used in the dressing of the wound. "I hope that every foethou hast to deal with in future may let thee off as well."

  "I thank thee, Ada, both for the dressing and the good wish," said Glummgravely, as he rose and walked into the hall, followed by hispersevering and insatiable little friend.

  Ada retired hastily to her own chamber, where she stood for a momentmotionless, then twice stamped her little foot, after which she sat downon a stool, and, covering her face with both hands, burst into apassionate flood of tears.