CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.
THE FIRST CONGRESS AND THE LAST FAREWELL.
At the gathering of the Vinland colonists next day a number of ablespeeches were made by various individuals; for the Norsemen of old wereaccustomed to the free discussion of public affairs, at a time whennearly all Europe was crushed under the yoke of feudalism. Some of thespeeches were humorous, and some had a good deal of sound about themwithout much weight of matter--a peculiarity, by the way, which marksmany of the speeches made in the national and general assemblies ofmankind in the present day, not less, perhaps rather more, than in theolden time.
All the men of the colony were entitled to raise their voices in thecouncil except the thralls, so that the brothers Hake and Heika took nopart in the discussion. These two therefore held a privateconfabulation of their own on the margin of the lake.
Thorward was among the first speakers at the assembly.
"It is my opinion," he said, in the tone of a man who expects to havehis opinion opposed, "that we have not yet given Vinland a fair trial.We are only just beginning to discover the value of the land. Ye knownow that it is not a small island, as was at first supposed, but a vastcountry of unknown extent. Who knows but that it may be as large asNorway? This lake and river on which we dwell do not owe their birth toan insignificant country; any man with half the vision of one eyeremaining may see that! The woods supply all that man can desire; thewaters swarm with fish; the climate is delightful; our ships are evennow loaded to the bulwarks with costly furs, and the natives arefriendly. What would ye more? It seems to me that we might, if wechose, lay the foundation of a new nation that would rival Iceland,perchance equal old Norway itself, if we take advantage of the greatopportunities that have fallen to our hands. But if we get frightenedat the yell of every savage that makes his appearance, or grow weary ofgood, vigorous, hard work, and begin to sigh like children for home,then there is small chance of our doing anything, and it will doubtlessbe the fate of a bolder race of men to people this land at some futuretime."
There was a good deal of applause from some of the people when Thorwardfinished this speech, which was uttered with great decision, but it wasobservable that those who thought with him, though noisy, were notnumerous.
The moment Thorward sat down Krake started up and said somewhatwarmly--"'Tis all very well for Thorward to speak in this way, and ask`What would ye more?' seeing that he has got in his house a handsome andsweet-tempered wife; but I will tell him of _something more_ that Iwant, and that I haven't got just now, and am not likely to get as longas I remain in Vinland. There is a comely little woman in Iceland, whowas born in that best of countries, Ireland, and who forsook the land,and her father and mother, and kith and kin, all for the sake of ared-headed thrall--for he was no better at that time--called Krake.Now, _I_ want that sweet little Irishwoman! Moreover, there's a stoutcurly-headed boy in Iceland who's an elegant chip of the ancient tree,and the born image of his mother--I want that curly-headed boy! Thenthere are six other curly-headed boys in Iceland--only that three ofthem are girls, and the youngest had the curls in prospect when I saw itlast, bein' as bare on the head as the palm of my hand--all of themdescending in size, one after another, from the first curly-headed boy--I want these. Besides which there is a sweet little hut in Iceland atthe edge of a swamp, with the spouting waters not far off, and theboilin' waters quite handy to cook your dinner without firin', and alovely prospect of the burnin' hill behind--I want all that; and I wantto know how Thorward would feel if he wanted all that and couldn't getit, and was advised to go on wantin' it, and if he couldn't keep himselfeasy, to try his best to keep as easy as he could!"
There was some laughter and great applause at this point.
"Moreover," continued Krake, with increasing energy, "it don't give me ascrap of comfort to be told that this is a vast country, full of allthat's desirable and the best of livin', when I can't enjoy it alongwith my sweet little Kathleen and the curly-headed boys and girls beforementioned. What does Krake care for stuffing his own ugly carcase fullwhen mayhap the wife and bairns are dyin' for want--anyhow dyin' to seetheir husband an' father? And what does Krake care to be the beginningof a new nation? No more than he does to be the middle of it, and ifleft to himself he'd far sooner be the end of it by not beginning it atall! As for being frightened by the yells of savages, it's not worth mywhile to mention _that_, but when Thorward talks about beginning to sighlike children for home, he misses his mark entirely. It's not _sighing_I am for home, but roaring, bellowing, howling for it in my weariedspirit, and it's my opinion, comrades, as I gaze round upon yourspeaking faces, that there's a good many here howling along with me."
There could be no doubt that Krake's sentiments were largely entertainedand appreciated, for his speech was followed by prolonged andenthusiastic applause, in which the Norsemen not only raised theirvoices, but rattled their arms on their shields by way of emphasis.Thorward smiled grimly and shrugged his shoulders, but made no reply.
After several others had spoken in various strains--a few in favour ofThorward's opinion, but many more in sympathy with Krake,--Leif made ashort speech, advising immediate return to Greenland, Biarne followedsuit, and Karlsefin wound up with a few remarks, in which he urged,among other things, that although the savages were friendly just then,it was not likely they would remain so very long, and in the event of aquarrel it was certain, considering their great numbers, that the infantcolony would be kept in perpetual hot water, if not actual warfare. Hesuggested, moreover, that the proper way to establish a colony, thatwould have some chance to survive and flourish, would be to organise itthoroughly in Iceland or Norway, and induce so many married men withtheir families to emigrate, that they would be able to _feel_ at home inthe new land, and thus _wish_ to remain. He concluded by saying thatthose who now desired to remain in Vinland might join together anddevote their energies to the getting up of such a band of colonists ifso disposed. For his own part, since the majority were evidently infavour of returning home, he was free to confess that he had no tastefor colonising. The ocean was _his_ home, and when that failed him hehoped that God might permit him to end his days and lay his bones inIceland.
It was finally agreed that the country should be abandoned, and that,having made up their minds, they should set about preparations withoutdelay.
We have said that the Scottish brothers had gone to the margin of thelake to hold a little consultation by themselves, while the affairs ofthe nation were being settled in the grand parliament.
"What think you? Will these men of Iceland decide to return home or toremain here?" said Hake, seating himself on a bank of wild-flowers,which he began to pluck and scatter with an absent air.
"They will decide to forsake Vinland," answered Heika.
"You appear to be very sure, brother."
"I am; because I have been watching the men for some time past, andoccasionally leading them on to talk about the matter."
"Which way do you hope they will decide?" asked Hake.
"I hope they will leave."
"Do you? For my part I care but little. It seems to me that we have assmall a chance of escaping from Greenland as from this land."
"Brother, ye think in this way because you are content to remain whereBertha dwells. If Bertha were with Emma in bonny Scotland, your witswould be sharp enough to perceive that the voyage from Vinland toScotland, with an unknown sea between, would be a more hazardous venturethan a voyage from Greenland to Scotland, with Iceland between."
"That may be true, brother, but methinks my wits are sharp enough toperceive that neither voyage concerns us, seeing that we have no ship,and are not likely to succeed in persuading a whale to carry us over."
"Nevertheless," replied Heika, "I mean to go over to Scotland thissummer if I can."
Hake looked earnestly in his brother's face.
"From your tones and words," said he, "I know that you have some plan inyour head."
"That have I,"
rejoined Heika firmly, yet with a look ofsadness.--"Listen, Hake: the thought that I shall never more see Emma ormy father is more than I can bear. I will now make the effort to escapefrom Greenland--for well assured am I that we shall soon be thereagain--or die in the attempt. Of what value is a thrall's life? Theplan that I have in my head is this. You know that when in Greenland wewere often sent out beyond the fiord to fish and to hunt the walrus andthe seal--sometimes in large, sometimes in small, boats. The boats onEric's fiord are numerous now. The absence of one for a time would notbe much noticed. There is a man there whose life I saved not longbefore we set sail for Vinland. He has a good boat, which I willborrow, take it round to the western skerries, to which our men seldomgo, and there quietly fit it out for a long voyage. When a fitting timearrives I will set sail for Scotland."
Hake shook his head.
"What wild thoughts are these, brother? Who ever heard of a mancrossing the ocean in a small boat?"
"The thing may be done," replied Heika. "It is risky, no doubt; but isnot everything more or less risky? Besides, I had rather die thanremain in thraldom."
He paused, and Hake gazed at the ground in silence.
"I see," he continued sadly, "you do not like my project, and will notaid me in the enterprise. After all, how could I expect that you wouldbe willing to forsake Bertha and face so great a danger?"
Hake still continued to gaze in silence, and with a strangely perplexedair, at the ground.
"Well, well, Hake," resumed the other, in a tone of reproach, "I did notexpect that ye would go with me on this venture, but truly I had countedon your sympathy and counsel as well as your aid."
"Ye do wrong me," cried Hake, suddenly starting up and seizing hisbrother's hand; "I not only sympathise with you, but I will go with you.It is not easy all at once to make up one's mind on a point of suchimportance. Forsake Bertha I never will as long as one drop of Scottishblood flows in my veins, for I know that she loves me, though her senseof duty keeps her aloof--for which I love her all the more.Nevertheless, I will leave her for a time. I will make this venturewith you. If we perish, we perish. If we succeed I will return toGreenland with a force that will either induce or compel the surrenderof my bride."
"Thou art a bold lover," said Heika, smiling. "What! wilt thou carryher off whether she will or no?"
"Not so; but I will carry her off whether Leif or Karlsefin, or Biarneor Thorward, or all Greenland put together, will or no!"
"Nay, brother, that may not be. It were the maddest venture of all. Iwill run this risk alone."
For some time the brothers disputed upon this point and held out againsteach other pretty stoutly. At length Heika reluctantly gave in, and itwas finally agreed that Hake should join him in the proposed attempt toregain his liberty.
It did not take long to make the necessary arrangements for leavingVinland. The little colony had not struck its roots very deeply intothe soil. They were easily torn out without damage to the feelings ofany one, for little Snorro, as Krake said, was the only creature thathad to bid farewell to his _native_ land--always excepting some of thecattle and chickens--and he was too young to take it much to heart.
In a few weeks the _Snake_, and Thorward's ship, the _Dragon_, wereloaded with everything that was of value in the colony, including mucheven of the rude furniture of the huts.
Before leaving, Karlsefin resolved to give a last grand feast to thesavages. He therefore called them together and explained, as he bestcould, that he and his friends were going to leave them, but thatperhaps some of them might return again with large supplies of the gaycloth and ornaments they were so fond of, and he recommended them in themeantime to make as large a collection of furs as they could, in orderto be ready to trade when the white men returned. He then spread beforethem the most sumptuous feast the land could provide, including a largequantity of dairy produce, which the savages regarded as the mostluxurious of fare.
After the feast he presented Whitepow, Utway, and Powlet with a largequantity of bright-coloured cloth and a few silver and iron ornaments,to be distributed among the members of the tribe as they should see fitafter helping themselves. He also gave them a few cattle and domesticfowls, after which, weighing anchors, putting out the oars, and hoistingtheir sails, the Norsemen bade farewell to Leifsgaard. As they sweptround the point which shut it out from view, they gave vent to onevigorous parting cheer, which was replied to by the savages with afeeble imitation and a waving of arms.
Dropping down the river, they passed the spit of sand where the firstnight in Vinland had been spent so pleasantly; caught an offshore breezethat carried them swiftly beyond the island betwixt which and the shorethey had captured the whale, and finally leaped out upon the swell ofthe great ocean.
"Aha! now am I at home," exclaimed Karlsefin, with heightened colour andsparkling eyes, as he stood at the helm, and glanced from the bulgingsail to the heaving swell, where Thorward's _Dragon_ was bending over tothe breeze about a cable's length to leeward,--"Now am I at home oncemore!"
"So am not I," murmured poor Bertha, whose white face betrayed themiserable emotions--or commotions--within.
All the women, we may remark, had expressed a desire to keep togetherduring the voyage, hence they had embarked in the _Snake_, which was abetter sea-boat than Thorward's vessel.
"Of course _you_ are not at home. You are never contented or at homeanywhere!" cried Freydissa sharply.
Hake wished with all his heart that Bertha was at home in Scotland, andthat her home was his; and Snorro, who was seated on Olaf's knee, said--
"Never mind, Bert'a, oos be a tome soon."
There was a general laugh at this consolatory remark; even Bertha smiledfaintly as she patted Snorro's head, while Astrid and Thora--not tomention Gudrid--agreed between themselves that he was the dearest,sweetest, and in every way the most delightful Vinlander that had everbeen born.
"Of that there can be no doubt," said Leif, with a laugh, "since he isthe only white Vinlander that ever _was_ born."
But although the party assembled on the poop indulged at first in a fewhumorous remarks, they soon became silent and sad, for they were fastleaving behind them a spot which, with all its drawbacks, had been apleasant and happy home for upwards of three years.
As they stood leaning on the rails that guarded the poop, and gazedregretfully on the lessening hills, each recalled many pleasant orstirring incidents which had occurred there, incidents which wouldremain--however far or long that land might be left behind--for everengraven on their memories. And, long after twilight and distance hadconcealed the coast from view, the Norsemen continued to strain theirvision towards the horizon, mentally bidding a long and last farewell toVinland.