King Alfred's Viking

the seamen he had, and they were enough for the short, fair passage. We came to the haven in the river, and there heard what news there was, an

rove them into Exeter, and there was holding them. It was well done; for though the host sallied from the town to meet the newcom

wledge of the ways of a Saxon levy. For no sooner were the ships be

g, and spoke sharply to them, for it seemed that soon there would

may others take our places. What more would you have? We ha

and I thought I might as well sail for Ireland as not. There seemed no chance

d about the vessels, making all secure, and setting men to work on what needed repairing. Presently Harek the scald ca

about his doings, for I had sent word to him that we were in the river. Sometimes a thane would stay and speak with me from the wharf alongside which my own ship was with one or two others, and they were pleasant enough, though t

is stranger was asking questions about each ship that he passed. I suppose that Kolgrim had answered many such curious folk already; for wh

rope that goes from masthead to bows." and he pointed to the great mainst

nderful," sa

he ship that lay astern of ours--one of the captured Danes. Thord had set a gang of shore folk to bend

doing, friend?" he a

sly, trusting, as it would seem, to the sea l

my mind that when a sail was bent to the yard it

see that his eyes twinkled. And I looked at the riggers also, and saw that the Saxon was right, and that the men had the square-cut sail turned over wit

ot bide with the Saxon any longer, but went on board the ship hastily, and said what he had to say to the riggers. The Saxon stood, and looked after him wi

at had made him white and thin. He wore his beard long and forked, which may have made him look thinner; but he seemed active and wiry in his movements--one of those men who make up for want of strength by

eful what tales he tells the next comer. But I think he was tired of g

little. "I asked to see the prizes and the vikin

ine of vessels that he had

were more Norse

with their plunder at Wareham, saying that I

ot count on the Saxons leav

ng Ranald, of whom Odda has so much to say

s all my kingdom now. Harald Fairhair has the land

h every Saxon should thank me, and I passed that by as well as

gh," I said. "If I have helped him a lit

with one another. Now I should like to see thi

set him in command instead of Odda, who frankly said what was true--that he was no sailor. I supposed that this man,

nd I had ale brought to us, and we talked of shi

ou do now--if

a service with Alfred your king. But now his men are going home, and in

up again when need

ter of Norway. Once his men are called out they know that they must bide with him till he gives them rest and sends them h

as not so in the time of the great battles round Reading that brought us peace, for they never had time to do

etter served by their biding in arms while there is a f

e make things go as he knows they should. This is the end at which he ever aims, and I think he w

he is of no use without men in her day b

will come in time. It is hard to

l care. You cannot expect him to care for farm and ship at once, when the

t th

, that is all. Make his ship his

id, "that this can be done. I

rald our king has about him paid warriors whose living is to serve him, and

e of Harald's ordering of things than I; so he took up the talk

is on hand now, it is easily told. Ten years has this host been in England--coming first with Ingvar and Halfden and Hubba, the three sons of Lodbrok. Ingvar has gone away, and

overlord of all En

hey swore on the holy ring {v} to depart from Wessex; and we, on our part, swore peace on the relics of the holy saints. Whereon, before the king, Alfred, was ware of their treachery, they fell on our camp, slew all our horsemen, and ma

e grew dark,

t can one do with oath

I s

he men of one chief to be bou

gly at me for a mo

he oath of their king sh

oses to make peace, that is not Halfden's business, or Hubba's, o

nd his chiefs swore by the greatest

ot bind those who were against the peace making. So I suppose that they who held not with the peace made by

t the Danish hosts in England were many, and each free to act in the way its own chief thought best, uniting now and then, and

tly he

h one under Guthrum their king as are my folk u

to face every leader that will fall on him," Harek said. "What King Ranald says is

under him, that every man should mi

anes along the shore, and he ro

, I must go to my friends. But I have learned much. I think you must sp

ered hand. "I think I would see Alfred; but he is o

d by learning from every one. I belong to the court, and

ed the tha

swered, laughing; "but that means

hanes, who had gone slowly along t

sant comrade enough

if that is not Alfred the kin

r, from all accounts," I said carelessly. "Moreover, h

folk' once. And he seemed to ask more than w

l for himself, and I laughed at him for supposing tha

e a feast for us in the best house of the village, by the king's order. Every one of us was c

aldorman came to me on board the ship,

esently. "Some thanes have been to me from the king

s anxious for me to see the king," I sa

Odda said, smiling, "but he is a

w the man well, and was please

foolish, however," I said

him, for he is a powerful

what power he has," I said carelessly. "If I want any man to speak

aughed Odda, "that is t

e next morning's light. Odda would bi

n our honour were going round, and the gleemen were singing at times, there came a mess

tches to me," said I to O

t what is written in

ext me, thinking that maybe the scald co

in my mind that I know which is the right

ent could read. There were a good many thanes

salt where he sat among the servants. He had a long beard, but was very bald. Hi

he said to Odda; "I wi

ily and went down the long room till he came to where the man stood. Th

ou were here among the crowd. I

no longer pleasing to me?" the man said wearily. "I ti

your blessing, neverthe

to him softly and quickly, signing

out me, who were watchi

this str

ing Alfred's cousin," o

s for an atheling," I s

gain to draw this Neot to the h

who sat over against me

or will he not honou

s head at me, whispe

is rank from him, and will not

oke old

way. But where all know what his birth is, he has but to be humble and kind in ways and speech,

ind in sail and rigging, and the roll and creak of oars; and as he said this, every one turned towards him,

d a little, and he looked hard at

ht, and I am foolish to hide here now

ssed by. I drew myself nearer to the ealdorman's place, and made room for h

and sat down, looking over to Th

hat word in s

ewhat ashamed, and did but

led; "I cannot ke

me and held out his hand for th

the writing very qu

g private; shal

ll to talking qui

made, and the other of certain plain words spoken this morning. Now I would fain see you, and since the said Godred seems to doubt if you will come to me, I ask it under my own hand thus. For I have thanks to

Neot

o kindly an invitation. The writing is the

er was better written than t

, laughing as I looked; "but it is a k

n to you as to an

king. Maybe he thinks that I shall be a good ally, and makes more of my power than

smiling, "Godred has t

doubt it. Nevertheless it is easy to

eot was a wonderfully wise man, and, as I thought, a holy one in truth, a

. And then Neot began to ask me a good deal about the old gods, as he called them. I told him what I knew, w

hat, but asked me plain

I have spoken with, to my knowledge. So, if I were likely to

hater of Christ

uld I be? I never th

he

Danes, who hate our faith, and slay

heathens. Northmen do not trouble about another nation's faith so long as their own is not

race had made the hatred of religion bitter, until the last seemed to be the great

t rose up and spoke to Odda, bidding hi

ive him this message if you will that I go to my p

hord, and took his

t heart. I have learned a lesson tonigh

eeded to learn that,

too far in a matter which one has at heart, sometimes

and went, the Saxons bowing as he p

e man and a ho

ut when Neot found out that his pride and wrath and strength were getting the mastery in his heart, he thrust himself down there to overcome them. So

ishops who were the king's counsellors; "kings brook litt

hermit," the thane said; but I did

y, I supposed, and c

her on the morrow. Yet I had no thought that I should care to stay in the land, for it seemed certa

r was at an end, seeing that we cam

word foremost into Exeter town, because of the Lady Thora, who was there. I suppose it would not have b