Ned, the son of Webb

g," thought Ned, very natura

w, but not handsome. He lowered his sail and began to paddle slowly along, thinking of all sorts of things, and watching sharply for whatever might turn up. He studied the sloop at anchor, as he went past it, and declared that it was a queer enough craft to look at. It was very long, and it

enough to other ships to strike with them. Our fighting has to be done with long-range guns. Well! I never saw

retty substantial wharf, made of logs and stones. From this a pier of similar construction ran out about fifty feet into the harbour. Upon the deck of the pier, and

f-minute to stare intensely at t

and he carries a spear. Every man of 'em has a short sword at his belt, and those are all what the book calls

rprised at seeing him. They paid him no especial attention after they had hailed him, and after he had replied to them in the language which he had learned at home from old Erica. She herself had told him that her speech was not exactly the Norw

articular, was very much like parts of England,

ly very much better dressed than were any of these fisher people. They all bowed to him politely, and he heard them say something ab

hers, and was evidently some sort of captain among them. Just as Ned stepped from the pier to the wharf,

aimed. "It's the first time

nk-mail that glittered in the sunshine. The spear in his hand was long, with a straight blade that was broad and brightly polished. His helmet was open in f

rn," he said. "Thou art

t out fishing, and I

outh haven men. I know them not well. Come thou to my hous

ut he was thinking, "Meet my father? Well! I don't believe he

salting and smoking every fin we can pull in, that the ships of Harold Hardrada's fleet may not sail without plentiful provi

have noticed how his face flushed with sudden

hou shalt sail with us to the shore of Britain. There will be grand fighting

things! I've always wanted to conquer England, and now I'

ll be fifteen score, and Tostig hath already as many as three score with him

er men wore leathern blouses, which reminded Ned of some buckskin hunting-shirts he had seen pictures of. The women were supplied with gowns, some of which were of coarse woollen stuff and some of leather. All of the garments were more or less fish-soiled

lmon, and some that he was not familiar with. Heaviest of all was a great porpoise they had speared and tha

red clay that was used to stop chinks and holes with. Three or four of a better sort were built, in part at least, of hewn logs and planks and pretty fair-looking stone-work, but all were irregular in plan and as if they had been builded at random. Of these larger dwellings, the roofs were high-pitched, differing alto

gets out at that hole in the roof, if it can. Well, no, there isn't any floor but the ea

saw a long table, around which were benches and chairs of various kinds. In the middle, beh

There are benches and bunks all around the sides of the room. Six windows, too, and no

ere were neither carpets nor rugs, but in one corner he saw a spinning-wheel and what looked like a hand-loom for weaving. In another corner was a strong stone-work, a

im, telling him that she was Wiltna, the wife of Vebba. Following her were other women, and at least a dozen of boys and girls, whose s

with me, and see the hawks and hounds. Let us get

d he have done in a country where there were no bo

ward them, not barking, but uttering strange, short howls of greeting, and showing dangerous rows of sharp, white teeth. Lars wrestled for a moment with one of them, boxing the

older savages got out, we might never see 'em again. They'd go hunting on their own account, or they

in him, and to tell him the name and character of all the dogs in all the kenn

n here. They're a clumsy-looking lot, and the carts and the harness are all the roughest kind. They don't seem to know what

the stables, and here was what Ned ca

s, sitting on perches, and several of them were not only fettered but hooded. Lars transferred one of these from its p

He's a gerfalcon. Hardrada's brother gave him to father after the fight with the pirates at Croning's Fiord. Father killed

who bowed and greeted them, but no other boys seemed to feel at liberty to join them. Ned learned, afterw

p cry, as he looked upward, and the

rs. "He is well up, but

lliant eyes winked rapidly as they were

TION THEN HE THRE

hen he threw his hawk upward, blowing a shrill screech upon a bon

iful hawk spread his pinions and sail

very well, so high in the air it was

alcon sped upward until he arose above

"See! He is swooping! He never fai

lying lower, as if its fear bore it downward. Then the speck above it disappeared for a mom

Lars. "Forward, now; we must

heron strike the earth together, fluttering and struggling, and then the game lay motionless. Forward darted Lars

said Lars. "It woul

reamed angrily as he was resto

me to a whistle when his talons are in. It is on

ks ever miss

herons. All of these long-billed fowl will fight, too

ght Ned, "and I'm glad I'v

picking up the heron. "Dids

did," con

h mountain thou seest yonder. My father would have held me back, had he been there, but I went in alone. When the boar charged out, my spea

bears in the forest mo

or a wolf-skin, save in winter, when the fur is full upon them. If thou art here next winter, I will show thee sport. Ye people of the lower fiords and the

anything," said Ned. "Ca

will not throw before the men lest they say

. "I am better with a s

emarked,

had a better fencing-mast

what he called the house of arms. It was only a kind of barn of split logwork at the right of the cen

hall in yonder. I'm going to take

d this thin blade. It is heavy enough for thee.

proudly, putting it down on the

ip, a youth as tall as Lars, stepped promptly forward, sword in hand. Neither of them wore armour, but the sh

f course it was not intended that any hurt should be done. The swords were blunt on edge and point, and the hilts were basketed with stro

e. Svip, the son of Pend, had no chance with him whatever, for there was no science at all in him. He was even forced a

with Hardrada. Thy father will be proud of thee. Thou shalt g

new of spears; but a wooden target was set, and the other boys made their casts. It was his turn, and

thought, "but I landed

Take now a shield and let us see if

, shield on arm and spear in hand, to let the other y

er throw upon his shield, quite skilfully. "Any baseball catcher can beat that. I

t he held it close to him and parried with only his spear-shaft the throws of

atch the spears of battle on sword or axe. Thou wilt need the less armour. Bu

terminated suddenly, for the sound of a h

ebb, all we are ready to eat. I am ever glad to

Norwegian, his inner thought