The Thirsty Sword

pon the lush grass that grew on the marshes beside the sea. Then he went forth to meet him, and threw himself on his kn

he lad might better understand him. "And tell me, what manner of men were

speaking in my own tongue," said Lulach, throwing back

they men

for never knew I a Norseman yet who was not cruel

it to drive a herd of kine. O

a helm crested with a golden dragon, and a great sword at his side. I thought that surely it was the Earl Hamish of Bute himself

llowers, wh

son. Ah, I wot they are come for no good purpose, my master, fo

id Kenric, growing u

the abbey, and tell the good abbot that I come not to St. Blane's this night, but that

s, he drew back and pointed with trembling fing

is ill luck before you! Turn

ll luck indeed! Give me some salt from your wallet, Lulach, for if this sign rea

h, "I have none. M

ic, and with that he went on his way,

s a silvery glare above the jagged peaks of the Arran fells, and he knew that the moon was rising,

of a dying man. At that sound he felt his heart beating uneasily against his side, for that same cry, which rises from all mountain streams tow

ers astray to their destruction. But he must pass through that forest or else go round many miles across the hills; so he braced his girdle tighter about him and boldly plunged into the darkness. As he went fo

who was the bravest swordsman of his own age in all the land, there was none who might attempt to draw arms against Kenric. And, in truth, had it not been that he was sorely troubled in spirit concerning the str

nquer the superstition which found evil in things which were only mysteries, it was small wonder that young Kenric of But

were denizens of the forest wherein he walked -- animals which would indeed be welcomed in the daylight by a band of hunter

d him. He felt for his dirk and turned round. The moon's beams pierced the trees and fell upon a glisteni

w green, now red, and he knew that they were the eyes of a wolf. There was a low growl as of distant thunder. Then the moon's light shot through a rack of cloud, and he saw the form of the wolf

f, a strange tall figure standing in the moonlight. It was the figure of a woman, wondrously fair and beautiful. Her long hair, that fell over her shoulders, was as the colour o

y dweller in the pine forest, Kenric could not at that moment have told. Even as he stepped farther into the glade a dark cloud again obscured the