The Wanderer's Necklace

oner than I had hoped? I was thinking how beautiful she looked, and how much I loved her; also of other things that were not so pleasant. For instance, why did not ev

and even my mother, although she tried to like her for my s

adornment of her beauty. Of those who were dearest to me, indeed, only Steinar seemed to think Iduna as perfect as I did myself. Thi

the messengers from Agger in the hall. They asked him humbly whether he would be pleased to return with them that day and take possession of his inheritance, since they must get back forthwith to Agger with

spokesman. "Such a heritage as yours will not lack for claim

l then I cannot come. Go now, I pray you, if you must, and bear my wor

e into the hall, where from my bed I could see Steinar seated on a stool by the fire

you have sent them away with such an a

engers said they must catch the tide. Also I could no

love and loyalty to Olaf, who is your foster-brother and saved your life, but you owe something to yourself also.

thing strange in his voice. "Believe me, I do not

hion," grumbled my fa

d her hand, and perhaps, if she had suffered it, kissed her. I had recited to her a poem which I had made comparing her to the goddess Iduna, the wife of Bragi, she who guarded the apples of immortal youth whereof the gods must eat or die, she whose garment was the spring, woven of th

id that it was for this reason that he had been so anxious to form an alliance with my father, Thorvald, as such an alliance would make him sure of victory. Befo

y for us, Id

any rate, your House will be able to give us more

and do not seek to die on the swords of men whom I have no desire to harm. Of what good is war when

me with her st

attle ship, or who slew the great white bear to save Steinar's life. I do not understand you, Olaf, you who have doubts as to the killing of men. How does a man grow gr

hat somewhere there is an answer which I do

rom that moment I felt as though a veil swung between me and Iduna. Her beauty

o was lingering near the door. He ran forwa

but your lady has told me that she desires to see the suns

may be different," broke in Iduna, with a merry laugh, before I could answer

ng, for I think a storm comes up. But who i

I had foreseen. First came wind, and with it hail, and after that thu

turn. I am afraid for them,"

to seek them?" she ask

I will,

e lord Steinar and the lady Iduna can guard themselves as well as most folk. No, I am wrong. I mean

oss the open plain, between the many earth tombs of the dead who had lived thousands of years before, and past the great mound in which it was said that a warrior of long ago, who was named the Wanderer, lay buried. Because of the dar

oon. When the wind has driven away the clouds it will show us our path, but if we go on in th

d, "for now I am as str

h we had not heard them because of the wind. They were Steinar and Iduna, talking together eagerly, with their faces very ne

us at Odin's temple, where we were forced to shelter. Then, fear

uld have known this road even in the dark.

ay awhile, since there is nothing I desire so much as to see a ghost, who believe little in such things. So he stayed, though

ydisa in her quiet voice. "Still, at times it does appear, for I

a few steps and bega

riding low down in a clear sky, illumining the grave mound and

"If not, let us be gone, for when the Wanderer

red, "No," but I, who d

Mayhap it is a wolf stirring.

ind nothing,"

nt and stands there staring towards the south. Oh! n

. "If you do not dream, tell us

ed and soiled; on his head is a cap of mail with two long ear-pieces, beneath which appears his brown hair lined with grey. He holds a red-col

aned, as I remembered afterwards. But of this I took

ace? I see a necklace hanging in the

ecklace above his mail. H

ale gold, and hanging from it golden shells inlaid with

," I said, as indeed I d

a strange smile on her dark face

hat mound, Freyd

t. For many years he wandered, and at length returned again to this place, which had been his home, wearing the necklace. But when he saw its shore from the sea he fell down and his spirit left him. What happened to him in his wanderings none know, for the tale is lost. Only it

et in the mound?"

nd bring on him the curse of the Wanderer and his gods, and wi

Olaf, if you love me, bring me that necklace as a marriage gift. I tell you

ed. "That he who wrought this sacrilege

t is strengthless for good or ill, a shadow drawn from what has been by the magic moon, or per

u will not mar

me that necklace. If you fear the deed, perhaps

n rage seized me. Was I to be taunte

hing in life or death. You shall have the necklace if it can be found in yonder earth, chance what may to

from each other by dense darkness. Freydisa and I stood by the Wanderer's grave, and at our feet lay digging tools, two lamps, and tinder to light them. We w

said doubtfully, looking up

he door of the grave, and perchance the passage

d? Surely it would be better to die and have done. Let the ghost slay

ittle of the future, and I believe that this Wanderer and you have more to do with each other than we can guess. It may be even that this task is appointed to you and that all these happenings, which are but begun, work to an end uns

t my neck, she drew me to he

hough, strangely enough, I never felt thus towards Ragnar, your brother. Now, why do you make me talk foolish

Among these bushes was a little hollow, as though at this spot the earth had sunk in. Here, at her bidding, I began to d

one," said Freydis

enough for a man to creep through. After this we paused to

if you are not afr

I write I feel fear of the dead man who lay, and for aught I know still lies, within that gr

en the stones, was quite clear. We crawled along it without difficulty till we came to the tomb chamber, which was in the centre of the mound, but at a higher level than the entrance. For the passage sloped upwards, doubtless to allow for drainage. The huge stones with which it was lined and roofed over, were not less than t

ill go first, who know more of ghosts than you do, Olaf. If the Wander

he called b

here, as it should

a little room about twelve feet square. In this place there was but one thing to be seen: what appeared to be the trunk of

nderer lies and the gods he

gures and we examined them in the light of the lamps, although

hand was a scourge with a handle, and in the left a crook such as a shepherd might use, only shorter. On his head was what I took to be a helmet, a

in her right hand she held a looped sceptre. Her hair descended in many long plaits on to her shoulders. For head-d

gods!" I

nes to those who worship them. But we will

examine the trunk of the oak tree, of which the outer sap wood had

nches from the top, "the tree has been sawn in t

as not pegged down, and slid of its own weight over the side of the tree. In the cavity beneath was a form covered with a purple cloak stained as though by salt water. Freydisa lifted the cloak, and there lay th

to all appearance of between fifty and sixty years of age. His face was thin and fine; he wore a short, gri

one to your mind?

," I replied. "Who is it,

ears. Yet it was through your mother's line that Aar came to your race many generations gone, for thi

t had crumbled, we turned to other things, knowing that our time in the grave must be measured by the oil in the simple lamps we had. Freydisa lifted a cloth from beneath the chin, revealing a dinted breast

sa, "since it is for her sake that we

not part. Again I tugged, and now it was the neck of the Wanderer that broke,

"The oil in the lamps burns low, and even I do not care to be

said. "I'd have that a

y yourself," she answer

atched at the belt by which it was girt about the body

e reached the end of it the lamps went out, so that we must finish our journey in the dark. Thankf

"that this Wanderer, who showed himself so threateningly upon the crest of

finish this to-morrow-and let us away to the hall. I am weary, and I tell you, Olaf, that the weight of things to come lies h