The Wanderer's Necklace

ow. In my sleep there came to me a very strange and vivid dream. I dreamed that I was the Wanderer, no

ason which I cannot explain, I am able to recover but few memories. Other earlier lives come back to me much more clearly, but at present the details of this particular existence escape me. For the purpose of the history which I a

ous Egyptian incarnation, broke back to those southern lands with which his informing spirit was already so familiar, and thence won home again to the place where he was born, only to die. In considering this dream which Olaf dreamed, let it be remember

me my reflection in the water. It was like to that of the Wanderer as I had seen him lying in his oak coffin in the mound, only younger than he had seemed to be in the coffin. Moreover, he wore the same armour that the man in the coffin wore, and at his side hung the red, cross-handled sword. There he stood in the temple alone,

She was a very beautiful woman, unlike anyone I, Olaf, had ever seen. Her shape was tall and slender, her eyes were large, dark and soft as a deer's, her features were small and straight, save the mouth, of which the lips were somewhat full. The face, which was dark-hued, lik

her, the king, purposes to seize and throw you into prison to-morrow, and thereafter to put you on your trial for being beloved by a daughter of the royal blood, of which, as you are a foreign man, however noble you may be, th

t length that it was better they both should die, to live on in the world of s

f our child that will be born. Nor can I fly with you, since then your boat will be

wept in each other's arms, f

ed; "let me wear something that

b, the necklace of gold and inlaid shells and emerald beetles, only there were two rows of shells and emeralds, not one. One

shall wear your half in life and death. Now something comes upon me. It is that when the severed

urn from my northern home, if ever I w

isdom of my people. Begone, begone, ere my heart breaks on yours; but never let this necklace of mine, which was that of those who were lo

ait before we meet

ut a time-eaten ruin. Hark, the priestess calls. Farewell, you man who have come out of the north to be my glory and my shame. Farewell, until

ind came the thought that it was to the lady who gave the necklace that Death stood near, rath

In the hall were gathered Ragnar, Steinar, Iduna and Freydisa; the elders were talking together elsewhere on the subject of the for

r the dawn, all covered with mud?" asked Ragnar, turning

's grave, brother, as Id

e Freydisa, who stood by the fire listening, an

anderer, a very noble-looking ma

rer," broke in Iduna. "Di

Here it is!" And I laid the

ken wires of gold. I remembered how in my dream I had seen the beautiful woman break such wires ere she gave half of t

ul! Oh! Olaf, I thank you," and she flung her ar

necklace and fastene

touch those gems. Iduna, I have dreamed that they w

oked up at me, then dropped her

have dreamed. It is for the necklace I care, and not all th

a looked up, but S

t else?" asked Rag

from under my cloak I prod

shion of those that are buried in the grave mounds. It has seen much wear also, and, I should say, has loosed many a spirit.

standing on the coffin, Iduna, who was paying little heed, sto

swered. "Show them the Wa

with you, was s

heir fashion and raiment, and again fell to fingeri

was the dream of which I had spoke

" said Freydisa. "What

es that are twisted round the chain, which I had never noted till

s. Have you ever heard, Olaf, that there are those w

? If so, perhaps I am that Wanderer, in whose body I seemed to be, only then I

ere was an Iduna, all the same. Tell me, did you

yal woman haunts me. I would that I could see her again, if only in a dream. Also, Freydisa, I would that Idun

the necklace. Oh! Olaf, like you I fear it wil

e temple where on the morrow he must celebrate the marriage rites in such a fashion as would do honour to the god. I see Iduna, Athalbrand and Steinar talking together apart. I see myself watching all this life and stir like one who is mazed, and I know that since I had entered the Wanderer's grave all things had seemed unreal to me. Iduna, wh

o my story, th

e fated. You are no madder than th

same roof as her future husband. Therefore Athalbrand, whose mood had been strange of late, went with Iduna to sleep in his beac

in this, Steinar?" I s

words seemed to choke in his throat an

might think you were go

s that Steinar is jealous of me. How is it th

r love," I answered, smiling, "as in

an oath. Then he rode off, kicking his horse savagely and not noting my outstretched hand, or so

the lips. "Remember that we part for the last tim

out the doors the trumpeters blew blasts with their curved horns. In the temple the altar of Odin was decorated with flowers, and by it, also decorated with flowers, the offering awaited sacrifice. My mother, in her finest robe, the same, in truth, in which she herself had been wed, st

re," he said. "The

decking herself," answered my father, loo

le a strange, cold fear seemed to grip my heart. At leng

ere comes t

love he rides slowly and sadly." And

anger to us, a

r. It is that he sailed for Lesso at the rising of the moon last night, there purposing to celebrate the marriage of his daughter, the

h me. "Steinar! Oh! surely not with my brother Steinar," I gasped, and stagge

ed silent, but his half-brother, the dark-browed priest of Odin, lifted his hands to heaven and called down the curse of Odin upon the troth-brea

lth and rule. I swear by Thor that, with your help, my friends and neighbours, I will be avenged upon all three of these. But for such vengeance preparations must be made, since Athalbrand and Steinar are strong. Moreover, they lie in an island, and can only be attacked by sea. Further, there is no haste, since the mischief is done, and

the curtains. My mother also was so overcome that she departed to her own chamber. Alone I sat upon my bed and listened to the sounds of that marriage feast, which more resembled such

ne Freydisa came to me,

d can no longer stay in this land where I

word of Iduna. "Oh! I saw it coming, and yet I dared not warn you. I feared lest I might be wrong and put

ead her truly. Well, she did but follow her nature; and as for Steinar, she fooled him as she has the power to do by any man

nst his will, for I read it in his face. Well, his life must pay the price of it, for surely he shall bleed on Odin's altar. Now, be a man.

r vengeance, especially against Steinar, wh