A Sea Queen's Sailing

. Save for that black cloud, the June sky was bright and blue overhead, and in the sunshine one could not see the red tongues of flame that were licking up the last timbers of the house

here also, for it h

half a dozen men who had in some way escaped the falling timbers. I think they had been those who still guarded the doorway

me, and we went, and did our best. We won the time we fought for, and that was all. Some of us got back to the hall, and the rest bided where they fell. As for me, I had been stunned by an axe blow, which my helm had turned, and came to myself to find tha

had come from inland, and were round the hall while we broke our fast. We had snatched our weapons

hore in the days when Harald Harfager had set all Norway under him, for he was one of those jarls who would not bow to him, and left that old Norse land which I had never seen. Presently, he handselled peace for himself here by marriage

lcomed, and being of that brotherhood ourselves, we had nothing to fear from them. It is true that we owned no king or overlord, but if t

for no reason but that of wanton savagery and lust of plunder, as it seemed. At least they would have given us

to foot and scorched with the burning, but he tried to laugh as his eyes met mine. It was Dalfin of Maghera, the Irish guest who was with us. He had taken a passage in a Norse ship from Belfast, meaning to see lands across the sea, and had bided here when he found that we could show him hunting such as he had never

s hard that you should

s gone the wrong way. But yonder is a grand funeral pile for the brave men who have

ir of no Scot. Rather they would be setting their

fin, "whom are w

red him. He was a No

f them are Danes, but I have heard the tongues of Frisian and Finn and Northumbr

; "death is a less

pe from slavery," answered th

, brown sails, making for our haven. But a second glance told me that they were the ships belonging to this crew. Doubtless, they had landed

m might boast that he wore my father's weapons and war gear. The foremost of these men were a gray-haired old chief and a young man of about my own age, who was plainly his son; and I thought it certain that these two were t

concerned, for what they thought or would say. The old chief ran his eye down our wretched line, stroking his l

e made a good fight, if foolish. You shall h

first," said Dalfin

this is Asbiorn, my son. Mayha

to us from Banff a year ago, after just such a rai

also, and la

oice. The other choice is death, of course. I can leave

said Dalfin, whil

their bonds were cut by Heidrek's followers. One of

the Viking path, Malcolm, son of my ja

reachery. Yet, after all, save myself there was not one left of ou

he man name me, and h

e," he said quietly. "What is your n

n--I am worth nothing

rs who had asked my pardon. "Maybe his mother's folk will ranso

wn, which, maybe, was not far to seek, they were certain that Melbrigda could find ransom for no one at this time, if he would. Asbiorn turned to our guest, seeing, no dou

rince of Maghera, in Ireland, of the line of the Ulster kings. Kill me, and boas

h of Waterford and

nd even old Heidrek frowned uneasily. To have the deed they thr

est, and if this is some old feud with my father of which I have

. He has been the bane of three of my best men. Aye, I have a feud

some sign to his men; but Asbiorn

he said. "Have you no Scot

, whereon Dalfi

e to Belfast in a year's time, or six months' time, an you will. Then my fa

the word of any man," answered Asbiorn doubt

ho followed him

in safety. And over there princes are thick as black

" said Dalfin. "Have

hat the Irishman's Danish speech wa

ut in hastily. "I wil

and their talk was long; and, as it seemed, not altogether peaceful. Soon the men began to gather

as this chief bids you. Join him

him?" said

t

ie with you. What else shoul

harder, I think. They had no ties to us but those of common work and life together, and it was the old land

mselves with the plunder and starting one by one towards the haven, into which the two ships were just bearing up. They would be alongside the litt

e me and looked at me,

? Mind you, I would not give every man

e what I thought of him, if I spent my last breath in doing it, t

ng jarl does," he s

low me or not," answered Heidrek cold

which Heidrek's crew were wont to deal with captives when they had no hope of ransom from them. That I and my men should join such a crew was not to be thought of

while the men were only waiting his word to end the affair. Then Asbiorn, whose face

sely. "The men are brave men, and it we

ung his round shield into place from off his shoulder, and gripped his light axe and faced them. It was the lightnes

thought we had settled that ques

e seen. Let m

ne of the men. "They are over a

r my share. Have them down to the new ship, a

idrek laugh

not be so short-handed as I thought. Some of you who are his crew w

that one might escape from slavery. And I think that the nearness of death--though, in truth, not one of us

word to his son, and we were left to Asbiorn and a few men of his own crew. The young ch

t, and let them walk to the ship. See that they all get th

ing at once?

chief has some new p

his force, and manned her from the other two vessels; but before we reached the ship I saw that Heidrek's men had piled their slain i

apons, of course, and had handled us roughly, but that might be borne. The low door of the cramped sail room under the fo

ke and thought it

left me at that time, and a sort of despair fell on me. I think I swooned, or slept at that time, for thereafter I can remember no more until the da

en," he said carelessly; "we

t of berserk rage," said the man, growling. "I

ght was behind him, and I could not see his

e quiet if I unbin

answered.

ough why you sh

them

ing us, with their weapons ready, in case we tried to fall on them

us free said, as he gathered the loose cords and went his way

, stretching himself. "Pass along yon

r," said the m

d me that he spoke in no earnest. Whether my friend had any plan in his mind I could not say,

made merry with the stores they had taken from us. The wind was steady and light, and they had naught to do but rest and eat their supper. Asbiorn steered, and was alone on the after deck. The two other ships were not to be seen

of escape in the days to come; but I could say nothing to my comrades. Men of the crew sat just outsid

e of life, but I could not see them. Perhaps this was no wonder, as it is likely that they were dra

hut us into the after cabin, under his own feet, as he sat at the steering oar. Two of my men were to be left in the fore peak, for they were unhurt and could be shut in safely

good seamanship. That, however, was not my business, if it did seem to explain why Asbiorn separated us. Seven desperate men mi

d we were left to our own devices, though in a few minutes some man on the after deck took off the little square hatch cover wh

sleep, let us do so. I know that ever

old tongues of Scot of Ireland and Scot of Caithness are the same, if a

will take a man born to the Gaelic to catch aught of it thr

t. Only we agreed that we would stand by one another through whatever might c

a cask of our old heather ale which they had broached, and that is potent, if to the unwary it seems

no sound but the wash of the waves, and the hum of the sail, and the creak of the great s

arm beneath the sunny decks. All that could be said