A Sea Queen's Sailing

ak in which he was shrouded. They had set him on just such a low, carved bedstead as that which we had found outside the house, dressed in his full mail, and hel

the far shore which he was to reach through the flames. But there was naught terribl

e bier was full of caskets and bales, and that on the far wall hung weapons--swords and axes, spears, and bows and arrows, and with them mail shirts and helms and shields, such as the chief himself might wear. And by the side of the chief,

ittle while silent,

eath, and pointing to the far end of the cha

ooked more closely past the bier, which almost hid whatever the pile might be. It seemed the only th

the cry was all but stifled, "it is a

h he must pass, that he was almost double until he reached the foot, and stood up under the ridge. Then he bent,

yellow-golden hair plaited and bound with some strange gold-woven blue ba

y. "Either the smoke in that close chamber--or fear--has

, Dalfin, with no fears in him, had gone gently to the penthouse and brought thence the pitcher of wine and the silver bowl, so that when I came back those two were trying to get some

t the bedstead that is forward, and set a fold or two of the awning on it for her to re

e house and brought thence a blue cloak which lay where she had fallen, and covered her with it, for the night was chill now. It was he

ed beautiful altogether. I know that had she faced us in life in the entry of the chamber, clad as she was in her m

may be as well to close up that chamber before she sees it

aughed a

fear should not go

he has tried to be," answered Bertric. "

take them down, and drove one or two of the upper nails again lightly, Dalfin kneeling and holding the ends below. Whether the sharp click of the iron rou

porting her--was looking at us two with wide eyes of fear and wonder. And when I turned of a s

here no place in Freya's hall--in Gladsheim-

w that it was indeed to myself that she spoke. For I stood at the door of the house of the dead, with Thor

wonderfully gentle voice. "It is not

Dalfin, who still knelt beside me, watching her in blank amaze. The Norse gods were all but

Speak for me, I pray you, to the hammer bearer, that I may

"I do not know him you mean. I am only Dalfin

ertric trying to stifle somewhat like a

. We are here to help you, for the ship

e last timber hastily, and came aft, getting out of sight behind the bedstead, being in no wise willing to be hailed a

ly," he said sagely. "Who w

the lips of the girl, and making her drink some of its contents slowly. "Neithe

d across her face, and then she flushed red, and opened her eyes. Her first glance fell on the penthouse, and she shuddered so

ot quite myself. I must have been in a long swoon. There

aw Bertric in the thrall's dress, and Dalfin in his torn and scorched and sea-stained green hunting tunic and leather hose, and myself only in the Norse dress, and that

you are here, and thus? You seem as men who have fought,

e captives and have escaped; and as we fled by se

rades looked at me. The f

t sadly. "I had no thought but to be burnt. Now I

e in that terrible place, for she spoke of escape.

asked, speaking to us as to

else she had surely wondered that the tattered Dalfin claimed to be a prince. Yet he was princely, both in loo

master," I said;

at course we can take, for we are too few to work the ship rightly. We had thought of trying to make the Norway shore at the nearest point we c

reat surprise, sh

o the land whence he came. Hall and town may be in t

in any case. We should have sought suc

f the treasure, which will

p but three hours or so. What thought might have come to us I

as the very truth, which must

"The prince I know already. Dalfi

took on himself to make us known in turn

ht, in which I was honoured in taking part. This is Bertric the Thane, of Lyme, in England, a shipmaster of long standing. He joine

sharp sigh, looking up in wonder at us. "

n, and by noon we were at sea with him as captives. That s

d gravely. "Surely the wrath of the Asir will fall on Heidrek ere l

u out also, lady

y. "But it was with his help that I

on the bed where she sat, and wept silently. It was hard for us to stand and see this; but we were helpless, not at all knowing what we

, and sat up again

that this mail and helm of mine and the sword that lies yonder in the chamber where you found

gain, but she was brave. And then

an for you. Mayhap we can do no more, but, at least, we shall see. I cannot think that all hope is lost. See, we have the s

f us, and rose up and stretched h

the evildoer. It must be that you three have wrought loyally together through the long storm, and you can never

even as you say, as of our number without favour. But always the sisters had the favoured place, because we wille

Bertric the Thane, and in yo

nswer. So we both said that he was right, and she knew well what we meant, and was content. Moreover, by naming our t

. Now I will tell you what befell me, and then you shall plan what yo

spoke, Bertric was glancing eastward across the still water for the first sign of the breeze we longed for. I know now that on him was a dread lest it should bring with it the brown sails of Heidrek'

r. He would have me rule, for I should not be the first woman who had done so in his little realm. One of my ancestresses fought as a shield maiden--as I thought myself until today--in the great Bravalla fight long ago. It is her mail which I have on now. Arnkel pretended to agree to this, being crafty. It pleased the chief, and deceived me--till yesterday. Then at last I knew that he did but wait for the death of my grandfather, Thorwald, and then would get rid of me and my claims. So Thorwald died, and we would set him in his ship and build a mound over her

clad thus for the last rites, and saw the warriors swarm out of a little valley on my folk, and rose up to go to them with my arms. Then came Arn

a look of remembered

nd cast things on board, which were the fagots and the peat for firing; but I could not cry out, for my head was too closely muffled. I think you would say that I was gagged. The noise of the fight went on, and seemed to come nearer. Then the ship took the water. I heard men leap on board her, and the sail was hoisted. One cried that the chief would have a fitting funeral after all, Heidrek or no Heidrek; and another said that the t

from the wall, feeling for it in the darkness, but I waxed faint and breathless, and the roof is low and I could not use it. I min

s enough. Only Dalfin h

rnkel parted with the

s on it in any case," she answered plain

us," I said. "He must have landed his

en his, and he must have berthed them in some near fjord. There he would hear of thi

said though

it may be that we can sail back to your fjord and tell this tale to your folk, and so make an end of Arnkel and his misdeeds. Now, lady--for as

ll do is most kind. See, there is one chest there which I would have with me. It holds the gear that was my grand

anked us again, and so let fall the awning curtains and was gone. Then we three went aft