the dragon and the raven-第26章

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be　entering　a　northern　fiord。

For　many　hours　Edmund　was　carried　through　the　forest。
He　wondered　to　himself　whether　he　would　be　slain　on　his　arrival
or　kept　as　a　slave；　for　the　Norse　and　Saxon　tongues
were　so　similar　that　he　was　perfectly　able　to　understand　the
language　of　his　captors。　A　party　of　twelve　men　accompanied
him；　four　of　whom　bore　the　litter；　and　were　relieved　at　intervals
by　the　others。　After　some　hours　the　feeling　of　giddiness
and　weakness　passed　off；　and　on　the　men　stopping　to　change
bearers　he　expressed　his　readiness　to　walk。

Hitherto　he　had　lain　with　his　eyes　closed；　as　he　thought
it　better　to　remain　as　he　was　until　he　felt　perfectly　able　to
keep　up　with　his　captors　in　a　journey　which　might；　for　aught
he　knew；　be　a　long　one。　The　Northmen　expressed　their
satisfaction　at　finding　that　their　burden　need　no　longer　be
carried；　and　throwing　aside　the　boughs　which　had　formed　the
litter；　proceeded　with　him　on　their　way。　They　asked　him
many　questions　concerning　the　Dragon。　Most　of　these　he
answered　readily　enough；　but　he　evaded　those　as　to　the　place
where　she　had　been　built；　or　the　port　from　which　she　had
sailed。　It　was　not　until　late　in　the　afternoon　that　they　arrived
at　the　abode　of　the　Jarl　Bijorn。

It　was　a　rough　abode　constructed　of　timber；　thatched
with　rushes；　for　as　yet　the　Northmen　were　scarcely　a　settled
people；　the　tribes　for　the　most　part　wandering　in　the　forests
hunting　when　not　engaged　in　those　warlike　expeditions　which
they　loved　above　all　other　things。　Only　the　leaders　dwelt　in
anything　like　permanent　abodes；　the　rest　raising　huts　of
boughs　at　such　places　as　they　might　make　any　stay　at。

One　of　Edmund's　conductors　had　gone　on　ahead；　and
as　the　party　approached　the　building　Bijorn　came　out　from
his　house　to　meet　them。　He　was；　like　almost　all　Northmen；　a
man　of　great　stature　and　immense　strength。　Some　fifty　years
had　passed　over　his　head；　but　he　was　still　in　the　prime　of　his
life；　for　the　Northmen；　owing　to　their　life　of　constant
activity；　the　development　of　their　muscles　from　childhood；　and
their　existence　passed　in　the　open　air；　retained　their　strength
and　vigour　to　a　great　age。

So　assiduous　was　their　training；　and　so　rapidly　did　their
figures　develop　in　consequence；　that　at　the　age　of　fifteen　a
young　Northman　received　arms　and　was　regarded　as　a　man；
although　he　did　not　marry　until　many　years　afterwards；　early
wedlock　being　strongly　discouraged　among　them。　By　Bijorn's
side　stood　his　son；　who；　though　but　twenty…two　years　old；
rivalled　him　in　stature　and　in　muscular　development；　although
lacking　the　great　width　of　shoulder　of　the　jarl。

As　Edmund　approached；　a　war…horse　of　the　jarl　fastened
up　to　a　post　close　to　the　entrance　of　the　house　neighed　loudly。
Bijorn　looked　surprised。　The　neighing　of　a　horse　among　the
Northmen　was　regarded　as　the　happiest　of　auguries；　and　in
their　sacred　groves　horses　were　tied　up；　as　the　neighing　of
these　animals　was　considered　an　infallible　proof　that　a
propitious　answer　would　be　given　by　the　gods　to　the　prayer　of
any　petitioner　who　sought　their　aid。

〃By　Thor！〃　Bijorn　exclaimed；　〃my　good　war…horse　welcomes
the　stranger。　As　I　said　to　you　anon；　Sweyn；　I　had　intended
to　offer　him　as　a　sacrifice　to　Odin；　but　as　the　gods
have　thus　declared　him　welcome　here　I　must　needs　change
my　intentions。　Who　are　you；　young　Saxon？〃　he　asked　as
Edmund　was　brought　before　him；　〃and　whence　do　you　come？
And　how　is　it　that　a　war…ship　of　your　people　is　found　upon
our　coasts？〃

〃I　am　Edmund；〃　the　young　man　said　steadily；　〃an
ealdorman　of　King　Alfred　of　the　West　Saxons。　The　ship　which
was　seen　on　your　coast　is　mine；　I　built　it　to　attack　the
Northmen　who　harry　our　coasts。　I　am　here　because；　when
in　chase　of　four　of　your　ships；　a　storm　arose　and　blew　us
hither。〃

〃You　speak　boldly；〃　the　jarl　said；　〃for　one　in　the　hands　of
his　foes。　How　old　are　you？〃

〃I　am　twenty…two；〃　Edmund　replied。

〃The　same　age　as　you；　Sweyn。　Stand　side　by　side　and　let
me　compare　you。　Ay；〃　he　went　on；　〃he　lacks　nigh　three　inches
of　your　height；　but　he　is　more　than　that　bigger　across　the
shouldersa　stalwart　young　champion；　indeed；　and　does
brave　credit　to　his　rearing。　These　West　Saxons　have　shown
themselves　worthy　foemen；　and　handled　us　roughly　last　year；
as　this　will　testify；〃　and　he　pointed　to　the　scar　of　a　sword…cut
across　his　face。　〃Doubtless　this　is　the　son　of　that　Saxon　earl
who　more　than　once　last　summer　inflicted　heavy　losses　upon
us。　Is　that　so；　young　Saxon？〃

〃I　am　the　Ealdorman　Edmund　himself；〃　the　young　man
replied　quietly。　〃My　successes　were　won　not　by　my　own
strength　or　courage；　but　by　the　valour　of　those　under　me；
who；　fighting　in　a　novel　manner；　gained　advantage　over　your
Northmen。〃

〃By　Thor！〃　Bijorn　exclaimed；　〃and　this　is　the　youth　who
attacked　us　at　night　and　drove　off　the　cattle　we　had　taken
and　slew　many　of　our　followers；　Sweyn！　Truly　he　would　be　a
rare　sacrifice　to　offer　to　Odin；　but　the　god　has　himself
welcomed　him　here。〃

〃It　may　be　that　he　welcomed　him　as　a　sacrifice；　father；〃
Sweyn　suggested。

　〃Ah！　that　may　be　so；〃　the　jarl　replied。　〃We　must　consult
the　omens　to　find　out　the　true　meaning　of　my　charger's　neighing。
Nevertheless　in　either　case　I　shall　be　content；　for　if　he
be　not　welcomed　as　a　sacrifice　he　is　welcome　as　bringing
good　fortune；　and　in　truth　he　will　make　a　noble　cup…bearer
to　me。　It　is　not　every　jarl　who　is　waited　upon　by　a　Saxon
ealdorman。　But　till　the　omens　have　spoken　let　him　be　set
aside　and　carefully　watched。　In　a　day　or　two　we　will　journey
to　Odin's　temple　and　there　consult　the　auguries。〃

Three　days　passed；　during　which　Edmund　was　well　fed
and　treated。　At　the　end　of　that　time　he　was　ordered　to
accompany　the　jarl　on　a　journey。　Two　days'　travelling　brought
them　to　a　temple　of　Odin。　It　was　a　rough　structure　of　unhewn
stones　situated　in　a　wood。　Bijorn　and　his　son　entered；　while
Edmund　remained　without　under　a　guard。　Presently　the　jarl
and　his　son　came　out　with　a　priest。　The　latter　carried　a　white
bag　in　his　hand　with　twelve　small　pieces　of　wood。　On　half　of
these　four　small　nicks　were　cut；　on　the　others　five　nicks。　All
were　placed　in　the　bag；　which　was　then　shaken。

〃Now；〃　the　priest　said；　〃you　will　see　the　will　of　Odin；　the
first　three　sticks　drawn　out　will　declare　it。　If　two　of　the　three
bear　an　even　number　of　nicks；　the　neigh　of　your　horse　signifies
that　Odin　accepted　the　sacrifice；　if　two　of　them　bear　unequal
numbers；　then　it　meant　that　his　coming　was　propitious　to　you。〃

The　bag　was　again　shaken。　Edmund　looked　on　calmly；
for　Saxons　and　Northmen　alike　disdained　to　show　the　slightest
fear　of　death；　even　the　colour　did　not　fade　from　his　cheek
as　he　watched　the　trial　upon　which　his　life　depended。

The　first　stick　drawn　out　bore　five　marks；　the　priest
showed　it　to　the　jarl；　and　without　a　word　dropped　it　in　the
bag　again。　This　was　again　shaken　and　another　stick　drawn
out；　this　bore　but　four　notches；　the　chances　were　even。　The
silence　was　unbroken　until　the　third　twig　was　drawn。

〃Odin　has　spoken；〃　the　priest　said。　〃The　neigh　of　the
horse　indicated　that　the　coming　of　this　Saxon　was　propitious
to　your　house。〃

The　jarl　gave　an　exclamation　of　satisfaction；　while
Sweyn's　brow　darkened。　Bijorn　had　indeed　set　his　heart　upon
retaining　this　famous　young　Saxon　leader　as　his　slave　and
cup…bearer；　and　it　was　probable　that　in　his　interview　with　the
priest　before　the　drawing　his　inclinations　had　been　clearly
shown；　for　a　slight　difference　between　the　thickness　of　the
sticks　might　well　have　existed　and　served　as　an　index　to　the
priest　in　drawing　them。

Bijorn；　in　his　gratification　at　the　answer　of　the　god；
bestowed　a　handsome　present　upon　the　priest；　and　then　rode
back　to　his　abode　well　content　with　his　journey。　Edmund
was　at　once　installed　in　his　new　duties。　Hitherto　he　had　not
entered　the　house　nor　seen　the　females　of　the　family。　Ulfra；
the　jarl's　wife；　was　a　woman　of　commanding　stature　and　appearance。
Like　most　of　the　northern　women　she　had　accompanied　her
husband　in　his　many　wanderings；　and　shared　his　dangers　and
privations。　The　wives　of　the　Norsemen　occupied　a　far
more　exalted　position　in　the　households　of　their
lords　than　did　those　of　the　people