United States or Bahamas ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"They cannot be the ships which have caused the firing of the beacons," I said. "That trouble was to the westward." I half turned to look at the hills and their fires, and saw our comrades coming to us. Dalfin was ahead, and plainly excited. "Malcolm," he cried, so soon as he was within hearing, "I cannot hold back if there is fighting in our land.
Now, all this while Dalfin sat with Gerda under the shelter of the boats forward, having stayed there to watch the water in the hold after we had tried to weather the island. Now and again Dalfin rose up and slipped into the bilge and baled fiercely, while Gerda watched the shore and the green hills, which looked so steady above the tumbling seas, wistfully.
That story made the black looks pass at once, and after that it was easy to take our leave and make our way out of the tent; and glad enough I was to be in the open once more. The whispering of the nobles had not been pleasant at times. Dalfin came out with us, and he was grave. There had been words and looks now and then among the group of men with his two brothers which he did not like.
Then Bertric set down the hammer, and took off his rough sea cap, smiling a little, yet with grave eyes, and so looked in. Dalfin pressed close to him, but I stood aside still. "The place is full of the peat smoke. I can see nothing," Dalfin said. "Somewhat white on the floor," said Bertric; "but we block the light."
We are in a strange land, and, from all I ever heard, a troubled one. A lady is no light charge. Let us see if we can find her before Dalfin wakes. I think we must plan apart from him for a while, for he is full of our biding always here in Ireland. Which, of course, is out of the question."
"With the torque, but not with the luck, as it is to be hoped," he said. "You will see my father wearing it soon. It must needs be on the neck of the head of the realm." "What were you while you wore it?" asked Thoralf, who knew the Irish ways. "Deputy king for the time," answered Dalfin dryly. "And in a hurry to hand it over to my father therefore."
And Dalfin will sleep till midday if we let him. He is worn out." "He was full of all that would happen when we came as honoured guests to his father's place, as we talked last evening," I said. "That all sounds well enough for a time. But thereafter what are our plans to be?" "In what way?" he answered, staying his steps, and looking gravely at me.
Speak for me, I pray you, to the hammer bearer, that I may go whither my grandfather is gone, if so be that I am dead." "Nay, lady," said Dalfin, with all courtesy, "I do not know him you mean. I am only Dalfin, Prince of Maghera, of the northern O'Neills." Now, at that magnificent "only" I saw Bertric trying to stifle somewhat like a grin beyond the shoulder of his charge.
Now, whether it was true that Dalfin had his own thoughts concerning the companion of our dangers I cannot say; but he bided with Hakon, and thereafter won honour enough from him, and, indeed, from all with whom he had to do. Princelike, and in all ways a good comrade, was Dalfin.
Thorwald's men were in good case. "You have made new men of us from head to foot," said Dalfin gleefully. "In very truth we have sore need of change." Now we went to replace the deck planking, and she bethought herself. "Let us keep the little chest with the gold where we can reach it easily," she said. "Supposing we are wrecked it will be well to have it at hand."
Word Of The Day