United States or São Tomé and Príncipe ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Estein laughed. "I see that I am with a skilful helmsman," he said. "And I, that I am with an over-confident crew," she answered. Only a distant corncrake broke the silence of the lonely channel, its note sounding more faintly as they left the land behind.
His head rested on something soft, and two hands chafed his temples. "Helgi," he said. A voice that was not Helgi's replied, "Thanks be to the saints! he is alive." Estein started up, and his gaze met a pair of dark blue eyes. They and the hands belonged to a fair young girl, a maid of some seventeen summers, on whose knees his aching head had just been resting.
"I am Osla, the daughter of Thord the Tall," she answered, drawing herself up with a touch of half defiant pride. "Ay?" "He lived in the island," she went on, "for many years, all alone save for me." Estein could not keep himself from asking, "Alone all the time?"
"Bring the spades!" cried Ketill "a fitting enough epitaph for Liot Skulison." His conqueror was already in Helgi's arms. "I thought I should have had to avenge you, Estein. My heart is light again." "Odin has answered me, Helgi." "And the spell is broken?" "No; that spell, I fear, will break only with my death-wound." Helgi laughed out of pure light-heartedness.
"Welcome indeed is your return, for the law says that the dead must not linger in the house more than five days, and it were ill seeming to hold the funeral rites with his son away." Estein stood like a man struck dumb, and then muttering, "I will join you again," he started quickly up the pier, and was shortly lost to view in the darkness.
"Yet I remember that you yourself said that our ends should not be far apart, so I think you have but delayed my death a little while." "Nay, rather," cried Atli enthusiastically, "believe that Helgi lives since thy life is safe! I tell thee, Estein, many fair years lie before thee. By my mouth, even by old Atli, the gods send a message to thee!"
We have here ten warships, as you see. Yield to us, Estein Hakonson, or we will take by force what you will not give us." The man threw his left hand on his hip, drew himself up, and said something to his crew, accompanying the words by gestures with a spear.
"Now, Estein, I have thee!" shouted his foe; but ere the words were well out of his mouth, Estein had hurled himself at his waist, dagger in hand, and brought him headlong to the deck. As they fell, the ships struck with a mighty crash that threw friend and foe alike on the bloody planks.
Never did man do much with a downcast mind; so first dismiss your thoughts, and then for the Viking path again." "Helgi hinn frode," said Estein, pressing his arm, "you are indeed a good counsellor. As soon as I can gather force enough we start." "And now for a horn of ale, and then to bed," responded Helgi, cheerful as ever again.
"Even as over the windows of this poor house there hang those skins, so over my life hangs a curtain which may not yet be fully lifted perchance the fates may decree that it shall ever hide me. A little, however, I may venture to raise it. Listen, Estein!" As he said the last words Atli stooped, and lifting two large logs cast them on the fire.
Word Of The Day