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But the Ironside caught it on his shield and delivered a sword-thrust in return that dropped the Dane's arm by his side. As it fell, Rothgar's left hand plucked forth his blade, but the English king had pressed past him toward his master. Canute's weapon had need to dart like a northern light.

The seriousness which had darkened Canute's face at the intrusion vanished off it as breath-mist off a mirror. "Is it only your Englishman?" he asked, between a laugh and a frown. She grudged the time the words took. "Yes, yes! Pray be as quick as you can!"

Consequently, Canute's education was only of the kind afforded by the public school; but his father's library had early inspired him with a desire for knowledge, which was increased by association with his friend Henrik Wergeland, who often visited him or sent him books, seeds for his farm, and much good counsel.

He rode away northward through the Bruneswald, over the higher land of Lincolnshire, through primeval glades of mighty oak and ash, holly and thorn, swarming with game, which was as highly preserved then as now, under Canute's severe forest laws.

Normandy ran much in Canute's mind. In Normandy were the two children of the late king EDWARD and ALFRED by name; and their uncle the Duke might one day claim the crown for them.

He died at Gainsborough, England, in 1014, leaving his son Knud, then a boy of fourteen, to complete the conquest. It is this son, known in England as Canute the Great, and the mightiest of all the Danish kings, with whose career we have to deal. England did not fall lightly into Canute's hands; he had to win it by force of arms.

Canute gazed after him, as he sat there so broad-shouldered in the wagon, while the horse, impatient for home, hurried on unurged by Lars, who only gave loose rein. It was a picture of his power; this man drove toward the mark! He, Canute, felt as if thrown out of his wagon to stagger along there in the autumn cold. Canute's wife was waiting for him at home.

The son of Wolnoth accompanied Canute in his military expedition to the Scandinavian continent, and here a signal victory, planned by Godwin and executed solely by himself and the Saxon band under his command, without aid from Canute's Danes, made the most memorable military exploit of his life, and confirmed his rising fortunes.

These various representations, and the remembrance of Canute's victory, decided Hardrada; and, when Tostig ceased, he stretched his hand towards his slumbering warships, and exclaimed: "Eno'; you have whetted the beaks of the ravens, and harnessed the steeds of the sea!" Meanwhile, King Harold of England had made himself dear to his people, and been true to the fame he had won as Harold the Earl.

Raising her heavy lids, eyes rested on a man's face, showing dimly in the dusk of the starlight. He said in English, "Canute's page, by the Saints!" A chorus of voices answered him: "The fiend's brat that pierced your shoulder?" "Choke him!" "Better he die now than after he has waxed large on English blood." "Finish him!"