United States or Kiribati ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"I'll tell you all about it in good time; but I've got other things to speak of which are more interesting to both of us. Sit down and let me sit on your knee, as I used to do long ago." Gadarn meekly obeyed. "Now listen," said Cormac, putting his mouth to his father's ear and whispering. The chief listened, and the first effect of the whispering was to produce a frown.
Proceeding round by the Hot Springs, the party led by Gadarn made a careful inspection of every cavern, defile, glade, and thicket, returning at evening towards the camp from which they set out, it having been arranged that they were all to meet there and start again to renew the search, in a wider circle, on the following morning.
"That is strange, for Bladud, who has just left me, says that he has the best of reasons for believing that we shall have certain news of him tomorrow. But go, Gadarn, and consult my doctor about this complaint of yours, which interrupts conversation so awkwardly. We can resume our talk at some other time."
By universal desire the council appointed Gadarn. "Well, then," said the commander-in-chief, "this is my view: Addedomar will come expecting to find us all asleep. He will find us all very wide awake. There is a slope in front of this camp leading down to the Swamp. At the bottom is a nice level piece of flat land, bordering on the Swamp, that seems just made for a battlefield.
"A pretty boast for a man in present safety," remarked the Hebrew, with a remonstrative shake of the head. "Most true," returned the prince, flushing; "I spoke in haste, yet it was not altogether a boast, for I could challenge Gadarn to single combat, and no right-minded chief could well refuse to let the issue of the matter rest on that."
"It is; but not so large as ours, and it is weakened every day by being sent into the woods in different directions and in three detachments." "Excellent! Ha! we will join Gadarn in this search, not only for his daughter, but for himself, and we will double the number of his detachments when we meet them, by slicing each man in two."
He dwelt with his mother Ortrud to the end of her days in a small house not far from the residence of Konar. Gunrig's mother also dwelt with them not that she had any particular regard for them personally, but in order that she might be near to the beautiful girl who had been beloved by her son. Gadarn, the great northern chief, ever afterwards paid an annual visit to Swamptown.
"And the pigs! oh! the pigs!" cried Gadarn, going off into another explosion which brought the tears to his eyes, "it would have been nothing without the pigs!" The gentle reader must make allowance for the feelings of men fresh from the excitement of such a scene, existing as they did in times so very remote.
The officer laughed; but there was that in the boy's tone and manner that induced him to obey. Gadarn, the chief, was seated on a tree-stump inside of a booth of boughs, leaves, and birch-bark, that had been hastily constructed for his accommodation. He was a great, rugged, north-country man, of immense physical power as most chiefs were in those days.
The Hebrew tells me you are cured; and your father will be glad to have you back." "It matters not. I leave not this region until I have made a more thorough search for and found the lad Cormac, or at least ascertained his fate." "Why so anxious about the boy? is he of kin to you?" said Gadarn in a tone that seemed to convey the slightest possible evidence of contempt.
Word Of The Day