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Updated: June 20, 2025
Only the four vessels bound together Estein's, Thorkel's, Liot's, Osmund's swept in an unresisting cluster towards the rocks. Liot too saw the danger, and raised his voice in a great shout: "Let not man of mine touch an oar till Estein Hakonson lie dead on yonder deck. We have yet time to slay them. Forward, Liot's men!" There was a wild and furious rush of men towards the poop.
Estein sprang from the poop and clove one man to the shoulders. Another fell to Ulf's sword. The half- stunned Liot was seized by one of his followers, and bundled back on board his ship; and for the time the day was saved. "After them! after them, Ulf!" shouted Estein, and twenty bold Norwegians followed their leader in the wake of Liot's retreating boarding party.
The next afternoon there was a quiet gathering in the cabin that had been Liot's, and a little prayer and admonition; then, in the beauteous stillness of the summer day, the fishers made a bier of their crossed oars, and David laid his father upon it. There was no coffin; the long, majestic figure of humanity was only folded close in a winding-sheet and his own blue blanket.
In an instant a mantle was twisted round Liot's mouth, his hands and feet were bound, and ere he was thoroughly awake, he was mounted on the shoulders of his foes, forming one of a singular procession that hurried through the hall of Liot Skulison. Grim, who walked first, had almost reached the door, when from the blackest of the shadows a man stepped suddenly across his path.
"You have heard my rede on burnings, Helgi. My scheme is to carry off Liot in his sleep. They will keep no watch. The very dogs will be drunk, and I think it will not be so difficult as it seems. Will you come with me into Liot's hall?" Helgi's blue eyes opened wide, and he laughed as he said, "There has never been your match for enterprise in the north, Estein.
Three or four men had already followed him, a cry of victory rose from the Orkney Vikings, and for a moment the fate of the battle seemed decided, when a huge stone hurtled through the air, and falling on Liot's shield forced it down on his helmet and him to his knees. It was the work of Ulf, captain of the forecastle; and roaring like a bull, the old Viking followed his stone.
He went back to the cabin, ate some bread and fish, and then with a little reluctance opened his father's chest. There was small wealth in it only some letters, and Liot's kirk clothes, and a leather purse containing sixteen sovereigns. David saw at a glance that the letters were written by his mother.
It seemed as if nature showed her antagonism to poor Karen even to the last scene of her mortal drama; for the tide flowed late, and a Shetlander can only be buried with the flowing tide. The failing light, however, was but a part of the great tragedy of Liot's soul; it seemed the proper environment. He bared his head as he took his place, and when urged to put on his hat flung it from him.
All Liot's life now turned upon this one object, and, happily, it was sufficient to restore to him that hope that something to look forward to which is the salt of life. Matilda gave him no further trouble.
"You have some beauty," she said, "and you have one hundred pounds of your own; and it was to be expected that you would look to better yourself a little." "Have I not done so? Liot is the best of men." "And the best of men are but men at best. It is not of Liot I think, but of Liot's money; he is but poor, and you know little of him.
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