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Updated: May 8, 2025
"Safely came Jarl Lodbrok to the English shores," I went on; "steering his boat through the storm as I think no other man might. And my father and I, lying at anchor for tide in our coasting ship, took him from the breakers. Some of his craft taught he me, else had I not been here today.
And the few who were boldest turned and bearded the son of Lodbrok himself. "How much longer must we endure this?"... "Think of the game we are missing!"... "There is little need to remind me. My naked fists could batter the stones from their places "... "In a week more, it is possible that England may be won!"... "What do you care for their wretched land, chief?"...
Now at that word the Danes broke into a great cheer, but Halfden laid his hands on my shoulders and kissed me on both cheeks, while the tears of joy ran down his face. "Well must Lodbrok my father love you if he has told you so much that you know me by name," he cried; "and well does he trust you since he has given you his ring. Tell me more and ever more of him."
"Here is the Englishman arrived, and he looks small enough now!" he cried in his thunderous voice. "Has it happened that I am to be the bower-thane who is to fetch you in!" Sebert's grasp tightened around his hilt. Apparently the son of Lodbrok was expecting him! Yet even on a forlorn hope, he deemed it wise not to commit himself.
Laughing, the Norwegian plunged again into the general discussion; and the son of Lodbrok stood listening discontentedly, while he kept a sharp watch of the low-browed entrance. Presently his patience was rewarded. Within the hut there arose all at once a duet of voices, half angrily accusing, half laughingly protesting.
"Now I think you mean that you will not take your land at my hands," he said. "That were to own you king." "Then, Wulfric, my friend, if I may call you so, that the lands of a friend are not mine to give and take I need not tell you. Nor do we harm the lands of a friend. There is one place in East Anglia that no Dane has harmed, or will harm the place that sheltered Jarl Lodbrok.
And he thanked me gravely again, walking, as I thought, more freely beside me, as knowing that he was held to be a true man. We followed my father, who walked with the king, at a little distance because of this small delay; and presently Lodbrok asked me if this was the King of all England. "No," I answered; "though, indeed, he is the only king we know aught of. This is Eadmund of East Anglia."
Turning, Canute beckoned to the son of Lodbrok, who was enduring the scene with the same stolid resignation which he displayed toward his chief's other follies. "Foster-brother, how comes it that you do not follow my example and embrace the bride that I have given you?" As ice breaks and reveals sullen waters underneath, so stolidity broke in Rothgar's face. With a harsh laugh, he strode forward.
"Hearken all to good news! Lodbrok our Jarl lives!" Then, alas! instead of the great cheer that should have broken from the lips of all that throng, was at first a silence, and then a groan low and pitiful as of a mourning people who wail for the dead and the sorrowful living and at that sound Halfden paled, and stayed no more, hurrying ashore and to where his brothers stood.
And when the dog saw Beorn he flew at him and would have mauled him sorely, but that the earl's men beat him off with their staves; and one took the leash that hung from my saddle bow and tied him to a tree, where he sat growling and making as though he would again fly at the falconer. "Whose dog is this?" asked the leader. "His," answered the serfs, pointing to Lodbrok.
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