THE CROSS AND
THE HAMMER
_A Tale of the Days of the Vikings_
_By H. BEDFORD-JONES_
PUBLISHED BY
DAVID C. COOK PUBLISHING Co.
ELGIN, ILLINOIS
COPYRIGHT, 1912.
BY DAVID C. COOK PUBLISHING Co.,
ELGIN, ILLINOIS.
CONTENTS.
I. How the Vow Was Made
II. The Shooting Match
III. Jarl Hakon of Norway
IV. The Rescue in the Bay
V. The Escape from Thrandheim
VI. Hiorunga Bay
VII. How Vagn Kept His Vow
VIII. "Skoal to King Olaf!"
IX. How Astrid Fared Forth
X. Farewell to Dublin
XI. At Ethelred's Court
XII. The Flight From London
XIII. Alfred of Mercia
XIV. In Bretland
XV. In Winter Quarters
XVI. An Ambuscade
XVII. Ketil Turns Up
XVIII. A Mission for the King
XIX. At King Svein's Court
XX. The King and the Towel
XXI. The Death of Hakon
XXII. The Sacrifice To Thor
XXIII. How the Chiefs Were Baptized
XXIV. Olaf's Atonement
XXV. The Wrestling Match
XXVI. The Cross and the Hammer
FOREWORD.
This is a story about the very real people and events; if ever you
chance to read the old Sagas of Norway you will come upon most of the
characters of this tale. The viking age was not Christian, it was
full of the clash of arms and of unknightly deeds, yet its story is
vitally interesting.
The Hammer of Thor, the War-god of northern Europe, did not yield to
the Cross of Christ without a struggle, and the story of Norway's
conversion is intensely dramatic. King Hakon the Good, a foster-son
of the English King Athelstan, was forced to recant his faith in
order to hold his throne; King Olaf Triggveson lost his kingdom, or
rather gave it up, at Svolde Sound, because he refused to do the
like; and King Olaf the Thick, who followed him, fell beneath the
heathen weapons of his subjects, becoming the patron saint of Norway.
It was the first King Olaf who broke the power of the old gods and
who introduced Christianity into his realm. Short as was his reign,
he was the greatest king Norway ever had. He built the first church
in the land, and sent the first missionaries to Iceland; during his
reign Thangbrand, the priest, won that island to the true faith.
Many of the incidents narrated are taken direct from the Sagas, and
although King Olaf is said to have died at Svolde, the story of his
escape is well authenticated; I give his own words in refusing to win
back his kingdom. He went to Rome and the Holy Land and held rule
there under the Crusader Kings of Jerusalem, dying fifty years later.
King Edward the Confessor used to have the story of his life chanted
to his court once every year, upon his death being reported in
England during that king's reign.
H. BEDFORD-JONES.
NOTES.
"_bonders._"--This word is used in the Sagas to represent the free
farmers of Norway, who held their lands from the king, or owned them;
they were subject only to the orders of the king or his Jarls, and
are equivalent to our own "farmers," except that they had special
rights and privileges.
"_scat._"--A fine or any other penalty which might be imposed on an
offender by an assembly of the people. The scat was usually a fine
of money, lands, or goods.
"_skoal._"--This plain word corresponds to our own "Hurrah!" It
means both long life, good health, and joy, and is still used in
Norway in that sense.
I have avoided the use of many words which are usually retained in
the translations of the old Sagas. Nearly all the facts about which
the story of Sigurd Fairhair is woven are historical, and are taken
from the Heimskringla, and the Saga of King Olaf by the Abbot Berg
Sokkason. Both histories were compiled from the accounts of
eye-witnesses of the events contained therein, to a great extent, and
especially was this true with the life of Olaf Triggveson.--_The
Author_.
The Cross and the Hammer
_A Tale of the Days of the Vikings_
_By H. BEDFORD-JONES_
CHAPTER I.
HOW THE VOW WAS MADE.
The great hall of the Danish kings at Leira was filled to overflowing
on this autumn evening of the year 994, for King Harald Gormson had
fallen in battle some weeks before, and his son Svein Twyskiegge, of
Forkbeard, was celebrating his accession feast in the hall of his
fathers.
Around the town lay a whole city of tents and brush huts, for besides
the Danish lords present, sixty ships had come from Jomsborg, bearing
the noblest of the famous Viking brotherhood, under their chiefs Jarl
Sigvald and Bui the Thick. Visitors and Danes were clad in their
bravest array, and both town and camp presented a scene of the gayest
festivity.
Within, the hall was hung with ancient arms and trophies of the
chase, the floor was strewn with a thick layer of fresh rushes, and
the long tables were heaped high with dishes. At one end of the hall
sat King Svein, with his chiefs and the Jomsborg nobles, while above
them towered the high-seat or throne of the king; along the hall were
ranged the vikings and men of Denmark, with Queen Gunhild and her
ladies sitting at the far end.
Servants flitted in and out, bearing food and horns of ale, while in
the center of the hall, between the tables and before the seat of the
king, sat two skalds, singing to the music of their harps the great
deeds of King Harald and of his son, the new king. Presently, as the
hunger of the throng was somewhat appeased, all began to wonder what
vow the king would make, for it was the custom that at the heirship
feast the new king should make a vow to do some great and noble deed.
Seated near Queen Gunhild as guests of honor were two boys, one fair
and ruddy-cheeked, the other darker and with very quick, bold eyes.
The latter, Vagn Akison, was a nephew of Bui, the Jomsborg chief, and
grandson of Palnatoki, the founder of the viking brotherhood;
although he was only seventeen, he and his cousin Sigurd were already
well known for the prowess.
Sigurd Fairhair, who was a year younger than Vagn, was in high
spirits to-night, for a little before King Svein had given him a very
fine sword, and he was proud of it.
Glancing over at him with a smile, Queen Gunhild said, "Sigurd, have
you shown Astrid your new sword?"
"Of course he has," replied Astrid, her niece, who sat beside Sigurd,
and her dark eyes gleamed with fun. "He is going to try its edge on
the big pine tree near the harbor to-morrow!"
At this sally a laugh went up, and Vagn cried, "Be careful not to
bring down the tree into the harbor, Sigurd! It would be a pity to
sink all our best ships!"
Sigurd reddened, and retorted, "Well, I never aroused the whole camp
just because a pig was wandering around in the bushes!"
This turned the laugh on his cousin, who had wakened the camp the
night before, mistaking a pig for a spy, and even the Queen joined
heartily in the merriment.
Suddenly a silence fell on the tables, for King Svein had arisen and
was holding in both hands a great silver bowl. Amid a dead hush he
drained it, handed it to an attendant, and stepped to the high-seat.
Grasping an arm of this, the king turned.
"Here, as I ascend the throne of my father Harald, I vow that with
the help of God I will lead my fleet to the land of England, and ere
three winters have passed I will chase King Ethelred from the land
and sit in his throne!"
[Illustration: "_I will lead my fleet to the land of England._"]
As King Svein took his seat a low murmur of astonishment ran around
the hall, followed by a tremendous shout of "Skoal! Skoal!" for this
was a great vow to be fulfilled.
"See how pale the Queen is," whispered Astrid to Sigurd. "The vow
must have surprised her also."
Indeed, Queen Gunhild had turned white, for the King's vow meant that
a great war would be undertaken, and how it would end no man could
tell. Before Sigurd could reply, Jarl Sigvald arose and called for
silence.
"Men of Denmark and Jomsborg," he said slowly, in his deep voice, the
light glinting on his dark, strong face and black eyes, "I also would
make a vow, and no light one. As you all know, Jarl Hakon, a heathen
man and doubly a traitor, rules Norway while the rightful king,
Tryggvee's son, is a wanderer or mayhap dead. This then is my vow:
that I go to Norway ere three winters pass, take the rule from the
hands of Jarl Hakon, and drive him from the land."
Sigvald sat down, amid a dead hush of amazement; but it was broken by
a shout from young Vagn Akison.
"Skoal, Jarl Sigvald, skoal!"
Then what a cheer went up! Ere it subsided, Sigvald's brother,
Thorkel the Tall, leaped to his feet and swore to follow the Jarl;
Bui the Thick joined him, and amid fresh cheers, Vagn, from the other
end of the hall, cried:
"I, too! And ere I return I will slay Thorkel Leira, the villain who
betrayed my father to his death!"
"Skoal!" shouted Sigurd, excitedly, "I'm with you, Vagn!"
As the tumult subsided, the Queen looked at Vagn and Sigurd sadly.
"You are rash boys, you two! Do you realize what blood and tears
these oaths will cost?"
Sigurd answered her respectfully. "Noble Gunhild, that may well be;
yet Jarl Hakon is an evil man and a pagan, as is Thorkel. At any
rate, I won't have to try my new sword on the tree, now!" His keen
gray eyes twinkled.
The Queen made no reply, however, and sat watching King Svein; but
Astrid whispered:
"I think that was splendid! I wish I could go, too!"
Vagn laughed. "You'd be a fine one! Why, the first war-horn would
send you down below trembling!"
"It wouldn't either!" retorted the girl indignantly. "I can shoot
better than you or Sigurd, either of you!"
"Good! I challenge you to a match to-morrow," cried Sigurd. "We'll
go over to the shore beyond the harbor, where no one will interrupt,
and if you best either of us I'll give you my trained falcon from
France!"
"Then look out," laughed Astrid, "because I'm going to win the bird
to-morrow morning!"
With this she arose and followed the Queen, who was leaving. The two
boys, not wishing to join in the carouse that most of the vikings
would keep up for the better part of the night, also left the hall
and proceeded to their own tent.
"What think you of these vows, Sigurd?" asked Vagn, as they went
along.
"Well, now that we have cooled down, it looks rather different,"
replied Sigurd, thoughtfully. "It is one thing for King Svein to
conquer England, with the resources of a realm at his command, and
another for Sigvald to conquer Norway with only the brother of
Jomsborg behind him."
"But remember, Fairhair, we are Christians, while Hakon is a pagan
and a traitor; that will make some difference, surely! My own vow
was no hasty thing; I must avenge my father's death or else be
disgraced forever."
Sigurd nodded thoughtfully, for he well knew that the fierce vikings
would yield small obedience to a man who appeared unable to avenge
the betrayal of his father. As they turned in at their tent, a man
ran up, and Vagn recognized one of Bui's men in the moonlight.
"Hello, Egil, what is it?"
"You and Sigurd are wanted at council in Jarl Sigvald's big tent,"
panted the man.
Without delay, the boys followed him to the large tent of the Jarl.
Here they found all the Jomsborg leaders assembled, and took their
places beside Bui of Bornholm, who was speaking as they entered.
"It was a rash vow, Sigvald, but we cannot back out, and it may well
be that we shall win great honor in the effort, win or lose. Our
vikings are the best warriors in the world to-day, and we will at
least give a hard battle to Hakon and his son Eirik."
A murmur of assent ran around the tent, and Sigvald arose.
"Brothers, I was over-hasty in the vow, but it cannot be helped.
This is my counsel; that since the attempt must be made, we make it
without delay, send for the rest of our men, and strike at Norway's
capital without delay. What think you?"
Vagn stepped forward. "I will answer for my father's ships and men.
Let us strike before Hakon can meet us; we have the pick of our men
here, with most of our ships. We can leave here at the end of the
week, wait at Limafiord for the rest of our men, then sweep up to
Thrandheim."
"Good for you, Vagn!" cried his uncle. "Men say that I am somewhat
stout, but my friends never complain of my weight in battle!"
Everyone laughed, for although Bui deserved his nickname, he was one
of the greatest warriors of the day. "I'll let Sigurd here go with
you, if you want him," he continued, and the boy's heart leaped with
joy, for this was indeed just what he did want.
Jarl Sigvald smiled. "Then is it agreed that we go from here to
Limafiord on the fourth day?"
"Yes!" The answer was accompanied by a clash of weapons, as the
chiefs struck sword and spear on shield, and the council was over,
although most of the leaders remained to talk over details and
despatch a messenger to Jomsborg at once.
The boys returned to their tent, however, and as they dropped off to
sleep the shouts of "Skoal! Skoal!" drifted faintly to them from the
town, and they knew that the vikings and the Danes were still making
vows, some of which they would bitterly repent in the morning.