IN BRETLAND.
The morning broke dark and gloomy, with no land in sight. Sigurd,
concluding that they had been driven below the Thames, if not below
the end of England, ordered the helmsman to steer due west, and while
he was unable to communicate with the "Snake," he saw Biorn follow
his example at once, and knew that he understood.
The gale had now lessened to a steady wind from the northeast,
interspersed with flurries of snow, and both ships drove steadily
along under half-canvas.
For two days they held this course, and then Sigurd held a shouted
conference with Biorn. It seemed evident that they had been carried
south of England, so the prows were turned north, and the next
morning land appeared. Alfred had found his sea-legs by this time,
while Sigrid was rapidly gaining strength and color from the salt
sea-air, which drove the marsh fever out of her. She was a very
pretty girl, indeed, with her blue eyes and long flaxen hair, and she
and Astrid were firm friends from the start.
Wulf, who was now more a friend than a captive, was a great favorite
with all on board, even with Alfred's Saxons. On the morning that
land was sighted, he drew Sigurd aside.
"Jarl, we must have fresh water at once. Three of the casks were
loosened by the storm and have run out; there is only a cask or two
of ale left."
Sigurd made a wry face. "Well, that will keep us from thirst, and
the men like it well enough, though I have little taste for it; but
perhaps we can get water from some river along the coast here, or
from the 'Snake.'"
Wulf disagreed. "All Ethelred's Jarls and Thanes will be looking for
us, you may be sure, and as soon as we are sighted the housecarls
will be poured down wherever we land."
Sigurd thought it over, and finally signaled the "Snake." Biorn drew
alongside, but when Sigurd mentioned the shortness of water, the old
viking gave a cry of dismay.
"Why, we thought to get some from you! Never mind, we are drawing
into the coast, and I will make a landing and find out where we are.
We cannot be very far from South Wales, and once there it will be
plain sailing, for the people there are of my own race, and I have
not forgotten the language of the Cymry."
So they steered toward the shore, which was high and rocky. After
coasting along for two or three hours, a large bay was revealed, half
frozen over, with a hamlet nestling on the cliffs above.
"They are fishing folk, most like," said Alfred, "but there is no
sign of a river hereabouts. We may have to melt up some of that ice!"
Biorn's ship now drew carefully in, and broke through the thin outer
edge of ice. When the "Snake" would go no farther, Biorn leaped out
after testing the ice with oars, and a dozen men followed him to the
shore. They found the hamlet in great consternation, dreading the
forays of the pirates, but Biorn soon appeased their fears, buying a
goodly quantity of fish from them, and returned to the ships.
The "Snake" drew alongside the "Crane." "No fresh water, Jarl,"
reported Biorn. "Everything is frozen fast, and these people melt
ice for their needs. They say there is a river half a mile inland,
but we dare not risk it."
"I would advise that if possible we bear around South Wales and reach
up for the Northern Kingdom. It will only be a day's difference, and
we won't find much help among the people on this coast. We might
take in some ice-cakes, in case the ale gives out."
"How long does it take to reach North Wales?" asked Sigurd.
"We ought to get there to-morrow night, or the next day at latest,"
replied Biorn, and Sigurd waved assent. The ships were rowed up to
the ice and a supply of this was taken on board each ship; then the
sails were hoisted, half the oars put out, and at full speed they
passed along the coast, for Sigurd was determined not to be caught in
another tempest.
Next morning, however, the Land's End was reached, and the prows
turned north. By nightfall the land was in sight ahead, and early
next morning they drew close into shore.
"I know where we are," shouted Biorn to Sigurd. "Do you follow me,
Jarl, and we will speedily come to an open river, unless I am greatly
mistaken."
Before noon, indeed, a great shout of joy went up from the men, for
there before them was a bay, with an open river flowing down. True,
the channel was narrow and dangerous for ships, for the ice nearly
met on either side; but the "Crane" followed the "Snake" closely, and
they entered the channel. Half a mile from the mouth this widened
out and turned suddenly; as the "Snake" reached the bend Sigurd heard
Biorn's war-horn, and saw his men arming themselves in haste.
"To arms, men!" he shouted, "and be ready for whatever may befall!"
Alfred quickly donned his armor and stood by Sigurd in the prow. As
they in turn came around the bend, they saw the reason for Biorn's
preparations; there before them lay two large ships, moored for the
winter on shore, with a camp close by. From their appearance they
were Danes, and high above, on a neighboring knoll, could be seen the
roofs of a town of goodly size.
As the "Crane" came alongside the "Snake," Sigurd saw that the
vikings on shore were also arming and assembling around their two
ships.
"This is the town of Neath, Jarl," cried Biorn, as he leaped on board
the "Crane," "and it was here that I was born. What ships these are
I know not; shall we draw in and hail them?"
"That would be best," replied Sigurd. "Doubtless they are some
vikings who are wintering here, but it is strange, indeed, that they
are allowed to remain so near a town, unless they came on a peaceful
errand."
Sigurd ordered the men to row as close to shore as they could. The
ship stopped two or three hundred yards from it, for it was
impossible to break through the ice, and Sigurd blew a loud blast on
a peace-horn. In answer came one from the camp, and a dozen men left
the two ships and started over the ice toward the "Crane."
As these came near, Astrid uttered a little cry and caught Sigurd's
arm. "Oh, Fairhair, look at that big man in front! That is Halfdan,
the brother of Queen Gunhild, and my own uncle!"
Sigurd looked closely at the man, remembered him well, for he had
seen him often while the Jornsborg men were at King Svein's court.
Halfdan stopped just beyond spear-cast of the "Crane."
"Who are you, and do you come in peace or war?" he called.
"Good-morning!" laughed Sigurd, "don't you know your friends, Jarl?"
The other started, looked keenly at the ship, and ran forward.
"Surely, it is Sigurd Fairhair!" he cried, as he came near. "And by
the eye of Odin! Am I dreaming or is this Astrid?"
"Astrid it is, uncle!" laughed the girl, jumping down on the ice and
throwing her arms around his neck. The Jarl struggled to disengage
himself, and cried in mock dismay:
"Help; help, are you trying to make me captive? Let loose! Respect
my dignity!"
Sigurd followed Astrid to the ice, and clasped Halfdan's hand. "Be
careful, uncle," laughed Astrid, "Sigurd is your equal in dignity
now!"
Sigurd nodded at the surprised look of the Dane. "Yes, I am one of
Olaf Tryggveson's men now, Jarl, and he made me a Jarl lately,
although I am altogether too young for such an honor."
"Nonsense, nonsense!" replied Halfdan, his merry eyes gleaming with
happiness, "you are the handsomest Jarl I ever saw in my life, upon
my word! But come up to the camp."
"Wait," said Sigurd, turning to his ships. "Alfred, do you and
Sigrid join us. Wulf, you and Biorn take charge of the ships and lay
them up on shore, there beside the others. We are with friends."
As Alfred and Sigrid climbed down to the ice, the young Jarl
presented them to Halfdan, who greeted them heartily.
"I have heard of your father's misfortune," he exclaimed, "and I was
sorry, indeed, for I fought against him three or four years ago, and
he was a noble foeman. However, he is safe in Flanders now, and is
like to return before long."
"Why, what do you mean?" cried Alfred, in surprise.
"Come along to the camp and I'll tell you." Halfdan led the way to
the shore. "It's too cold to be standing out here talking."
As they entered the camp, the news spread that a party of Jomsvikings
were among the arrivals, and a loud blast went up from the horns,
while the Danes met them with shouts of joy, for the men of Jomsborg
were prime favorites with King Svein's men. Sigurd found several
whom he knew, while Astrid was met with fresh cheers. As they
entered the large hut of Halfdan, the Jarl drove the men off.
"Get out of here!" he cried. "Go down and help stow the ships up on
land beside ours. We have much to talk over here, and would be left
in peace."
With a last cheer, the men vanished, and Halfdan closed the door.
"Here is food and water, friends, if you are hungry."
"We have plenty of food, but a drink of water would not be amiss,"
answered Sigurd. "And now, how come you here, in Wales?"
"First make yourselves comfortable." Halfdan piled furs along the
wall, for Astrid and Sigrid, while he and the two boys sat on the
long wooden bench. "Well, of course you remember the oath that Svein
made that night? He wasn't in such a hurry as you Jomsvikings were,
but he has been making big preparations. He sent me here right after
the news of Hiorunga Bay arrived, for he had counted on your men
making a descent on Ethelred from the west as well as from
Northumbria, where he himself will land in the spring or summer.
"I arrived here a month or two ago, and have arranged matters with
Idwal ap Meirig, the King of North Wales. What barbarous names these
Welsh people have!"
"Probably they think ours just as bad," laughed Sigrid, "for they
hate everything Saxon; and as for your Norse names, I am sure they
used to sound harsh, even to us!"
"Well, in any case, King Idwal is up in the town yonder, has agreed
to join us, and we see him nearly every day. Now, tell me something
about yourself, Sigurd."
It was late when Sigurd finished his tale, so Halfdan, who had given
orders meanwhile, showed the two girls to a hut that had been hastily
fitted up for them, and shared his own with the boys for the night.