IN WHICH IS DESCRIBED A DESPERATE ATTEMPT AT RESCUE, A BOLD LEAP FOR
FREEDOM, AND A TRIUMPHANT ESCAPE.
The Crow Cliff, to which Christian had referred, was a high precipitous
rock that jutted out into the river just below Haldorstede. It was the
termination of the high ridge on the face of which Erling had posted his
men, and could be easily reached from the spot where they lay concealed,
as well as from the stede itself, but there was no possibility of
passing down the river in that direction by land, owing to the
precipitous nature of the ground. The ordinary path down the valley,
which elsewhere followed the curvatures of the river, made at this point
a wide detour into the woods, went in a zigzag form up the steep ascent
of the ridge, descended similarly on the other side, and did not rejoin
the river for nearly half a mile below. The waters were so pent up by
the Crow Cliff that they rushed along its base in a furious rapid,
which, a hundred yards down, descended in a perpendicular fall of about
fifteen feet in depth. The descent of this rapid by a boat was quite
possible, for there was a little bay at the lower end of Crow Cliff,
just above the foss, into which it could be steered by a dexterous
rower; but this mode of descent was attended with the imminent risk of
being swept over the fall and dashed to pieces, so that none except the
daring young spirits of the glen ever attempted it, while all the rest
were content to cross the ridge by the longer and more laborious, but
safe, path which we have just described. To descend this rapid by
swimming was one of the feats which the youths of the place delighted to
venture, and often had Erling and Glumm dared it together, while not a
few of their companions had lost their lives in the attempt.
A few words from Erling gave the men to understand what was expected of
them. It was arranged that while he, Ulf, Glumm, and the hermit should
put the girls into the little boat and guide them down the rapid, the
men were to leap into the water and swim down. All were to land in the
little bay, and then make for the cave on the coast in a body, and fight
their way thither, if need be; but it was believed there would be no
occasion for that, because before the plan was carried out most of the
King's men would probably be assembled above the Crow Cliff at the
stede. A few who could not swim were sent off at once by the track to
warn Haldor. All these well-laid plans, however, were suddenly
frustrated, for, while Erling was still consulting with Ulf and Glumm as
to details, and peeping through the underwood, they beheld a sight which
caused their hearts almost to stand still.
From the elevated spot where they lay they could see the hermit
advancing rapidly towards them in a crouching attitude, closely followed
by the maidens, while at the same time there advanced from the stede a
large band of men under a chief, who was evidently commissioned to
execute some order of the King. Erling and his friends could clearly
see these two parties unwittingly approaching each other, at right
angles, each making for a point where the two paths crossed, and where
they were certain to meet. They could see their friends quietly but
swiftly gliding towards the very fate they sought to avoid, and
experienced all the agony of being unable to give a shout of warning, or
to prevent the foe from capturing them; for, even if there had been time
to rush upon them before the meeting, which there was not, Erling by so
doing would have been obliged to place the whole of Harald's host
between him and the boat at Crow Cliff. This consideration, however,
would not have deterred him, but another idea had flashed upon his mind.
What that was shall be seen presently.
Before the two parties met, the ears of the hermit, albeit somewhat
dulled by age, became aware of the tramp of armed men, and at once he
drew the girls hastily aside into the bushes; but the bushes at that
part happened to be not very thick, and part of Ada's dress, which was a
gay one with a good deal of scarlet about it, caught the attention of a
sharp-eyed warrior. The man uttered a shout and sprang towards them;
several others joined in the pursuit, a loud scream from one of the
girls was heard, and next moment the fugitives were captured!
"Up and at them!" cried Glumm, endeavouring to rise, but he found
himself pinned to the earth by Erling's powerful arms.
"Stay, Glumm, be quiet, I beseech thee," entreated Erling, as his
comrade struggled violently but fruitlessly to escape from his powerful
embrace.--"Do listen, Ulf; ye will spoil all by inconsiderate haste. I
have a plan: listen--these men are not devils, but Norsemen, and will
not hurt the girls; they will take them before the King. Hear me, and
they shall yet be rescued!"
While the power of Erling's muscles restrained Glumm, the deep-toned
impassioned earnestness of his voice held back Ulf, who had leaped up
and drawn his sword; but it was with evident reluctance that he paused
and listened.
"Now hear me," cried Erling; "I and Glumm will go down and mingle with
Harald's men. Our faces are doubtless not known to any of them;
besides, we are so bespattered with the blood and dust of battle that
even friends might fail to recognise us. We will go boldly about among
the men, and keep near to the girls until a fitting opportunity offers,
when we will seize them and bear them off. This will not be so
difficult as ye may think."
"Difficult!" cried Glumm, grinding his teeth; "I think nothing difficult
except sitting still!"
"Because," continued Erling, "the King's men will be taken by surprise,
and we shall be through the most of them before they are aware that
there is need to draw their blades. But (and on this everything will
depend) thou must be ready, Ulf, with all the men, to rush, in the
twinkling of an eye, to our aid, the moment my shout is heard, for, if
this be not done, we cannot fail to be overpowered by numbers. If thou
dost but keep them well in play while we make for the boat, and then
follow and leap into the river, we shall all escape."
"Come along, then," cried Glumm, in desperate impatience.
"Does the plan like thee, Ulf?" asked Erling.
"Not much," he replied, shaking his head, "but it is the only chance
left, so get thee gone. I will not fail thee in the moment of need--
away! See, the girls are already being led before the King."
Erling and Glumm instantly pulled their helmets well down on their
brows, wrapped their mantles round them so as to conceal their figures
as much as possible, then entered the wood and disappeared.
Meanwhile, on the open space in front of Haldor's ruined dwelling, King
Harald Haarfager stood surrounded by his court men. He was still
bespattered with the blood and dust of battle, and furiously angry at
the escape of Haldor and the burning of the stede. His gilt helmet
restrained the exuberance of his shaggy locks, and he stood on the top
of a slight elevation or mound, from the base of which his men extended
in a dense ring in front of him, eager to ascertain who it was that had
been so unexpectedly captured. Erling and Glumm mingled with the crowd
unnoticed, for so many of the men assembled there had been collected
from various districts, that, to each, strange faces were the rule
instead of the exception.
When the girls were led into the ring there was a murmur of admiration,
and many complimentary remarks were made about them. The old hermit was
dragged in after them, and excited a little attention for a few moments.
He had experienced rough handling from his captors. His grey hair was
dishevelled and his face bloodstained, for, although he had offered no
resistance, some of the men who seized him were so much out of humour in
consequence of the burning of the stede and the escape of its inmates,
that they were glad to vent their anger on anyone.
"Good-looking girls, both of them," remarked the King to Jarl Rongvold,
as they were being led forward.--"Who are ye?" he added, addressing
them.
Ada looked round on the circle of men with a frightened glance, and cast
down her eyes, but did not reply, while Hilda raised her eyes timidly to
the King's face, but lacked courage to speak.
"Come," said the King sternly, "let us have no false modesty. Ye are
before Norway's King, therefore speak, and to the point. Who art thou?"