SAXON AND VIKING AT THE SWORD'S POINT.
"Who overcomes
By force hath overcome but half his foe."
Milton..
The burning and rankling feeling of hatred and contempt engendered in
the breast of Sigurd against Oswald (as the result of his spying a
second time upon the Saxon chieftain and Alice de Montfort) was of such
a consuming nature that he must needs force himself into the presence of
Ethel at the very first opportunity. In tones fierce and rancorous, he
told her the story of Oswald's secret and unprincipled love--as he
considered it--for the fair Norman.
"Ethel, girl," said he, "I have dogged this renegade myself, and know of
a truth that he holds illicit intercourse with this dark-eyed Norman
hussy, and that he keeps tryst with her o' nights when honest men are
abed, deceiving Saxon and Norman alike."
"What have I to do with this, my lord? I pray you pursue this matter no
farther," said Ethel.
"All honest men, whether Saxon or Norse, have to do with traitors to
their country. This deceiver professes undying enmity against our common
foe, but does not hesitate to betray his country and the Saxon cause to
win a smile from this temptress."
"My lord," said Ethel, in firm tones, "I cannot listen to your harsh
judgments of him. He is our chosen leader, and I do not hesitate to say
in your hearing, he is our only possible leader. He is sagacious as
brave, and if _he_ cannot rally our scattered and dispirited people,
then our cause is hopeless. I do not believe he is a renegade, as you
say. He is no traitor to his country, but her most valorous and faithful
defender."
"I tell thee, girl, he is in league with this siren! I know of what I
speak! How can he prostrate himself before _her_ without despising and
betraying his own people?"
"My lord, what is this to _me_? If he loves this fair Norman, it is not
to be wondered at; she gave him his life. She is surpassingly beautiful;
and she is virtuous and good as well. Listen, my lord, to what the
palmers tell us of her benefactions, and her kindness to those in
distress."
"She supplanted thee, girl, dost thou think of that? She hath stolen
what of right should be thine--what would have been thine, but for her!
How canst thou find excuses for this she-wolf and her base paramour?"
"My lord, such words are an affront to me. A Saxon maiden does not need
to go a-begging for a lover."
"Ethel, thou dost tantalise me! Thou art blind. Thy love for him doth
make thee mad! But I will be avenged on them both, whether thou approve
of it or not."
"My lord," said Ethel, drawing herself to her full height, whilst her
eyes flashed fire, "who told you I loved him? Are you going to make a
palmer's song about me, and sing it through the whole camp? I will not
have you assuming what I have not told you. Let me tell you, once for
all, a Saxon girl will love where she pleases, and only where she
pleases. Your references are an insult to me!"
This was said with all the energy she could command. Then, rising, she
passed hastily from the room. But scarcely had she closed the door
behind her when her strength failed, and she sank exhausted into a seat.
"Mercy on us!" shrieked Eadburgh, rushing off for a mug of cold water,
and dashing it over her face with her fingers. "Whatever is the matter?
That loutish fellow has been making love again, I'll warrant! He'll
drive the poor body clean mad if he does not let her alone. Such a great
mountain of flesh would frighten anybody, let alone a wee bit of a
lady-like creature as my mistress."
Sigurd, we need not say, was still further maddened by this additional
repulse, and in a rage which would brook no further control, he hurried
off in quest of Oswald, whom he found superintending the efforts of the
workmen. Oswald saw that he was greatly agitated and evidently in a
terrible passion.
"A word in thine ear," he hissed fiercely to Oswald, as he passed.
Oswald followed him until they were beyond the hearing of others.
"What is thy business this morning, pray?" said Oswald, who saw quite
plainly that a rupture was imminent.
"My errand is to unmask a traitor, and either make an honest man of him,
or else make an end of him."
"If thou hast business of such import as this--and thy looks betoken
it--it were best to speak plainly, and come to the point at once."
"My business is with thee, for thou art a renegade, and a trickster;
dancing attendance on a Norman woman, and bartering thy country's cause
and thy people's liberties, to win a smile from a trumpery Norman jade.
Now thou hast it in plain terms."
"Thou liest, Jarl. And once more thy madness passes the bounds of
toleration. Let me tell thee I will have no more ebullitions of thy
ungovernable temper, or any more of thy intriguing and sowing of discord
amongst my people. So be pleased at once to betake thyself to thy own
domain, or anywhere thou likest, so that thou cross my path no more.
There thou art at liberty to act thine own part without let or
hindrance."
"Ah, finely spoken, no doubt! and smoothly as any Norman courtier could
mouth it! Thou hast the trick of it, truly. But thou mayest save thy
fine speeches, and lisp them to thy lady-love, for they win not upon me.
I will tell thee further,--to put a few leagues of honest Saxon soil
between thee and me will not heal our differences. Nor will I try such a
remedy unless more wholesome methods fail me."
"There are no differences between us, saving such as are hatched in thy
muddy brain, Jarl; and what may be the methods of healing them which
thou hintest at, I know not. But I see that madman's look in thy eye,
with which I am too familiar, and I opine that mischief, aye, deadly
mischief, is designed by thee, if thy ability to work mischief fail thee
not."
"The curse of Skuld be upon thee, traitor! Thou hast guessed rightly, so
draw at once and stand upon thy guard, or I will run thee through with
as little compunction as I would a dog," said the Viking, wildly
brandishing his sword, and advancing on Oswald.
Whilst this war of words was proceeding, the whole camp was thoroughly
aroused, and curious eyes from every nook and corner anxiously peered
out to see what this fateful altercation would lead to. But when weapons
were unsheathed, the churls eagerly thronged about their respective
chieftains in feverish excitement. Oswald would fain have settled this
quarrel without appeal to arms; or if that could not be, then he would
have preferred it apart from the clamour and partizanship of the camp.
Sigurd's unbridled rage, however, put this out of the question. Being,
therefore, forced into this appeal to the sword, he unsheathed his
weapon; and the two broadswords, in the grip of two as powerful
antagonists as the sea-encircled lands of Britain contained, came
together like the shock of lances in knightly charge.
Oswald, unlike his opponent, was perfectly cool, though not by any means
blind or indifferent to the momentous issues involved in this
life-and-death struggle. He knew that any yielding, or declining of the
combat, either in the interest of peace, or for any other reason, meant
the loss of supremacy in the camp. He knew also that Sigurd meant it to
be to the death. Now, Oswald fell little short of Sigurd in sheer brute
strength and force; and in coolness of temper, agility, and skill, he
was much more than a match for his opponent. He saw clearly also that
this was to be no child's play, but dead earnest. The look in the black
and louring visage of Sigurd, and the unmitigated ferocity of his
onslaught, told more plainly than words that he, at least, would give no
quarter. Oswald fought a purely defensive battle, having no desire to
injure his foeman, but steadily parrying, with masterly skill, the
thundering blows of Sigurd, steadily giving ground before his eager and
impetuous onslaught. None knew better than he, however, that vital
exhaustion must follow quickly on the heels of such dire rage; and it
soon became very evident to him that the pace was telling upon his
adversary. The rush and eagerness of his attack, and the consuming
passion within him, told their tale very speedily, for the perspiration
poured from him in streams, and his countenance became deadly pale. This
was soon followed by a palpable weakening of the strength of his wrist;
and Oswald, watching carefully every stroke of his adversary, awaited
his chance. Soon it came; and with one powerful blow he sent the weapon
from Sigurd's grasp. Then, in a climax of senseless rage at losing his
weapon, Sigurd rushed on Oswald, in the vain endeavour to close with
him. But Oswald, turning the flat of his sword, dealt him a powerful
blow on the head with its broadside, which knocked him senseless and
bleeding to the ground. He quickly rose to his feet again, however.
"There," said Oswald, coolly sheathing his weapon, "take thy sword. I
have given thee thy life. Be advised, and cross my path no more whilst
thou art in thy present mood, for, Saxon or no Saxon, there will be but
one more passage-at-arms between me and thee; and thou mayest fare worse
at our next meeting."
"I offer thee no thanks for thy clemency, nor do I abate one jot of my
hatred of thee and of thy womanish philandering with Norman wenches,
when thy countrymen's blood cries aloud for vengeance. I warn thee to
take heed lest, next time we meet, fortune may not be on thy side." So,
with a scowl, he hurried off.
Oswald remained for a long time with folded arms and bowed head, pacing
to and fro on the sward, in anxious and troubled thought, which found
vent in audible words.
"Too well I understand that foul menace, and well I understand the
untamed and implacable nature of this foe in my own household. When our
forefathers broke upon this land, wild and daring, counting human life
as nothing, and ruthlessly trampling underfoot their fallen enemies,
none more fierce and cruel in all the savage crews were there than he.
But this is the question to be settled: were those old days of
heathenish rites and savage valour the prime days of our race? Our
forefathers braved all hazards, and they were a conquering people. What
are we? Are we not abjectly ground down--a subject race, and serfs of a
braver people? Is this lingering type of our ancient race in the right?
What are books; and music; and chivalry? What is this lately born love
of mercy, and justice, and righteousness? Tell me, is it merely a
debilitating southern wind come this way, transforming heroes into
effeminate dreamers, and weaklings? Can I be again a Saxon of the old
type?--for I must make my choice here, and now. A Viking, with savage
instincts, and implacable, undying hatred of my enemies; indulging in
ruthless butchery and indiscriminate massacre of helpless women and
children. Can I see eye to eye with this man? This question I must
settle once for all!"
He took a turn, in deep mental conflict.
"No!" said he, with concentrated energy; "it cannot be, come what may. I
abominate his savagery! I despise his ignorance, and his boorish habits!
He and I can never be one in aim and action. Then, I owe my life to this
fair Norman; such a debt upon my honour calls aloud for a full requital.
Besides all this," said he, whilst his broad chest heaved with the
powerful emotions which stirred within him, "waking I hear continually
the music of her voice, and I see the love-light in her dark eye.
Sleeping I commune with her, and I dream of days of peace and happiness
to come. The die is cast, and my path is marked out for me! Perilous it
is in very truth, with Norman foes destitute of mercy, and, added to
them, a foe in this mad Norseman, cruel and revengeful as death. I will
follow the light! Let God judge between me and this people he hath given
me to defend."