heard them, he said, "It is wonderful that I did not think of this
before. And now I make a solemn vow and take God to witness, who made
me and rules over all things, that never shall I clip or comb my hair
until I have subdued the whole of Norway with scat [land taxes], and
duties, and domains."
Then, without delay, Harald assembled a great force and prepared to
conquer all the other little kings who were ruling over the different
parts of Norway.
In many districts the kings had no warning of Harald's approach, and
before they could collect an army they were vanquished.
When their ruler was defeated, many of his subjects fled from the
country, manned their ships and sailed away on viking expeditions.
Others made peace with King Harald and became his men.
Over each district, as he conquered it, Harald placed a jarl or earl,
that he might judge and do justice, and also that he might collect the
scat and fines which Harald had imposed upon the conquered people. As
the earls were given a third part of the money they thus collected,
they were well pleased to take service with King Harald. And indeed
they grew richer, and more powerful too, than they had ever been
before.
It took King Harald ten long years to do as he had vowed, and make all
Norway his own. During these years a great many new bands of vikings
were formed, and led by their chief or king they left the country, not
choosing to become King Harald's men.
These viking bands went west, over the sea, to Shetland and Orkney, to
the Hebrides, and also to England, Scotland, and Ireland.
During the winter they made their home in these lands, but in summer
they sailed to the coast of Norway and did much damage to the towns
that lay along the coast. Then, growing bolder, they ventured inland,
and because of their hatred against King Harald, they plundered and
burned both towns and villages.
Meanwhile Harald, having fulfilled his vow, had his hair combed and
cut. It had grown so rough and tangled during these ten years that his
people had named him Harald Sufa, which meant "Shock-headed Harald."
Now, however, after his long, yellow hair was combed and clipped, he
was named Harald Fairhair, and by this name he was ever after known.
Nor did the King forget Gyda, for whose sake he had made his vow. He
sent for her, and she, as she had promised, came to marry the King of
all Norway.
Now the raids of the vikings along the coasts of Norway angered the
King, and he determined that they should end. He therefore set out
with a large fleet in search of his rebellious subjects.
These, when they heard of his approach, fled to their long-ships and
sailed out to sea. But Harald reached Shetland and slew those vikings
who had not fled, then, landing on the Orkney Isles, he burned and
plundered, sparing no Northman who crossed his path. On the Hebrides
King Harald met with worthy foes, for here were many who had once
themselves been kings in Norway. In all the battles that he fought
Harald was victorious and gained much booty.
When he went back to Norway the King left one of his jarls to carry on
war against the inhabitants of Scotland. Caithness and Sutherland were
conquered by this jarl for Harald, and thereafter many chiefs, both
Norsemen and Danes, settled there. While Harald Fairhair was ruling
in Norway, a grandson of Alfred the Great became king in England. His
name was Athelstan the Victorious. Now Athelstan liked to think that
he was a greater king than Harald Fairhair. It pleased him, too, to
play what seemed to him a clever trick on his rival across the sea.
He sent a beautiful sword to Harald. Its hilt was covered with gold
and silver, and set with precious gems. When Athelstan's messenger
stood before the King of Norway he held out the hilt of the sword
toward him, saying "Here is a sword that King Athelstan doth send to
thee." Harald at once seized it by the hilt. Then the messenger smiled
and said, "Now shalt thou be subject to the King of England, for thou
hast taken the sword by the hilt as he desired thee." To take a sword
thus was in those olden days a sign of submission.
Then Harald was very angry, for he knew that Athelstan had sent this
gift only that he might mock him. He wished to punish the messenger
whom Athelstan had sent with the sword. Nevertheless he remembered
his habit whenever he got angry, to first keep quiet and let his anger
subside, and then look at the matter calmly. By the time the prudent
King had done this, his anger had cooled, and Athelstan's messenger
departed unharmed.
But with Athelstan Harald still hoped to be equal.
The following summer he sent a ship to England. It was commanded by
Hauk, and into his hands Harald intrusted his young son Hakon, whom he
was sending to King Athelstan. For what purpose you shall hear.
Hauk reached England safely, and found the King in London at a feast.
The captain boldly entered the hall where the feasters sat, followed
by thirty of his men, each one of whom had his shield hidden under his
cloak.
Carrying Prince Hakon, who was a child, in his arms, Hauk stepped
before the King and saluted him. Then before Athelstan knew what he
meant to do, Hauk, had placed the little prince on the King's knee.
"Why hast thou done this?" said Athelstan to the bold Northman.
"Harald of Norway asks thee to foster his child," answered Hauk. But
well he knew that his words would make the King of England wroth. For
one who became foster-father to a child was usually of lower rank than
the real father. This, you see, was Harald's way of thanking Athelstan
for his gift of the sword.
Well, as Hauk expected, the King was very angry when he heard why the
little prince had been placed on his knee. He drew his sword as though
he would slay the child.
Hauk, however, was quite undisturbed, and said, "Thou hast borne the
child on thy knee, and thou canst murder him if thou wilt, but thou
canst not make an end of all King Harald's sons by so doing."
Then the viking, with his men, left the hall and strode down to the
river, where they embarked, and at once set sail for Norway.
When Hauk reached Norway and told the King all that he had done,
Harald was well content, for the King of England had been forced to
become the foster-father of his little son.
Athelstan's anger against his royal foster-child was soon forgotten,
and ere long he loved him better than any of his own kin.
He ordered the priest to baptize the little prince, and to teach him
the true faith.
III
THE SEA-FIGHT OF THE JOMSVIKINGS
While King Harald was reigning in Denmark, he built on the shores of
the Baltic a fortress which he called Jomsburg. In this fortress dwelt
a famous band of vikings named the Jomsvikings. It is one of their
most famous sea-fights that I am going to tell you now.
The leader of the band was Earl Sigvald, and a bold and fearless
leader he had proved himself.
It was at a great feast that Sigvald made the rash vow which led to
this mighty battle. After the horn of mead had been handed round not
once or twice only, Sigvald arose and vowed that, before three winters
had passed, he and his band would go to Norway and either kill or
chase Earl Hakon out of the country.
In the morning Sigvald and his Jomsvikings perhaps felt that they had
vowed more than they were able to perform, yet it was not possible
to withdraw from the enterprise unless they were willing to be called
cowards. They therefore thought it would be well to start without
delay, that they might, if possible, take Earl Hakon unawares.
In a short time therefore the Jomsviking fleet was ready, and sixty
warships sailed away toward Norway. No sooner did they reach Earl
Hakon's realms than they began to plunder and burn along the coast.
But while they gained booty, they lost time. For Hakon, hearing of
their doings, at once split a war-arrow and sent it all over the
realm.
It was in this way that Hakon heard that the Jomsvikings were in his
land. In one village the vikings had, as they thought, killed all the
inhabitants. But unknown to them a man had escaped with the loss of
his hand, and hastening to the shore he sailed away in a light boat in
search of the earl.
Hakon was at dinner when the fugitive stood before him.
"Art thou sure that thou didst see the Jomsvikings?" asked Hakon, when
he had listened to the man's tidings.
For answer, the peasant stretched out the arm from which the hand had
been sundered, saying, "Here is the token that the Jomsvikings are in
the land."
It was then that Hakon sent the war-arrow throughout the land and
speedily gathered together a great force. Eric one of his sons, also
collected troops, but though the preparations for war went on apace,
the Jomsvikings heard nothing of them, and still thought that they
would take Earl Hakon by surprise.
At length the vikings sailed into a harbor about twenty miles north
of a town called Stad. As they were in want of food some of the band
landed, and marched to the nearest village. Here they slaughtered the
men who could bear arms, burned the houses, and drove all the cattle
they could find before them toward the shore.
On the way to their ships, however, they met a peasant who said to
them, "Ye are not doing like true warriors, to be driving cows and
calves down to the strand, while ye should be giving chase to the
bear, since ye are come near to the bear's den." By the bear the
peasant meant Earl Hakon, as the vikings well knew.
"What says the man?" they all cried, together; "can he tell us about
Earl Hakon?"
"Yesternight he lay inside the island that you can see yonder," said
the peasant; "and you can slay him when you like, for he is waiting
for his men."
"Thou shalt have all this cattle," cried one of the vikings, "if thou
wilt show us the way to the jarl."
Then the peasant went on board the vikings' boat, and they hastened to
Sigvald to tell him that the earl lay in a bay but a little way off.
The Jomsvikings armed themselves as if they were going to meet a large
army, which the peasant said was unnecessary, as the earl had but few
ships and men.
But no sooner had the Jomsvikings come within sight of the bay than
they knew that the peasant had deceived them. Before them lay more
than three hundred war-ships.
When the peasant saw that his trick was discovered he jumped
overboard, hoping to swim to shore. But one of the vikings flung a
spear after him, and the peasant sank and was seen no more.
Now though the vikings had fewer ships than Earl Hakon, they were
larger and higher, and Sigvald hoped that this would help them to gain
the victory.
Slowly the fleets drew together and a fierce battle began. At first
Hakon's men fell in great numbers, for the Jomsvikings fought with all
their wonted strength. So many spears also were aimed at Hakon himself
that his armor was split asunder and he threw it aside.
When the earl saw that the battle was going against him, he called his
sons together and said, "I dislike to fight against these men, for I
believe that none are their equals, and I see that it will fare ill
with us unless we hit upon some plan. Stay here with the host and I
will go ashore and see what can be done."
Then the jarl went into the depths of a forest, and, sinking on his
knees, he prayed to the goddess Thorgerd. But when no answer came
to his cry, Hakon thought she was angry, and to appease her wrath he
sacrificed many precious things to her. Yet still the goddess hid her
face.
In his despair Hakon then promised to offer human sacrifices, but no
sign was given to him that his offering would be accepted.
"Thou shalt have my son, my youngest son Erling!" cried the King,
and then at length, so it seemed to Hakon, Thorgerd was satisfied. He
therefore gave his son, who was but seven years old, to his thrall,
and bade him offer the child as a sacrifice to the goddess.
Then Hakon went back to his ships, and lo! as the battle raged, the
sky began to grow dark though it was but noon, and a storm arose and
a heavy shower of hail fell. The hail was driven by the wind in the
faces of the vikings, and flashes of lightning blinded them and
loud peals of thunder made them afraid. But a short time before the
warriors had flung aside their garments because of the heat; now the
cold was so intense that they could scarce hold their weapons.
While the storm raged, Hakon praised the gods and encouraged his men
to fight more fiercely. Then, as the battle went against them, the
Jomsvikings saw in the clouds a troll, or fiend. In each finger the
troll held an arrow, which, as it seemed to them, always hit and
killed a man.
Sigvald saw that his men were growing fearful, and he, too; felt that
the gods were against them. "It seems to me," he said, "that it is
not men whom we have to fight to-day but fiends, and it requires some
manliness to go boldly against them."
But now the storm abated, and once more the vikings began to conquer.
Then the earl cried again to Thorgerd, saying that now he deserved
victory, for he had sacrificed to her his youngest son.
Then once more the storm-cloud crept over the sky and a terrific storm
of hail beat upon the vikings, and now they saw, not in the clouds,
but in Hakon's ship, two trolls, and they were speeding arrows among
the enemies of Hakon.
Even Sigvald, the renowned leader of the Jomsvikings, could not stand
before these unknown powers. He called to his men to flee, for, said
he, "we did not vow to fight against fiends, but against men."
But though Sigvald sailed away with thirty-five ships, there were some
of his men who scorned to flee even from fiends. Twenty-five ships
stayed behind to continue the fight.
The viking Bui was commander of one of these. His ship was boarded by
Hakon's men, whereupon he took one of his treasures-chests in either
hand and jumped into the sea. As he jumped he cried, "Overboard, all
Bui's men," and neither he nor those who followed him were ever seen
again.
Before the day was ended, Sigvald's brother had also sailed away with
twenty-four boats, so that there was left but one boat out of all the
Jomsvikings' fleet. It was commanded by the viking Vagn.
Earl Hakon sent his son Eric to board this boat, and after a brave
fight it was captured, for Vagn's men were stiff and weary with their
wounds, and could scarce wield their battle-axes or spears.
With thirty-six of his men Vagn was taken prisoner and brought to
land, and thus Earl Hakon had defeated the famous vikings of Jomsburg.
The victory was due, as Hakon at least believed, to the aid of the
goddess Thorgerd.
When the weapons and other booty which they had taken had been divided
among the men, Earl Hakon and his chiefs sat down in their warbooths
and appointed a man named Thorkel to behead the prisoners.
Eighteen were beheaded ere the headsman came to Vagn. Now, as he had a
dislike to this brave viking, Thorkel rushed at him, holding his sword
in both hands. But Vagn threw himself suddenly at Thorkel's feet,
whereupon the headsman tripped over him. In a moment Vagn was on his
feet, Thorkel's sword in his hand, and before any one could stop him
he had slain his enemy.
Then Earl Eric, Hakon's son, who loved brave men, said, "Vagn, wilt
thou accept life?"
"That I will," said the bold viking, "if thou give it to all of us who
are still alive."
"Loose the prisoners!" cried the young earl, and it was done. Thus of
the famous band of Jomsvikings twelve yet lived to do many a valiant
deed in days to come.
HERO OF GERMANY
SIEGFRIED
ADAPTED BY MARY MACGREGOR
I
MIMER THE BLACKSMITH
Siegfried was born a prince and grew to be a hero, a hero with a heart
of gold. Though he could fight, and was as strong as any lion, yet he
could love too and be as gentle as a child.
The father and mother of the hero-boy lived in a strong castle near
the banks of the great Rhine river. Siegmund, his father, was a rich
king, Sieglinde, his mother, a beautiful queen, and dearly did they
love their little son Siegfried.
The courtiers and the high-born maidens who dwelt in the castle
honored the little Prince, and thought him the fairest child in all
the land, as indeed he was.
Sieglinde, his queen-mother, would oftimes dress her little son in
costly garments and lead him by the hand before the proud, strong
men-at-arms who stood before the castle walls. Naught had they but
smiles and gentle words for their little Prince.
When he grew older, Siegfried would ride into the country, yet always
would he be attended by King Siegmund's most trusted warriors.
Then one day armed men entered the Netherlands, the country over which
the King Siegmund ruled, and the little Prince was sent away from the
castle, lest by any evil chance he should fall into the hands of the
foe.
Siegfried was hidden away safe in the thickets of a great forest, and
dwelt there under the care of a blacksmith, named Mimer.
Mimer was a dwarf, belonging to a strange race of little folk called
Nibelungs. The Nibelungs lived for the most part in a dark little town
beneath the ground. Nibelheim was the name of this little town and
many of the tiny men who dwelt there were smiths. All the livelong
day they would hammer on their little anvils, but all through the long
night they would dance and play with tiny little Nibelung women.
It was not in the little dark town of Nibelung that Mimer had his
forge, but under the trees of the great forest to which Siegfried had
been sent.
As Mimer or his pupils wielded their tools the wild beasts would start
from their lair, and the swift birds would wing their flight through
the mazes of the wood, lest danger lay in those heavy, resounding
strokes.
But Siegfried, the hero-boy, would laugh for glee, and seizing the
heaviest hammer he could see he would swing it with such force upon
the anvil that it would be splintered into a thousand pieces.
Then Mimer the blacksmith would scold the lad, who was now the
strongest of all the lads under his care; but little heeding his
rebukes, Siegfried would fling himself merrily out of the smithy and
hasten with great strides into the gladsome wood. For now the Prince
was growing a big lad, and his strength was even as the strength of
ten.
To-day Siegfried was in a merry mood. He would repay Mimer's rebukes
in right good fashion. He would frighten the little blacksmith dwarf
until he was forced to cry for mercy.
Clad in his forest dress of deerskins, with his hair as burnished gold
blowing around his shoulders, Siegfried wandered away into the depths
of the woodland.
There he seized the silver horn which hung from his girdle and raised
it to his lips. A long, clear note he blew, and ere the sound had died
away the boy saw a sight which pleased him well. Here was good prey
indeed! A bear, a great big shaggy bear was peering at him out of a
bush, and as he gazed the beast opened its jaws and growled, a fierce
and angry growl. Not a whit afraid was Siegfried. Quick as lightning
he had caught the great creature in his arms, and ere it could turn
upon him, it was muzzled, and was being led quietly along toward the
smithy.
Mimer was busy at his forge sharpening a sword when Siegfried reached
the doorway.
At the sound of laughter the little dwarf raised his head. It was the
Prince who laughed. Then Mimer saw the bear, and letting the sword he
held drop to the ground with a clang, he ran to hide himself in the
darkest corner of the smithy.
Then Siegfried laughed again. He was no hero-boy to-day, for next
he made the big bear hunt the little Nibelung dwarf from corner to
corner, nor could the frightened little man escape or hide himself
in darkness. Again and again as he crouched in a shadowed corner,
Siegfried would stir up the embers of the forge until all the smithy
was lighted with a ruddy glow.
At length the Prince tired of his game, and unmuzzling the bear he
chased the bewildered beast back into the shelter of the woodland.
Mimer, poor little dwarf, all a-tremble with his fear, cried angrily,
"Thou mayest go shoot if so it please thee, and bring home thy dead
prey. Dead bears thou mayest bring hither if thou wilt, but live
bears shalt thou leave to crouch in their lair or to roam through the
forest." But Siegfried, the naughty Prince, only laughed at the little
Nibelung's frightened face and harsh, croaking voice.
Now as the days passed, Mimer the blacksmith began to wish that
Siegfried had never come to dwell with him in his smithy. The
Prince was growing too strong, too brave to please the little dwarf;
moreover, many were the mischievous tricks his pupil played on him.
Prince though he was, Mimer would see if he could not get rid of his
tormentor. For indeed though, as I have told you, Siegfried had a
heart of gold, at this time the gold seemed to have grown dim and
tarnished. Perhaps that was because the Prince had learned to distrust
and to dislike, nay, more, to hate the little, cunning dwarf.
However that may be, it is certain that Siegfried played many pranks
upon the little Nibelung, and he, Mimer, determined to get rid of the
quick-tempered, strong-handed Prince.
One day, therefore, it happened that the little dwarf told Siegfried
to go deep into the forest to bring home charcoal for the forge. And
this Mimer did, though he knew that in the very part of the forest
to which he was sending the lad there dwelt a terrible dragon, named
Regin. Indeed Regin was a brother of the little blacksmith, and would
be lying in wait for the Prince. It would be but the work of a moment
for the monster to seize the lad and greedily to devour him.
To Siegfried it was always joy to wander afar through the woodland.
Ofttimes had he thrown himself down on the soft, moss-covered ground
and lain there hour after hour, listening to the wood-bird's song.
Sometimes he would even find a reed and try to pipe a tune as sweet
as did the birds, but that was all in vain, as the lad soon found.
No tiny songster would linger to hearken to the shrill piping of his
grassy reed, and the Prince himself was soon ready to fling it far
away.
It was no hardship then to Siegfried to leave the forge and the hated
little Nibelung, therefore it was that with right good will he set out
in search of charcoal for Mimer the blacksmith.
As he loitered there where the trees grew thickest, Siegfried took his
horn and blew it lustily. If he could not pipe on a grassy reed, at
least he could blow a rousing note on his silver horn.
Suddenly, as Siegfried blew, the trees seemed to sway, the earth to
give out fire. Regin, the dragon, had roused himself at the blast, and
was even now drawing near to the Prince.
It was at the mighty strides of the monster that the trees had seemed
to tremble, it was as he opened his terrible jaws that the earth had
seemed to belch out fire.
For a little while Siegfried watched the dragon in silence. Then he
laughed aloud, and a brave, gay laugh it was. Alone in the forest,
with a sword, buckled to his side, the hero was afraid of naught, not
even of Regin. The ugly monster was sitting now on a little hillock,
looking down upon the lad, his victim as he thought.
Then Siegfried called boldly to the dragon, "I will kill thee, for in
truth thou art an ugly monster."
At those words Regin opened his great jaws, and showed his terrible
fangs. Yet still the boy Prince mocked at the hideous dragon.
And now Regin in his fury crept closer and closer to the lad, swinging
his great tail, until he well-nigh swept Siegfried from his feet.
[Illustration: THE HERO'S SHINING SWORD PIERCED THE HEART OF THE
MONSTER.]
Swiftly then the Prince drew his sword, well tempered as he knew, for
had not he himself wrought it in the forge of Mimer the blacksmith?
Swiftly he drew his sword, and with one bound he sprang upon the
dragon's back, and as he reared himself, down came the hero's
shining sword and pierced into the very heart of the monster. Thus
as Siegfried leaped nimbly to the ground, the dragon fell back dead.
Regin was no longer to be feared.
Then Siegfried did a curious thing. He had heard the little Nibelung
men who came to the smithy to talk with Mimer, he had heard them
say that whoever should bathe in the blood of Regin the dragon would
henceforth be safe from every foe. For his skin would grow so tough
and horny that it would be to him as an armor through which no sword
could ever pierce.
Thinking of the little Nibelungs' harsh voices and wrinkled little
faces as they had sat talking thus around Mimer's glowing forge,
Siegfried now flung aside his deerskin dress and bathed himself from
top to toe in the dragon's blood.