第2章

Couldthefair—hairedmaninthegravehavebeenoneofthese？

ThusIspeculatedbeforeIlookedatthepileofparchmentssoevidentlypreparedfromsheepskinsbyonewhohadonlyaveryrudimentaryknowledgeofhowtoworksuchstuff,notknowingthatinthoseparchmentswashidtheanswertomanyofmyquestions。TotheseIturnedlastofall,forweallshrinkfromparchments;theircontentsaregenerallysodull。Therewasagreatbundleofthemthathadbeenlashedtogetherwithakindofstrawrope,finestrawthatremindedmeofthatusedtomakePanamahats。Butthishadrottedunderneathtogetherwithallthebottompartoftheparchments,manysheetsofthem,ofwhichonlyfragmentsremained,coveredwithdrymouldandcrumbling。Thereforetheropewaseasytoremoveandbeneathit,holdingthesheetsinplace,wasonlysomestoutandcomparativelymodernstring——ithadaredthreadinitthatmarkeditasnavycordofanoldpattern。

Islippedthesefasteningsoffandliftedablankpieceofskinsetuponthetop。Beneathappearedthefirstsheetofparchment,closely,verycloselycoveredwithsmall"black—letter"writing,sofaintandfadedthatevenifIwereabletoreadblack—letter,whichIcannot,ofitIcouldhavemadenothingatall。Thethingwashopeless。

Doubtlessinthatwritinglaythekeytothemystery,butitcouldneverbedecipheredbymeoranyoneelse。TheladywiththeeyeslikeadeerhadappearedtooldPottsinvain;invainhadshebiddenhimtohandoverthismanuscripttome。

SoIthoughtatthetime,notknowingtheresourcesofscience。

Afterwards,however,Itookthathugebundletoafriend,alearnedfriendwhosebusinessinlifeitwasandis,todealwithandtodecipheroldmanuscripts。

"Looksprettyhopeless,"hesaid,afterstaringatthese。"Still,let"shaveatry;oneneverknowstillonetries。"

Thenhewenttoacupboardinhismunimentroomandproducedabottlefullofsomestraw—colouredfluidintowhichhedippedanordinarypaintingbrush。Thischargedbrushherubbedbackwardsandforwardsoverthefirstlinesofthewritingandwaited。Withinaminute,beforemyastonishedeyes,thatfaint,indistinguishablescriptturnedcoal—black,asblackasthoughithadbeenwrittenwiththebestmoderninkyesterday。

"It"sallright,"hesaidtriumphantly,"it"svegetableink,andthisstuffhasthepowertobringitupasitwasonthedaywhenitwasused。Itwillstaylikethatforafortnightandthenfadeawayagain。

Yourmanuscriptisprettyancient,myfriend,timeofRichardII,I

shouldsay,butIcanreaditeasilyenough。Look,itbegins,"I,HubertdeHastings,writethisinthelandofTavantinsuyu,farfromEnglandwhereIwasborn,whitherIshallnevermorereturn,beingawandererastheruneupontheswordofmyancestor,Thorgrimmer,foretoldthatIshouldbe,whichswordmymothergavemeonthedayoftheburningofHastingsbytheFrench,"andsoon。"Herehestopped。

"Thenforheaven"ssake,doreadit,"Isaid。

"Mydearfriend,"heanswered,"itlookstomeasthoughitwouldmeanseveralmonths"work,andforgivemeforsayingthatIampaidasalaryformytime。NowI"lltellyouwhatyouhavetodo。Allthisstuffmustbetreated,sheetbysheet,andwhenitturnsblackitmustbephotographedbeforethewritingfadesoncemore。Thenaskilledperson——so—and—so,orso—and—so,aretwonamesthatoccurtome——mustbeemployedtodecipheritagain,sheetbysheet。Itwillcostyoumoney,butIshouldsaythatitwasworthwhile。Wherethedevilis,orwas,thelandofTavantinsuyu？"

"Iknow,"Ianswered,gladtobeabletoshowmyselfsuperiortomylearnedfriendinonehumbleinstance。"TavantinsuyuwasthenativenamefortheEmpireofPerubeforetheSpanishInvasion。ButhowdidthisHubertgetthereinthetimeofRichardII？ThatissomecenturiesearlierthanPizarrosetfootuponitsshores。"

"Goandfindout,"heanswered。"Itwillamuseyouforquitealongwhileandperhapstheresultsmaymeettheexpensesofdecipherment,iftheyareworthpublishing。Iexpecttheyarenot,butthen,Ihavereadsomanyoldmanuscriptsandfoundmostofthemsojollydull。"

Well,thatbusinesswasaccomplishedatacostthatIdonotliketorecord,andherearetheresults,moreorlessmodernised,sinceoftenHubertofHastingsexpressedhimselfinaqueerandarchaicfashion。

AlsosometimesheusedIndianwordsasthoughhehadtalkedthetongueofthesePeruvians,orrathertheChancavarietyofit,solongthathehadbeguntoforgethisownlanguage。MyselfIhavefoundhisstoryveryromanticandinteresting,andIhopethatsomeotherswillbeofthesameopinion。Letthemjudge。

Butoh,Idowonderwhatwastheendofit,someofwhichdoubtlesswasrecordedontherottedsheetsthoughofcoursetherecanhavebeennoaccountofthegreatbattleinwhichhefell,sinceQuillacouldnotwriteatall,leastofallinEnglish,thoughIsupposeshesurviveditandhim。

TheonlyhintofthatendistobefoundinoldPotts"sdreamorvision,andwhatistheworthofdreamsandvisions？

BOOKI

CHAPTERI

THESWORDANDTHERING

I,HubertofHastings,writethisinthelandofTavantinsuyu,farfromEngland,whereIwasborn,whitherIshallnevermorereturn,beingawandererastheruneupontheswordofmyancestor,Thorgrimmer,foretoldthatIshouldbe,whichswordmymothergavemeonthedayoftheburningofHastingsbytheFrench。IwriteitwithapenthatIhaveshapedfromawingfeatherofthegreateagleofthemountains,withinkthatIhavemadefromthejuicesofcertainherbswhichIdiscovered,andonparchmentthatIhavesplitfromtheskinsofnativesheep,withmyownhands,butbadlyIfear,thoughIhaveseenthatartpractisedwhenIwasamerchantoftheCheapinLondonTown。

Iwillbeginatthebeginning。

Iamthesonofafishing—boatownerandwasatraderintheancienttownofHastings,andmyfatherwasdrownedwhilefollowinghistradeatsea。Afterwards,beingtheonlychildleftofhis,Itookonhisbusiness,andonacertaindaywentouttoseatonetfishwithtwoofmyservingmen。Iwasthenayoungmanofaboutthreeandtwentyyearsofageandnotuncomely。Myhair,whichIworelong,wasfairincolourandcurled。Myeyes,setwideapart,wereandstillarelargeandblue,althoughtheyhavedarkenedsomewhatandsunkintotheheadinthislandofheatandsunshine。Mynosewaswide—nostrilledandlarge,mymouthalsowasover—large,althoughmymotherandsomeothersusedtothinkitwell—shaped。Intruth,Iwaslargealloverthoughnotsotall,beingburly,withagreatbreadthofchestanduncommonthicknessthroughthebody,andverystrong;sostrongthattherewerefewwhocouldthrowmewhenIwasyoung。

Fortherest,likeKingDavid,I,whoamnowsotannedandweatherwornthatatalittledistanceweremyhairandbeardhiddenImightalmostbetakenforoneoftheIndianchiefsaboutme,wasofaruddyandapleasantcountenance,perhapsbecauseofmywonderfulhealth,whohadneverknownadayofsickness,andofaneasynaturethatoftengoeswithhealth。Iwilladdthis,forwhyshouldInot——thatI

wasnofool,butoneofthosewhosucceedinthatuponwhichtheysettheirminds。HadIbeenafoolIshouldnotto—daybethekingofagreatpeopleandthehusbandoftheirqueen;indeed,Ishouldnotbealive。

Butenoughofmyselfandmyappearanceinthoseyearsthatseemasfaroffasthoughtheyhadneverbeensaveinthelandofdreams。

NowIandmytwoservingmen,sailorsbothofthemlikemyselfandmostofthefolkofHastingssetoutuponasummereve,purposingtofishallnightandreturnatdawn。Wecametoourchosengroundandcastoutthenet,meetingwithwonderfulfortunesincebythreeinthemorningthebigboatwasfullofeverykindoffish。Neverbefore,indeed,hadwemadesolargeahaul。

Lookingbackatthatgreatcatch,ashereinthisfarlanditismyhabittodouponeverything,howeversmall,thathappenedtomeinmyyouthbeforeIbecameawandererandanexile,Iseemtoseeinitanomen。Forhasitnotalwaysbeenmylotinlifetobekissedoffortuneandtogathergreatstore,andthenofasuddentoloseitallasIwastolosethatrichmultitudeoffishes？

To—day,whenIwritethis,oncemoreIhavegreatwealthofpompandloveandpower,ofgoldalso,morethanIcancount。WhenIgoforth,myarmies,whostilllookonmeashalfagod,shouttheirwelcomeandkisstheairaftertheirheathenfashion。Mybeauteousqueenbowsdowntomeandthewomenofmyhouseholdabasethemselvesintothedust。

ThepeopleoftheAncientCityofGoldturntheirfacestothewallandthechildrencovertheireyeswiththeirhandsthattheymaynotlookuponmysplendourasIpass,whilemaidensthrowflowersformyfeettotread。Uponmyjudgmenthangslifeordeath,andmylightestwordisasthoughitwerespokenfromheaven。Theseandmanyotherthingsaremine,thetrappingsofpower,theprerogativeoftheLord—

from—the—SeawhobroughtvictorytotheChancapeopleandledthembacktotheirancienthomewheretheymightlivesafe,farfromtheInca"srage。

Andyetoften,asIsitaloneinmysplendourupontheroofoftheancienthallsorwanderthroughthestarlitpalacegardens,IcalltomindthatgreatcatchoffishesintheEnglishseaandofwhatfollowedafter。IcalltomindalsomyprosperityandwealthasoneofthefirstmerchantsofLondonTownandwhatfollowedafter。Icalltomind,too,thewinningofBlancheAleys,theladysofarabovemeinrankandstationandwhatfollowedafter。ThenitisthatIgrowafraidofwhatmayfollowafterthispresenthourofpeaceandloveandplenty。

Certainlyonethingwillfollow,andthatisdeath。Itmaycomelateoritmaycomesoon。ButyesterdayarumourreachedmethroughmyspiesthatKariUpanqui,theIncaofTavantinsuyu,hewhooncewasasmybrother,butwhonowhatesmebecauseofhissuperstitions,andbecauseItookaVirginoftheSuntobemywife,gathersagreathosttofollowonthepathwetrodmanyyearsagowhentheChancasfledfromtheIncatyrannybacktotheirhomeintheancientCityofGoldandtosmiteushere。Thathost,saidtherumours,cannotmarchtillnextyear,andthenwillbeanotheryearuponitsjourney。Still,knowingKari,Iamsurethatitwillmarch,yes,andarrive,afterwhichmustbefallthegreatbattleinthemountainpasseswherein,asofold,IshallleadtheChancaarmies。

PerchanceIamdoomedtofallinthatbattle。DoesnottheruneuponWave—Flame,theswordofThorgrimmermyancestor,sayofhimthatholdsitthat,"Conquering,conqueredshallhebe,Andfarawayshallsleepwithme"？

Well,iftheChancasconquer,whatcareIifIamconquered？"Twouldbeagooddeathandaclean,tofallbyKari"sspear,ifIknewthatKariandhishostfellalso,asIswearthatfalltheyshall,St。

Huberthelpingme。ThenatleastQuillaandherchildrenwouldliveoninpeaceandgreatnesssincetheycanhavenootherfoetofear。

Death,whatisdeath？Isaythatitisthehopeofeveryoneofusandmostofalltheexileandthewanderer。Atthebestitmaybeglory;

attheworstitmustbesleep。Moreover,amIsohappythatIshouldfeartodie？Quillacannotreadthiswriting,andthereforeIwillanswer,No。IamaChristian,butsheandthoseabouther,aye,myownchildrenwiththem,worshipthemoonandthehostofheaven。Iamwhite—skinned,theyarethehueofcopper,thoughitistruethatmylittledaughter,Gudruda,whomInamedsoaftermymother,isalmostwhite。TherearesecretsintheirheartsthatIshallneverlearnandtherearesecretsinminefromwhichtheycannotdrawtheveilbecauseourbloodsaredifferent。YetGodknows,Ilovethemwellenough,andmostofallthatgreatestofwomen,Quilla。

Oh！thetruthisthathereonearththereisnohappinessforman。

ItisbecauseofthisrumourofthecomingofKariwithhishostthatIsetmyselftothistask,thatIhavelonghadinmymind,towritedownsomethingofmyhistory,bothinEnglandandinthislandwhich,atanyrateforhundredsofyears,mineisthefirstwhitefoottopress。ItseemsafoolishthingtodosincewhenIhavewrittenwhowillread,andwhatwillchancetothatwhichIhavewritten？Ishallleaveordersthatitbeplacedbeneathmyfeetinthetomb,butwhowilleverfindthattombagain？StillIwritebecausesomethinginmyhearturgesmetothetask。

Ireturntothefar—offdays。OurboatbeingfullwithmerryheartswesetsailbeforeafaintwindforHastingsbeach。Asyettherewaslittlelightandmuchfog,stillthelandwardbreezewasenoughtodrawusforward。Thenofasuddenweheardsoundsasofmentalkinguponshipsandtheclankofsparsandblocks。Presentlycameapuffofairliftingthefogforalittleandwesawthatwewereinthemidstofagreatfleet,aFrenchfleet,fortheLiliesofFranceflewattheirmast—heads,saw,too,thattheirprowsweresetforHastings,thoughforthewhiletheywerebecalmed,sincethewindthatwasenoughforourlight,large—sailedfishing—boatcouldnotstirtheirbulk。Moreover,theysawus,forthemen—at—armsonthenearestshipshoutedthreatsandcursesatusandfollowedtheshoutswitharrowsthatalmosthitus。

Thenthefogcloseddownagain,andinitweslippedthroughtheFrenchfleet。

ItmayhavebeenthebestpartofanhourlaterthatwereachedHastings。Beforetheboatwasmadefasttothejetty,Isprangtoitshouting:

"Stir！stir！theFrenchareuponyou！Toarms！Wehaveslippedthroughawholefleetoftheminthemist。"

Instantlythesleepyquayseemedtoawaken。Fromtheneighbouringfishmarket,fromeverywheresailormenandotherscamerunning,followedbychildrenwithgapingmouths,whilefromthedoorsofhousesfarawayshotwomenwithscaredfaces,likeferretedrabbitsfromtheirburrows。Inaminutethecrowdhadsurroundedme,allaskingquestionsatonceinsuchafashionthatIcouldonlyanswerthemwithmycryof:

"Stir！theFrenchareuponyou。Toarms,Isay。Toarms！"

Presentlythroughthethrongadvancedanoldwhite—beardedmanwhoworeabadgeofoffice,cryingashecame,"Makewayforthebailiff！"

Thecrowdobeyed,openingapath,andsoonwewerefacetoface。

"Whatisit,HubertofHastings？"heasked。"Istherefirethatyoushoutsoloudly？"

"Aye,Worship,"Ianswered。"FireandmurderandallthegiftsthattheFrenchhaveforEngland。TheFleetofFranceisbeatingupforHastings,fiftysailofthemormore。Wecreptthroughtheminthefog,forthewindwhichwouldscarcemovethemservedourturnandbeyondanarrowortwo,theytooknonoteofafishing—boat。"

"Whencecomethey？"askedthebailiff,bewildered。

"Iknownot,butthoseinanotherboatwepassedinthemidstshoutedthattheseFrenchwereravagingthecoastandheadingforHastingstoputittofireandsword。Thenthatboatvanishedaway,Iknownotwhere,andthatisallIhavetotellsavethattheFrenchwillbeherewithinanhour。"

Withoutstayingtoaskmorequestions,thebailiffturnedandrantowardsthetown,andpresentlythealarmbellsrangoutfromthetowersofAllSaintsandSt。Clement"s,whilecrierssummonedallmentothemarket—place。MeanwhileI,notwithoutasadlookatmyboatandtherichcatchwithin,mademywayintothetown,followedbymytwomen。

PresentlyIreachedanancient,timberedhouse,long,low,andrambling,withayardbyitssidefullofbarrels,anchors,andothermarinestoressuchasrope,thathadtodowiththetradeIcarriedonatthisplace。

I,Hubert,withamindfulloffears,thoughnotformyself,andastirringofthebloodsuchaswasnaturaltomyageattheapproachofmyfirsttasteofbattle,ranfastuptothathousewhichIhavedescribed,andpausedforamomentbythebigelmtreethatgrewinfrontofthedoor,ofwhichthelowerboughsweresawnoffbecausetheyshutoutthelightfromthewindows。Irememberthatelmtreeverywell,firstbecausewhenIwasachildstarlingsnestedinaholeinthetrunk,andIrearedoneinawickercageandmadeatalkingbirdofitwhichIkeptforseveralyears。Itwassotamethatitusedtogoaboutsittingonmyshoulder,tillatlast,outsidethetownacatfrighteneditthence,andbeforeIcouldrecaptureit,itwastakenbyahawk,whichhawkIshotafterwardswithanarrowoutofrevenge。

AlsothiselmisimpresseduponmebythefactthatonthatmorningwhenIhaltedbyit,Inotedhowgreenandfullofleafitwas。Nextmorning,afterthefire,Isawitagain,allcharredandblackened,withitsbeautifulfoliagewitheredbytheheat。Thiscontrastremaineduponmymemory,andwheneverIseeanygreatchangeoffortunefromprosperitytoruin,orfromlifetodeath,alwaysI

bethinkmeofthatelm。Foritisbylittlethingswhichweourselveshaveseenandnotbythosewrittenofortoldbyothers,thatwemeasureandcompareevents。

ThereasonthatIransohardandthenpausedbytheelm,wasbecausemywidowedmotherlivedinthathouse。KnowingthattheFrenchmeantmischiefforagoodreason,becauseoneoftheirarrows,orperhapsaquarrelfromacross—bow,whistledjustpastmyheadoutthereuponthesea,myfirstthoughtwastogetherawaytosomeplaceofsafety,noeasytaskseeingthatshewasinfirmwithage。Mysecond,thatwhichcausedmetopausebythetree,washowIshouldbreakthenewstoherinsuchafashionthatshewouldnotbeover—frightened。HavingthoughtthisoverIwentonintothehouse。

Thedooropenedintothesitting—roomthathadalowroofofplasterandbigoakbeams。ThereIfoundmymotherkneelingbythetableuponwhichfoodwassetforbreakfast:friedherrings,coldmeat,andajugofale。Shewassayingherprayersafterhercustom,beingveryreligiousthoughinanewfashion,sinceshewasafollowerofapreachercalledWycliffe,whotroubledtheChurchinthosedays。Sheseemedtohavegonetosleepatherprayers,andIwatchedherforamoment,hesitatingtowakenher。Mymother,aseventhenInoted,wasaveryhandsomewoman,thoughold,forIwasbornwhenshehadbeenmarriedtwentyyearsormore,withwhitehairandwell—cutfeaturesthatshowedthegoodbloodofwhichshecame,forshewasbetterbredthanmyfatherandquarrelledwithherkintomarryhim。

Atthesoundofmyfootstepsshewokeupandsawme。

"Strange,"shesaid,"Isleptatmyprayerswhodidsolittlelastnight,ashasbecomeahabitwithmewhenyouareouta—fishing,forwhichGodforgiveme,anddreamedthattherewassometroubleforward。

Scoldmenot,Hubert,forwhentheseahastakenthefatherandtwosons,itisscarcelywonderfulthatIshouldbefearfulforthelastofmyblood。Helpmetorise,Hubert,forthiswaterseemstogatherinmylimbsandmakesthemheavy。Oneday,theleechsays,itwillgettotheheartandthenallwillbeover。"

Iobeyed,firstkissingheronthebrow,andwhenshewasseatedinherarmedchairbythetable,Isaid,"Youdreamtoowell,Mother。Thereistrouble。Hark！St。Clement"sbellsaretalkingofit。TheFrenchcometovisitHastings。IknowforIsailedthroughtheirfleetjustafterdawn。"

"Isitso？"sheaskedquietly。"Ifearedworse。Ifearedlestthedreammeantthatyouhadgonetojoinyourbrothersinthedeep。Well,theFrencharenothereyet,asthankGodyouare。Soeatanddrink,forweofEnglandfightbestonfullbellies。"

AgainIobeyedwhowasveryhungryafterthatlongnightandneededfoodandale,andasIswallowedthemweheardthesoundoffolkshoutingandrunning。

"Youareinhaste,Hubert,tojointheothersonthequayandsendaFrenchmanortwotohellwiththatbigbowofyours？"shesaidinquiringly。

"Nay,"Ianswered,"Iaminhastetogetyououtofthistown,whichI

fearmaybeburnt。ThereisacertaincaveupyonderbytheMinnesRockwhereIthinkyoumightliesafe,Mother。"

"Ithascomedowntomefrommyfathers,Hubert,thatitwasneverthefashionofthewomenofthenorthtokeeptheirmentoshieldthemwhendutycalledthemotherwhere。Iamhelplessinmylimbsandheavy,andcannotclimb,orbeborneupyonderhilltoanycave。HereIstopwhereIhavedweltthesefive—and—fortyyears,toliveordieasGodpleases。Getyoutoyourduty,man。Stay。Callthosewenchesandbidthemflyinlandtotheirfolk,outBurwashway。Theyareyoungandfleetoffoot,andnoFrenchmanwillcatchthem。"

Isummonedthegirlswhowerestaring,white—faced,fromtheatticwindow—place。Inthreeminutestheyweregone,thoughitistruethatoneofthem,thebraver,wishedtobidewithhermistress。

IwatchedthemstartupthestreetwithotherfugitiveswhowerepouringoutofHastings,andcamebacktomymother。AsIdidsoagreatshouttoldmethattheFrenchfleethadbeensighted。

"Hubert,"shesaid,"takethiskeyandgototheoakchestinmysleepingroom,liftoutthelinenatthetopandbringmethatwhichlieswrappedinclothbeneath。"

Ididso,returningwithabundlethatwaslongandthin。Withaknifeshecutthestringthattiedit。WithinwereabagofmoneyandaswordinanancientscabbardcoveredwitharoughskinwhichItooktobethatofashark,whichscabbardinpartswasinlaidwithgold。

"Drawit,"saidmymother。

Ididso,andtherecametolightatwo—edgedbladeofbluesteel,suchasIhadneverseenbefore,foronthebladewereengravedstrangecharacterswhereofIcouldmakenothing,althoughasitchancedIcouldreadandwrite,havingbeentaughtbythemonksinmychildhood。Thehilt,also,thatwasintheformofacross,hadgoldinlaiduponit;atthetopofit,alargeknoborappleofamber,muchwornbyhandling。Fortherestitwasabeauteousweaponandwellbalanced。

"Whatofthissword？"Iasked。

"This,Son。Withtheblackbowthatyouhave,"andshepointedtothecasethatleanedagainstthetable,"ithascomedowninmyfamilyformanygenerations。MyfathertoldmethatitwastheswordofoneThorgrimmer,hisancestor,aNorseman,aVikinghecalledhim,whocamewiththosewhotookEnglandbeforetheNormantime;whichIcanwellbelievesincemyfather"sname,likemine,tillImarried,wasGrimmer。Thissword,also,hasanameanditisWave—Flame。Withit,thetaletells,Thorgrimmerdidgreatdeeds,slayingmanyaftertheirheathenfashioninhisbattlesbylandandsea。Forhewasawanderer,anditissaidofhimthatoncehesailedtoanewlandfaracrosstheocean,andwonhomeagainaftermanystrangeadventures,todieatlasthereinEnglandinsomefray。ThatisallIknow,savethatalearnedmanfromthenorthoncetoldmyfather"sfatherthatthewritingontheswordmeans:——

"HewholiftsWave—FlameonhighInloveshallliveandinbattledie;

Storm—tossedo"erwideseasshallroamAndinstrangelandsshallmakehishome。

Conquering,conqueredshallhebe,Andfarawayshallsleepwithme。

"ThosewerethewordswhichIrememberbecauseofthejingleofthem;

alsobecausesuchseemstohavebeenthefateofThorgrimmerandtheswordthathisgrandsontookfromhistomb。"

HereIwouldhaveaskedaboutthisgrandsonandthetomb,buthavingnotime,heldmypeace。

"AllmylifehaveIkeptthatsword,"wentonmymother,"notgivingittoyourfatherorbrothers,lestthefatewrittenonitshouldbefallthem,forthoseoldwizardsofthenorth,whofashionedsuchweaponswithtoilandskill,couldforeseethefuture——asattimesI

can,foritisinmyblood。YetnowIammovedtobidyoutakeit,Hubert,andgowhereitsflameleadsyouanddreeyourgloom,whateveritmaybe,forIknowyouwilluseitlikeThorgrimmer"sself。"

Shepausedforamoment,thenwenton:

"Hubert,perhapswepartforthelasttime,forIthinkthatmyhourisathand。Butletnotthattroubleyou,sinceIamgladtogotojointhosewhowentbefore,andotherswiththem,perchanceThorgrimmer"sself。Hearken,Hubert。Ifaughtbefallsme,orthisplace,staynothere。GotoLondontownandseekoutJohnGrimmer,mybrother,therichmerchantandgoldsmithwhodwellsintheplacecalledCheap。Heknewyouasachildandlovedyou,andlackingoffspringofhisownwillwelcomeyouforbothoursakes。MyfatherwouldnotgiveJohntheswordlestitsfateshouldbeonhim,butI

saythatJohnwillbegladtowelcomeoneofourracewhoholdsitinhishand。Takeitthen,andwithitthatbagofgold,whichmayproveofserviceereallbedone。

"Aye,andthereisonemorething——thisringwhich,sosaysthetale,camedownwiththeswordandthebow,andoncehadwritingonitlikethesword,thoughthatislongsincerubbedaway。Takeitandwearittillperchance,insomedaytocome,yougiveittoanotherasIdid。"

Wonderingatallthistalewhich,afterhersecretfashion,mymotherhadkeptfrommetillthathour,Isettheringuponmyfinger。

"Igaveyonderringtoyourfatheronthedaythatwewerebetrothed,"

wentonmymother,"andItookitbackagainfromhiscorpseafterhehadbeenfoundfloatinginthesea。NowIpassitontoyouwhosoonwillbeallthatisleftofbothofus。"

"Hark！"shecontinued,"thecriersummonsallmenwiththeirarmstothemarket—placetofightEngland"sfoes。ThereforeonewordmorewhileIbuckletheswordWave—Flameontoyou,asdoubtlesshiswomenfolkdidontoThorgrimmer,yourancestor。Myblessingonyou,Hubert。

BeyousuchaoneasThorgrimmerwas,forweoftheNorseblooddesirethatourlovesandsonsshouldprovenotbackwardwhenswordsarealoftandarrowsfly。Butbeyoumorethanhe,beyouaChristianalso,rememberingthathoweverlongyoulive,andtheBattle—maidenshavenotmarkedyouyet,atlastyoumustdieandgiveaccount。

"Hubert,youaresuchaoneaswomenwilllove;one,too,who,Ifearme,willbealoverofwomen,forthatweaknessgoeswithstrengthandmanhoodbyNature"slaws。Becarefulofwomen,Hubert,andifyoumay,choosethosewhoarenotfalseandclingtoherwhoismosttrue。Oh,youwillwanderfar;Ireaditinyoureyesthatyouwillwanderfar,yetshallyourheartstayEnglish。Kissmeandbegone！Lad,areyouforgettingyoursparearrowsandthebull—hidejerkinthatwasyourfather"s？Youwillwantthembothto—day。Farewell,farewell！GodandHisChristbewithyou——andshootyoustraightandsmiteyouhard。

Nay,notears,lestmyeyesshouldbedimmed,forI"llclimbtotheatticandwatchyoufight。"