Author: H. Rider Haggard
Category: Adventure
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An hour later came the dawn, showing a sad sight. My father, Thorvald's,ship and one of Athalbrand's lay helpless, for all, or nearly all, theircrews were dead, while the other had drifted off and was now half a mileaway.
Ragnar's ship was still grappled to its foe. My own was perhaps in thebest case, for here over twenty men were left unhurt, and another tenwhose wounds were light. The rest were dead or dying.
I sat on a bench in the waist of the ship, and at my feet lay the manwho had been dragged from the sea with me. I thought that this man wasdead till the first red rays of dawn lit upon his face, whereon he satup, and I saw that he was Steinar.
"Thus we meet again, my brother," I said in a quiet voice. "Well,Steinar, look upon your work." And I pointed to the dead and dying andto the ships around, whence came the sound of groans.
Steinar stared at me and asked in a thick voice:
"Was it with you, Olaf, that I fell into the sea?"
"Even so, Steinar."
"I knew it not in the darkness, Olaf. If I had known, never would I havelifted sword against you."
"What did that matter, Steinar, when you had already pierced my heart,though not with a sword?"
At these words Steinar moaned aloud, then said:
"For the second time you have saved my life."
"Aye, Steinar; but who knows whether I can do so for a third time? Yettake comfort, for if I may I will, for thus shall I be best avenged."
"A white vengeance," said Steinar. "Oh, this is not to be borne." Anddrawing a knife he wore at his girdle, he strove to kill himself.
But I, who was watching, snatched it away, then gave an order.
"Bind this man and keep him safe. Also bring him drink and a cloak tocover him."
"Best kill the dog," grumbled the captain, to whom I spoke.
"I kill that one who lays a finger on him," I replied.
Someone whispered into the captain's ear, whereon he nodded and laughedsavagely.
"Ah!" he exclaimed, "I am a thickhead. I had forgotten Odin and hissacrifice. Yes, yes, we'll keep the traitor safe."
So they bound Steinar to one of the benches and gave him ale and coveredhim with a blood-stained cloak taken from a dead man.
I also drank of the ale and drew a cloak about me, for the air was keen.Then I said,
"Let us go to the other ships and see what has chanced there."
They got out the oars and rowed to Ragnar's vessel, where we saw menstirring.
"How went it with you?" I asked of one who stood upon the prow.
"Not so ill, Olaf," he answered. "We won, and but now, with the newlight, have finished the game. They are all quiet yonder," he added,nodding at the vessel of Athalbrand, to which they were still grappled.
"Where is Ragnar?" I asked.
"Come on board and see," answered the man.
A plank was thrust out and I ran across it, fear gripping at my heart.Resting against the mast sat Ragnar, dying.
"Good morrow to you, Olaf," he gasped. "I am glad you live, that theremay be one left to sit at Aar."
"What do you mean, my brother?"
"I mean, Olaf, that our father, Thorvald, is dead. They called it to usfrom yonder." And he pointed with his red sword to our father's ship,that lay side by side with one of Athalbrand's. "Athalbrand is dead,for I slew him, and ere the sun is well clear of the sea I also shallbe dead. Oh, weep not, Olaf; we have won a great fight, and I travelto Valhalla with a glorious company of friends and foes, there to awaityou. I say that had I lived to be old, never could I have found a betterdeath, who then at last might have died like a cow. Get the ships toFladstrand, Olaf, and gather more men to put all Lesso to the sword.Give us good burial, Olaf, and build a great mound over us, that we maystand thereon at moonrise and mock the men of Lesso as they row past,till Valhalla is full and the world dies. Is Steinar dead? Tell me thatSteinar is dead, for then I'll speak with him presently."
"No, Ragnar, I have taken Steinar captive."
"Captive! Why captive? Oh, I understand; that he may lie on Odin'saltar. Friends, swear to me that Steinar shall lie on Odin's altar,Steinar, the bride-thief, Seiner the traitor. Swear it, for I do nottrust this brother of mine, who has woman's milk in his breasts. ByThor, he might spare him if he had his way. Swear it, or I'll haunt yourbeds o' nights and bring the other heroes with me. Swift now, while myears are open."
Then from both ships rose the cry of
"We swear! Fear not, Ragnar, we swear."
"That's well," said Ragnar. "Kiss me now, Olaf. Oh! what is it that Isee in your eyes? A new light, a strange light! Olaf, you are not one ofus. This time is not your time, nor this place your place. You travel tothe end by another road. Well, who knows? At that end we may meet again.At least I love you."
Then he burst into a wild war song of blood and vengeance, and sosinging sank down and died.