Erling the Bold

by R. M. Ballantyne

  CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

  DESCRIBES A GREAT SEA FIGHT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.

  Harald Fairhair stood on the poop of the great Dragon, and held thesteering oar. When he saw the fleet of the Sea-kings approaching, hecalled Jarl Rongvold to him and said--

  "Methinks, jarl, that I now see the end of this war with the smallkings. It is easy to perceive that the utmost force they are able toraise is here. Now, I intend to beat them to-day, and break theirstrength for ever. But when the battle is over, many of them will seekto escape. I would prevent that as much as may be."

  The King paused, as if engaged in deep thought.

  "How do you propose to do it, sire?"

  "By means of a boom," said the King. "Go thou, summon hither thetrustiest man in the fleet for such a purpose, let him detach as manymen and ships as he deems needful, and go into yonder small fiord wherethere is a pine wood on the hillside. There let him make a long andstrong boom of timber, while we are engaged in the fight. I will driveas many of the ships as I can into Horlingfiord, and when that is donelet him come out and stretch the boom right across, so that none of themshall escape. And, harkee, see that the man thou choosest for this dutyis an able man, and does it well, else shall his head be lopped off."

  After issuing this command the King resigned the helm, and ordered hisbanner to be set up, which was done immediately. At the same time hisopponents shook out their banners, and both fleets were put in order ofbattle.

  As both were arrayed much in the same way, it will be sufficient todescribe the arrangements made by Haldor the Fierce, who had beenelected commander-in-chief of the small kings' fleet.

  When Haldor saw the King's banner displayed, he unfurled his own in thecentre of the fleet, and arranged his force for attack right against it.Alongside of him on the right was Ulf of Romsdal with thirty ships, andon his left was old Guttorm Stoutheart with twenty-five ships. Thesecomposed the centre of the line. Kettle Flatnose commanded the men onthe forecastle in Ulf's longship, and Thorer the Thick was over those inHaldor's vessel.

  The right wing was commanded by Solve Klofe, under whom were Eric ofHordaland with fifteen ships; Sulke of Rogaland and his brother Sotewith thirty ships, as well as Kiotve of Agder, and some others with manyships--all of large size.

  The left wing was led by King Hakon of Drontheim, under whom were RoaldRyg and Hadd the Hard, and Thor Haklang, with a good many ships. SolveKlofe laid his ships against King Harald's left wing, which was underEindrid, son of Mornef, and Hakon laid his against King Sigurd of Royer,who led Harald's right wing. All the chiefs on either side laid theirships according as they were bold or well equipped. When all was ready,they bound the ships together by the stems, and advanced towards eachother at the sound of the war-trumpet. But as the fleets were so large,many of the smaller vessels remained loose, and, as it were, went aboutskirmishing independently. These were laid forward in the fight,according to the courage of their commanders, which was very unequal.

  Among these roving warriors were our heroes Erling and Glumm, each inone of his own small cutters, with about forty men.

  As soon as the war-blast sounded the men rode forward to the attack, andsoon narrowed the small space that lay between the hostile fleets. ThenHaldor and the other commanders went down to the sides of their ships,where the men stood so thick that their shields touched all round, andencouraged them to fight well for the freedom of old Norway--to whichthey replied with loud huzzas. Immediately after the air was darkenedwith a cloud of arrows, and the fight began.

  There were scalds in both fleets at that fight, these afterwards wrote apoem descriptive of it, part of which we now quote:

  "With falcon eye and courage bright, Haldor the Fierce prepared for fight; `Hand up the arms to one and all!' He cries. `My men, we'll win or fall! Sooner than fly, heaped on each other, Each man will fall across his brother!' Thus spake, and through his vessels' throng His mighty warship moved along. He ran her gaily to the front, To meet the coming battle's brunt-- Then gave the word the ships to bind And shake his banner to the wind. Our oars were stowed, our lances high Swung to and fro athwart the sky. Haldor the Fierce went through the ranks, Drawn up beside the rowers' banks, Where rows of shields seemed to enclose The ship's deck from the boarding foes, Encouraging his chosen crew, He tells his brave lads to stand true, And rows against--while arrows sing-- The Dragon of the tyrant King. With glowing hearts and loud huzzas, His men lay on in freedom's cause. The sea-steeds foam; they plunge and rock: The warriors meet in battle shock; The ring-linked coats of strongest mail Could not withstand the iron hail. The fire of battle raged around; Odin's steel shirts flew all unbound. The pelting shower of stone and steel, Caused many a Norseman stout to reel, The red blood poured like summer rain; The foam was scarlet on the main; But, all unmoved like oak in wood, Silent and grim fierce Haldor stood, Until his axe could reach the foe-- Then--swift he thundered blow on blow. And ever, as his axe came down, It cleft or crushed another crown. Elsewhere the chiefs on either side Fought gallantly above the tide. King Hakon pressed King Sigurd sore, And Ulf made Hake the berserk roar, And Kettle Flatnose dared to spring On board the ship of Norway's King. Old Guttorm Stoutheart's mighty shout Above the din was heard throughout, And Solve Klofe, 'gainst Mornef's son, Slew right and left till day was done. While, all around the loose ships rowed-- Where'er they went the red stream flowed. Chief among these was Erling bold And Glumm the Gruff, of whom 'tis told They rushed in thickest of the fray-- Whatever part the line gave way-- And twice, and thrice, retrieved the day. But heart, and strength, and courage true, Could not avail where one fought two. King Harald, foremost in the fight, With flashing sword, resistless might, Pushed on and slew, and dyed with red The bright steel cap on many a head. Against the hero's shield in vain, The arrow-storm sends forth its rain. The javelins and spear-thrusts fail To pierce his coat of ringed mail. The King stands on the blood-stained deck; Trampling on many a foeman's neck; And high above the dinning stound Of helm and axe, and ringing sound Of blade, and shield, and raven's cry Is heard the shout of--`Victory!'"

  In this poem the scald gives only an outline of the great fight. Let usfollow more closely the action of those in whom we are peculiarlyinterested.

  For more than two hours the battle raged with unabated fury--victoryinclining to neither side; but as the day advanced, the energy withwhich Solve Klofe pushed the right wing began to tell, and the King'smen gave way a little at that part. Harald, however, was on the alert.He sent some of his loose ships to reinforce them, and so regained hisposition. A short time after that, some of Solve's ships were boarded,but at that moment Erling and Glumm chanced to pass in their cutters--for they kept always close together--and they gave such a shout, whilethey turned and pulled to the rescue, that the men, who were wavering,took heart again and drove the foe overboard. Just then the ship on theright of Solve Klofe's vessel was also boarded by the enemy. Seeingthis, Erling called to Glumm that there was need of succour there, andthey rowed swiftly to the spot.

  "Art thou hard pressed, Solve?" asked Erling, as he ranged up to thestern of his friend's ship.

  Solve was so furious that he could not answer, but pointed to the shipnext his, and sprang on the edge of his own, intending to leap into thatof the enemy, and get to the forefront. At the same time Eindrid, sonof Mornef, stood up on the high foredeck of his ship with a large stonein his hand. He was a very powerful man, and hurled the stone with suchforce against Solve's shield that it battered him down, and he fell backinto his own ship much stunned. Seeing this, Erling bade two of his menfollow him, leaped into Solve's ship, and thence into the one where thefight was sharpest. Glumm followed him closely with his long two-handedsword, and these two fought so dreadfully that Eindrid's men were drivenback into their own ship again. Then Erling ran to the place where thehigh stern was wedged between two of the enemy's ships, and sprang onthe forecastle of Eindrid's s
hip.

  "Thou art a bold man!" said Eindrid, turning on him.

  "That may be as thou sayest," replied Erling, at the same time catchinga thrust on his shield, which he returned with such interest with hisaxe that Eindrid's head was nearly severed from his body. At the samemoment Glumm cut down a famous berserk who ran at him, and in a fewminutes they had cleared the deck of the ship, and taken possession ofit. But this was scarcely accomplished when a cry arose that the leftwing under King Hakon was giving way.

  At once Erling and Glumm ran back to their cutters, and made towardsthat part of the line, followed by several of the loose ships. Herethey found that King Hakon was very hard pressed by Sigurd of Royer, sothey pushed in among the ships, and soon Erling's well-known war-cry washeard, and his tall form was seen sweeping men down before him with hisgreat axe, like a mower cutting grass. Glumm, however, did not keepclose to him this time, but made direct for Hakon's ship, for heremembered that he was Ada's father, and thought he might do him someservice.

  As he was coming near he saw Swankie, a famous berserk, fightingfuriously on board Hakon's ship, and roaring, as was the wont ofberserkers sometimes, like a wild bull. Hakon's men had formed ashield-circle round their chief, and were defending him bravely; but theberserk was an uncommonly stout man, very brisk and active, andexceedingly furious, as well as dexterous with his weapons. He slew somany men that the shield-circle was broken, and he made at Hakon just asGlumm leaped into the ship at the stern. King Hakon was a stout man andbrave, but he was getting old, and not so active as he used to be.Nevertheless he met Swankie like a man, and dealt him a blow on hishelmet which made him stagger. The berserk uttered a fearful roar, andstruck at Hakon so fiercely that he split the upper part of his shieldand cut open his helmet. Hakon fell, but before he could repeat theblow Glumm was upon him.

  "What! is it thou, Swankie?" he cried. "Dog, methought I had killedthee long ago!"

  "That is yet to be done," cried the berserk, leaping upon Glumm with asweeping blow of his sword. Glumm stooped quickly, and the blow passedover his head; then he fetched a sudden cut at Swankie, and split himdown from the neck to the waist, saying, "It is done now, methinks," ashe drew out his sword. Glumm did not go forward, but let his men driveback the foe, while he turned and kneeled beside Hakon.

  "Has the dog hurt thee badly?" he asked, raising the old warrior's headon his knee, and speaking in a voice of almost womanly tenderness.

  Hakon made an effort to speak, but for some time was unable to do so,and Glumm held his shield over him to keep off the stones and arrowswhich fell thickly around them. After a few moments Hakon wiped awaythe blood which flowed from a deep wound in his forehead, and looked upwildly in Glumm's face. He tried again to speak, and Glumm,misunderstanding the few words he muttered, said: "Thou art alreadyavenged, King Hakon; Swankie the berserk is dead."

  The dying man made another effort to speak, and was successful.

  "That concerns me little, Glumm. Thou lovest Ada, I know. This ring--take it to her, say her father's last thoughts were of her. Be a goodhusband, Glumm. The brooch--see."

  "Which?" asked Glumm, looking at several silver brooches with which theold warrior's armour was fastened--"this one on thy breast?"

  "Aye, take it--it was--her mother's."

  The warrior's spirit seemed to be relieved when he had said this. Hesank down into a state resembling sleep. Once or twice afterwards heopened his eyes and gazed up into the bright sky with a doubtful yetearnest and enquiring gaze. Gradually the breathing became fainter,until it ceased altogether, and Glumm saw that the old man was dead.

  Fastening the brooch on his own broad chest, and putting the ring on hisfinger, Glumm rose, seized his sword, and rushed again into the thick ofthe fight with tenfold more fury than he had yet displayed, and ere longthe danger that threatened the left wing was for the time averted.

  Meanwhile in the centre there was an equally uncertain and obstinateconflict--for the chiefs on either side were mighty men of valour.Wherever Old Guttorm's voice was heard, there victory inclined. Haldor,on the other hand, did not shout, but he laid about him with such wildferocity that many men quailed at the very sight of him, and wherever hewent he was victorious. It was some time before he managed to getalongside of King Harald Fairhair's ship, but when he did so the fightbecame sharp in the extreme.

  All the men in King Harald's ship, except the berserks, were clad incoats of ring mail, and wore foreign helmets, and most of them had whiteshields. Besides, as has been said, each man was celebrated forpersonal strength and daring, so that none of those who were opposed tothem could make head against them. The arrows and spears fell harmlessfrom their shields, casques, and coats of mail, and it was only now andthen--as when a shaft happened to enter a man's eye--that any fell.When Haldor's forecastle men attacked the berserkers on the high foredeck of the Dragon, the fighting was terrible, for the berserkers allroared aloud and fought with the wild fury of madmen, and so fierce wastheir onslaught that Haldor's men were forced at first to give back.But Thorer the Thick guarded himself warily, and being well armedescaped injury for a time. When he saw the berserkers beginning toflag, he leaped forward like a lion, and hewed them down right and left,so that his men drove the enemy back into the Dragon. Some of themslipped on the gun-wales, and so did some of Haldor's men, all of whomfell into the sea, and a few of them were drowned, while others werekilled, but one or two escaped by swimming.

  Ulf's ship was also pretty close to the Dragon, and he wished greatly toboard it, but was so hard beset by the ship of Nicolas Skialdvarssonthat he could not do so for a long time. Here Kettle Flatnose didprodigies of valour. He stood on the high fore-deck with his favouriteweapon, the hook, and therewith pulled a great number of men off theenemy's deck into the sea. At last he got a footing on their gunwale,dropped his hook, drew his sword, and soon cleared his way aft. Ulfleaped after him, drove the men into the waist, and then the most ofthem were slain, and lay in heaps one upon another. After that it wasnot difficult to clear the poop. Skialdvarsson defended it well, but hecould not stand before Ulf, who finally cut off his head, and so theship was won.

  This vessel lay alongside that of King Harald; and although the King wasfully engaged with Haldor at the time, he observed the conquest ofSkialdvarsson by Ulf, and also perceived that Ulf's men were crowdingthe side of the vessel, and throwing grappling-irons into his own shipwith a view to board it; for there was a space between the ships alittle too wide for men to leap. Springing to the side, the King cutthe grappling-irons with a sweep of his sword.

  "That was well tried," he said.

  "It shall be tried again," cried Ulf, heaving another iron, which nearlystruck the King, but Harald's sword flashed through the air, and againthe iron was cut.

  At that moment Kettle Flatnose stepped back a few paces, and with amighty rush leaped right over the space in all his war gear, andalighted on the Dragon's deck within a yard of the King. It was atremendous leap, and so nearly beyond the compass of Kettle's powersthat he was scarcely able to retain his foothold, but stood for a momenton the edge of the vessel with shield and sword upheaved, as hestaggered to regain his balance. Thus exposed, he might have easilybeen slain; but the King, instead of using his sword, stepped forward,and with his left hand pushed the Irishman overboard. The cheer whichgreeted his daring leap had scarcely ceased to ring when he fell heavilyinto the sea.

  "A goodly man, and a bold attempt," said the King, with a smile, as heturned to Jarl Rongvold. "'Twould have been a pity to slay himoutright. If he can swim he may yet live to fight another battle."

  "True, sire," replied the jarl, who was looking over the side at theplace where Kettle fell; "but methinks he has struck his head on an oar,and will never succeed in swimming towards a friendly hand."

  This indeed seemed to be true; for Kettle lay with his arm over an oar,and his head hanging down in the water, like a dead man. Yet there waslife in him, for his fingers moved. Ulf had witn
essed all this, and wason the point of attempting to leap across to Harald's ship when Kettlefell. He paused, and, seeing that his comrade was apparently beingdrowned, at once dropped sword and shield, and sprang into the sea afterhim.

  At that moment a number of the King's boldest and best armed menobserved that the two ships had drawn a little nearer to each other. Ina moment they leaped across the intervening space, took their opponentsby surprise, and quickly regained the ship.

  While this had been going on at the poop, the fight on the forecastlehad raged with extreme fury, for Haldor the Fierce had gained a footingon the Dragon's deck, and was engaged in mortal combat with Hake theberserk, whom he was slowly but surely driving back. His son Erling theBold, who observed what was going on, had run his cutter along the sternof his father's ship, and was hastening to his aid, when King Haraldbecame aware that his men were giving way, and rushed to their support.He went forward raging with anger, and as he ran he picked up a hugestone, which he hurled before him. Haldor was at the moment in the actof fetching a deadly cut at Hake, whom he had disarmed. The stonestruck him full in the chest, and he fell backward just as Erlingreached his side.

  A great cheer arose at this time on the right; for there the wing of theSouthland men was broken, and everywhere King Harald's men werevictorious.

  "Hold thou them in check, Glumm," cried Erling to his friend, as hequickly raised his father in his arms and bore him away to his cutter.

  Glumm, who had followed his friend like his shadow, sprang forward andengaged Hake, who had recovered his sword, and who found this new enemylittle, if at all, less formidable than the other.

  Erling placed his father carefully in the cutter.

  "Here, Thorer," he said, "do thou guard my father, and hold thyself andthe carles in readiness to push off. The day is lost, I see. I go toslay the King, and will return presently."

  He leaped away as he spoke, and regained the foredeck of the Dragon,where Glumm and his men were still engaged with the berserkers, just asthe King came to the front. The instant he saw Erling he leaped uponhim with a fierce shout, and shook back his shaggy flaxen locks as alion might shake his mane. Erling was not a whit behind him in anxietyto meet. He sprang upon him with a crashing blow of his great pole-axe,which rang loudly on the King's shield, but did him no hurt. They werea well-matched pair. Harald was fully as stout, though not quite sotall as his opponent, whose fine silky hair was almost as bushy as thatof the King, though neither so long nor so tangled.

  Men drew back and stood aside when they heard the shock and shout oftheir onset, and suspended the fight around them, while they gazed on insilent awe. For a time it seemed doubtful which was the better man; forthe King's blade whirled incessantly around his head like flashinglight, and rang on Erling's shield, which was ever upraised to meet it.At the same time the axe of our hero, if not so swift in its gyrations,was more tremendous in its action; more than once the King was seen tostagger beneath its thundering blows, and once he was beaten down on oneknee. How long this might have lasted it is impossible to tell; but,seeing that the King was likely to get the worst of it, one of his mencrept round by the outside of the ship, and coming suddenly up behindErling, put out his hand and caught him by the leg, causing him tostagger backwards, so that he fell overboard. In falling our herocaught the man by the throat, and both fell into the sea together.

  It was seen that Erling dived with his foe and dragged him down as if toforce him to perish along with him, and everyone looked for a fewmoments at the water, expecting to see them rise. Glumm gazed among therest; and he had leaped down into Haldor's ship to be ready to lend ahand. But Erling did not rise again. Seeing this, Glumm sprang up withsudden fury and dashed at the enemy, but by this time they had recoveredfrom their surprise, and now poured into the ship in such overwhelmingnumbers that the men were driven back and slain, or they leapedoverboard and trusted to escape by swimming.

  Meanwhile Erling the Bold having choked off his antagonist, dived underhis father's ship and came up at the stern of his own cutter, into whichhe speedily clambered by means of a rope which hung over the side. Hefound that his father was seated on the poop with his head resting onthe gunwale, recovering consciousness slowly, and Thorer was engaged inthe difficult task of preventing the men from leaving the vessel tosuccour their comrades.

  "Keep back, men," cried Erling in a voice which none dared to disobey."Stay where ye are and get out the oars.--Come, Thorer, follow me with astout man, and keep them back while I rescue Glumm."

  He jumped into Haldor's ship, and ran to the fore part of the poop,where Glumm was fighting against overwhelming odds, with the blinddesperation of a man who has resolved to sell his life as dearly as hecan. Thorer and a tall stout man followed him, and instantly assailedKing Harald's men with such fury that they gave back a little. At thesame moment Erling seized Glumm by the neck; almost strangled him;dragged him violently to the stern, and half sprang, half tumbled withhim into the cutter, where, despite his frantic struggles to rise, heheld him down.

  "Now, my brisk lads," shouted Erling, who was gasping by this time,"come back and jump in! Push off an ell or so. Steady!"

  Thorer and the other man heard the shout, and, turning at once, ran tothe stern and leaped into the cutter, which was instantly thrust off, sothat one or two of their opponents who ventured to jump after them wereleft floundering in the sea.

  By this time King Harald's victory was complete. Both wings had beenbeaten for some time, and now the centre had given way--only one or twoof the more desperate leaders were still keeping up the fight.

  As Erling rowed towards the shore he could see that all the loosevessels of the fleet were flying up the fiord, pursued by a few of theloose vessels of the enemy. But the greater part of both fleets beingtied together, could take no part in the chase until they were cutasunder.

  "The day is lost, father," said Erling, as he stood by the steering oar.

  "I know it, my son," replied Haldor, who was now able to sit up and lookabout him; "Norway is henceforth enthralled."

  He said this in a tone of such deep sadness that Erling forbore tocontinue the subject.

  "They are cutting asunder the fleet," observed Glumm, who had recoveredself-possession, and stood looking back at the scene of the recentconflict; "surely some of them are trying to escape."

  As he spoke, one of the large vessels shot out from among the others,and rowed rapidly away. There was desperate fighting on board of it fora few minutes, and then a number of men were pushed or thrown overboard,and a loud cheer of victory arose.

  "Well done, Solve Klofe!" cried Erling with enthusiasm. "That is hisshout. I should know it among a thousand. He at least is bent on beingfree!"

  Several of Harald's ships, which had been also cut loose, immediatelygave chase, but Solve's men pulled so well that they soon left thembehind, and hoisting their sail to a light breeze which was blowing justoff the mouth of the fiord, soon doubled the point and bore away to thesouth.

  "Is that someone swimming in the water?" asked Erling, pointing as hespoke to an object which moved forward among the debris of oars,portions of clothing, and wreck, which was floating about everywhere.

  One of the men at the bow oar stood up, and after a short glance, saidthat he thought it was a man.

  "Look out on the starboard bow. Mind your oars and be ready, someone,to lean over the waist and catch hold of him."

  As he spoke, the cutter ranged up to the object, which appeared to bethe dishevelled and blood-bespattered head of a man. He suddenly gavevent to a wild shout--"Come on, thou tyrant! Down with ye, dog--huzza!"At the last shout a pair of arms were swung wildly in the air, and thenext moment the man's voice was stifled in the water as he sank, whileanother head appeared beside him.

  "That is the voice of Kettle Flatnose, or his wraith," exclaimed Erling;"pull gently, lads; hold water."

  "Why, Ulf, is it thou?"

  "Truly," exclaimed Ulf, grasping the extended
hand of Glumm, "I don'tfeel quite sure! Haul gently, Glumm. I've got Kettle here. Anotherhand or two. Now then, heave together!"

  Several stout men leaned over the side, and, acting in accordance withthese instructions, hauled Ulf and Kettle out of the sea; the former ina state of great exhaustion, the latter almost dead, for his last diphad well-nigh choked him.

  "It has been a long swim," said Ulf, sitting down and leaning languidlyagainst the bulwarks, while Glumm and Haldor proceeded to chafe theIrishman into a state of consciousness. "Once or twice I sank underhim, for he was very wild when he came to himself, after I got hold ofhim, and struggled to be up and fight the King; but I held him fast.Yet methought once or twice," added Ulf, with a smile, "that I had atlast got into Valhalla."

  A horn of ale refreshed Ulf, and another of the same was shortly aftergiven to Kettle, by which his wandering faculties were soon restored.

  By this time they were drawing near the bay at Ulfstede, and Erlingurged on the rowers, for they could see that Harald's ships were nowcast loose, and giving chase to those that endeavoured to escape, whileseveral of the largest, including the Dragon, made direct for the land.

  "Our whole effort now," said Haldor, "must be to rescue the women."

  "That will not be easy," observed Ulf gloomily.

  "But it is not impossible," said Erling with decision. "We shall havetime to get into the woods, and so round to the cave. By the way, doesanyone know aught of Hakon of Drontheim?"

  "He is dead," said Glumm.

  "Dead!"

  At that moment Haldor started up with a wild exclamation, and pointedtowards the spot on which his own dwelling stood, where, above thetrees, there arose a cloud of dense black smoke. The truth was soon alltoo plain, for, on rounding the point which had hitherto concealed thebay from their view, several of the enemy's largest ships were seen withtheir bows on the shore. It was evident that part of the left wing ofthe enemy, which was first victorious, had, unobserved by them, made forthe shore, and landed a large force of men, who had hastened toUlfstede, and, finding it deserted, had pushed on to Haldorstede, whichthey had set on fire.

  "Now indeed would death be welcome!" cried Haldor, stamping fiercely onthe deck, while every feature of his face blazed with wrath.

  We need scarcely say that the hearts of all had sunk within them, butErling said--"Death would be unwelcome yet, father. The men, no doubt,are killed, but be sure they will not hurt the women while King Haraldis on his way to the stede. We may yet die in defending them, if wecannot save them."

  "True, my son," said Haldor, clasping his hands, and looking upwardswith a solemnity of expression that was in strong contrast with hisrecent burst of passion; "we may perchance save them, as thou sayest;but woe is me for poor Alric!"

  "Alric is safe, I am certain," said Erling energetically, as he turned ameaning glance on Glumm.

  "How knowest thou that?" asked Haldor.

  Erling hesitated to reply, not wishing to raise hopes that after allmight prove to be fallacious.

  Before the question could be repeated the cutter's keel grated on thesand of a small bay which was close to the large one, and concealed fromit by a small rocky islet. Here they all jumped ashore--all exceptKettle Flatnose, who, on attempting to rise, found himself so weak thathe fell down again, and nearly fainted.

  "This is bad," said Erling. "But come, we have no time to waste. Giveme the chief command of our men, father; I have a plan in my head."

  "Do as thou wilt," said Haldor, with a strange mixture of despair,resignation, and ferocity in his tone.

  "Come then, form up, men, and follow me!"

  So saying, Erling lifted Kettle in his arms, and hurried away with himas if he had been no heavier than a little boy! He led the way to thesecret entrance to the cave, where, true as steel to his trust, littleAlric was found with a few men guarding the two warships of Erling andGlumm.