by Felix Dahn
CHAPTER XVIII.
A handsome boy about fourteen, whose strong resemblance to Adalo markedhim as his brother--only his curling locks were light yellow, almostwhite--was dragging by the ear a huge she-bear, which, growling,struggling, but yielding, allowed herself to be drawn nearer and nearerto the fire.
"Down, Bruna!" cried the lad, forcing the huge animal to lie prostrate."You dearly loved the merry, dancing girl too. Look, you growling browngiantess, that's only the grandmother, and Zercho, who always broughtyou so much wild-honey from the bee-wood. But _she_ is missing; ourBissula is gone. Ah, if you had been there, you would have defended hersavagely; for you haven't forgotten that she and Adalo saved you,dragged you out of the torrent. When you were scarcely bigger than akitten the cloud-burst swept you away from your mother, and you criedpiteously as you were drowning. And her busy hands fed you even moreeagerly than ours, with rich milk, rye bread, and dainty wild berries.Since you first opened your blinking eyes, which now look as though youknew as much as a human being, you have recognized her as your bestfriend. Oh, if you had been with her, no one would have dared to seizeher. O brother, strong brother, you hero and shield of the wholeprovince, bring her back! Alas, if the little one, with her daintyhands, should be forced to heat the bath-water for the hated foe andwash his feet, as I often saw their maid-servants do in Arbor! Whydon't we rush down on the wings of the storm and hew her out of thehigh-walled camp citadel?"
He swung his little wolf spear: the fire blazed up brightly as he stoodin the light of the flames, a handsome boyish figure, in his light-bluelinen robe bordered with white swan's down.
"Yes, my Sippilo," said the older brother with ill-repressed sorrow,"you loved her too."
The boy looked up startled, but Adalo continued:
"Yes, yes. Perhaps she is dead--to us, to our people. Perhaps we shallnever see her again, never hear her sweet, elfish, mocking laugh."
"Oh, the smoke! How it stings!" cried the lad, wiping the tears fromhis eyes.
"Perhaps she went with the Italians willingly," said Adalo, torturinghimself savagely--"with the clever Ausonius!"
"Is he here again?" cried Sippilo. "I'll run him through like a fatcarp that is sunning itself in shallow water. Oh, I used to wish hemight fall under the curse of Odin and the sun. Whenever I went to getfrogs for fishing or to play ball, she had always rowed over to him orwould not leave the long rolls of runes over which she racked herbrains. He had given them to her. If only I could catch him!"
"If we only had her back again! My heart is consumed with anxiety."
"Guard yourself from consuming anxiety, my son," said the old woman ina warning tone. "It will paralyze your thoughts and arm; and you willneed both to liberate the naughty child. I am no prophetess, but I havehad strange dreams since I grew blind--which often come to pass: I sawyou to-night wounded, severely wounded. Guard your life. If she shouldbe rescued, and no longer find you--"
"Then her vengeful wish would be fulfilled. She hates me. She shoutedit loudly enough."
Sippilo laughed. "You? Hate you? She loves you better than asister. How I always had to tell her about you, everything you weredoing,--your prizes of honor in the contests; the gifts of neighboringprinces; your last verses; whom they praised! When I met her on thelake quite lately, she asked if Jettaburga and her father did not oftenvisit the Stag Hall. When I said that they no longer came there, forsheer delight she loosed from her own waist the beautiful blue girdleshe always wore, and gave it to me. See, there it is. I always carry ithidden in my blouse. And, Bruna, didn't she once kiss you between theeyes, when I told her how you had sprung to Adalo's assistance in thechase and torn the furious wild bull which was goring his horse? Yes,Bruna, you are faithful to her too. You have trotted after us for hourswhen we were gathering berries and mushrooms, and watched our noondaynap."
Just at that moment a long-drawn blast of a horn echoed from the summitof the mountain. Adalo started up.
"The Duke is calling. We are to consult about what is to be proposed inthe people's council. Zercho, come with me. He wishes to question youabout the number of the enemy's mounted men. You, Sippilo, take care ofMother Waldrun; that is all you can do for your Bissula."
"For the present," said the boy looking after his brother. "But I willtake part in storming the camp fortress where the scoundrels holdcaptive the prettiest little bird--little gold-crested wren, no, littleredbreast--in the land of the Alemanni." He raised his clenched fistthreateningly.