The Story of Rolf and the Viking's Bow

by Allen French

  CHAPTER III

  KIARTAN AT CRAGNESS

  On the morning of the fifth day thereafter, as Rolf stood by the gateof the enclosure which protected the farm buildings, he saw a mancoming on a horse, and knew him for his father's brother Kiartan. Hewas a big man, heavily bearded, dressed in bright-colored clothes andhung about with gold chains. His eye was bright and roving; his facewas genial, and he looked about him as he came as one who is wellcontented. Yet Rolf liked him not.

  Now Kiartan rode up to the enclosure and saw the boy. "Ho!" he cried,"come hold my horse and stable him." So Rolf took the horse by thebridle and held him while the man dismounted. Then the boy started tolead the beast to the stable.

  "Where is thy mistress?" asked Kiartan.

  "My mother is in the house," answered Rolf.

  "Now," Kiartan cried, "I took thee for a stable-boy. But thy fatherhad ever a love of the earth, and so perhaps hast thou. Knowest thoume?"

  "Thou art my uncle," replied the lad.

  "Now," cried Kiartan, staring, "what spirit told thee of me?"

  "Five nights ago," answered Rolf, "thou stoodst below on the deck ofthy ship, and lookedst up at Cragness. And our beacon saved thee."

  "Aye," said Kiartan. "We had work to save our lives, and a close misswe made of the Tusks." But he never gave a word of thanks, either toRolf or to Hiarandi, for the saving of his life. "Thou art wise tostay at home, boy; for see how a sailor's life hangs ever on a thread.Now stable the horse, and I will see thy mother. The farmer is likelyin the field."

  So Rolf stabled the horse, and called his father from his work; andHiarandi came, muttering (though he meant not that Rolf should hear),"Poor steel comes often home for a new edge." But he greeted hisbrother well, and bade him stay with them for the winter.

  "Even for that am I come," answered Kiartan. "For my cargo is alreadysold, and my ship laid up for the winter near Hvamm, and I come hometo my kinsman. No poor penny am I this time, to need any man's help.Perhaps," and he looked about him, "I can even help thee."

  But the buildings were neat and weather-tight, and the farm was in noneed of improvement. "I need nothing," said Hiarandi, "and I even havemoney out at call there in the neighborhood where thy ship is laid.But come, the wife prepares the meal. Lay aside thy cloak and be athome."

  And so Kiartan entered on his wintering at Cragness.

  Quiet is the winter in Iceland, when men have no work to do in thefield, save the watching of horses and the feeding of the sheep andkine. Weatherwise must a man be to prepare against the storms, whichsweep with suddenness from off the water and enfold the land withsnow. Yet Hiarandi's flocks were small, and his sheep-range was notwide, and both he and Rolf were keen to see the changes in theweather; and as for their horses, they stayed ever near the buildings.So all were free to go to the gatherings which men made for games andball-play, in times of fair weather. Thither Kiartan loved to go,dressed in his fine clothes, and talking much. But nights when he satat home he would speak of his travels, and what a fine place the worldwas, and how little there was for a man here in Iceland. He said itwas nothing to be a farmer, but a great thing to rove the sea, and tolive, not in this land where all were equal, but where there werekings, earls, and other great men.

  Once as he spoke thus he provoked Hiarandi to words. "Meseems,brother," the farmer said, "that thou hast forgotten the way ourforefathers thought. For it was to avoid kings and earls that theyleft their lands in Norway and came over the sea hither. And thosewhom thou prizest so high are so little thought of here that we makenothing of them whatever."

  "Now," answered Kiartan, "thy neighbor Einar thinks well of earls, forhe has fostered his son with the Earl of the Orkneys."

  "The lad will understand little of our ways when he returns," repliedHiarandi.

  "For all that," Kiartan said, "I name the son of Einar luckier thanthy son here. A great court is held in the Orkneys, and all mattersare to be learned there."

  Then Hiarandi made response: "No court can teach good sense to a dolt,and no wisdom will flourish unless there be good ground for it tosprout. I have seen wise men bred in this little land, and fools thatcame out of Norway."

  Then Kiartan talked not so much before Hiarandi of the things he hadseen, nor for a time before Rolf either. But when there came again thegreat winter ball-play, to which all went, and Rolf shot again withthe bow before them all, and proved himself the most skilful, thoughnot yet the strongest: after that Kiartan made more of the lad.

  "Men," said he to Rolf one day when they were alone, "may be able toshoot farther than thou with the bow, for two did it. But none shot sosurely. And some day thou wilt outshoot them as well."

  "I think not much of it," answered Rolf.

  "Now," said Kiartan, "thou shouldst learn to prize thyself higher. Forin the Orkneys good archers are welcome in the Earl's body-guard, anda man is honored and well paid."

  "Yet he is no longer his own man," answered Rolf.

  "What of that?" asked Kiartan. "If for a few years he can see theworld, and make his fortune also, then he is forever after a greaterman at home. Think more of thyself!"

  And at other times he spoke in the same strain, bidding Rolf valuehimself higher. And he told of the great world, and described hisjourneys. For he had been, he said, as far as the great Middle Sea,had traded in Italy, and had even seen Rome. And Rolf was greatlyinterested in those tales; for the lands across the sea were of momentto all Icelanders, since many a man fared abroad often, and no manthought himself complete who had not once made the voyage. So helistened willingly, when Kiartan told his tales at evening in thehall. The parents were inattentive; but sometimes Hiarandi, andsometimes Asdis, would interrupt the story, sending the lad to sometask or to bed.

  Now at last it draws toward spring, and the time approaches whenKiartan must go away to his ship, to dight it for the voyage. And itwas remembered afterward how one evening he drew Hiarandi on to talkof his savings, and learned what money he had out at interest, andwith whom. And Kiartan spoke the oftener with Rolf, praising him forthe fine man he was growing to be. Then at his last night at Cragnessthe shipmaster said, as all sat together before the fire:

  "Brother, thou knowest I must go away to-morrow."

  "Aye," answered Hiarandi.

  "Now," said Kiartan, "let me say to thee what is in my mind. Take itnot ill that I speak freely. But I think it wrong of thee that thoukeepest here at home such a fine lad as is Rolf thy son." And he wouldhave put his hand upon the boy's shoulder, but Rolf drew away. Kiartanwent on: "Now I am going to the South Isles. Send Rolf with me, andlet him see the world."

  Then Hiarandi grew uneasy, and he answered: "Speak no more of this.Some day he shall see the lands across the main, but as yet he is tooyoung."

  "Nay," answered Kiartan, "he is nearly full-grown. What sayest thou,Rolf? Wilt thou not go with me?"

  Rolf answered: "I will be ruled by my father."

  "I have made much money," reasoned Kiartan, "and thou canst do thesame."

  "I care not for trading," replied Rolf.

  "There are courts to be seen," said Kiartan, "and thou mayest serve inthem thyself."

  "I am not ready to be a servant," quoth Rolf.

  "But thou mayest see wars and fighting," cried Kiartan.

  "I have no quarrels of my own," answered the boy, "and I mix not inthe affairs of others."

  Now Hiarandi and Asdis had listened with both anger and fear,--angerthat Kiartan should so tempt the boy, and fear at what Rolf mightanswer. But Rolf spoke with wisdom beyond his years; and at his lastresponse Hiarandi smiled, and Asdis clapped her hands. Then Kiartanstarted from his seat and cried: "Out upon ye all for stay-at-homes!"And he would speak no more with them that night, but went to hislocked bed and shut himself in. Yet he spoke to the lad once more inthe morning, out by the byre while Rolf was saddling the horse.

  "Surely," said Kiartan, "thou didst not mean what thou saidst lastnight, for the fear of thy parents was in thy mind. Now let me tellt
hee what we can do. I will go on for the lading of my ship, and thatwill take a fortnight's time. Then I will wait for thee at the mouthof Laxriver, and thou canst come thither and join me secretly."

  "Now," said the lad, "if I tell my father this, he will give thee abeating. Therefore I will remain silent until thy ship has sailed."

  Then Kiartan turned pale, and cursed, and made as if to strike hisnephew. But Rolf put his hand to his belt, and Kiartan drew away. YetRolf had no knife.

  "I see," said Rolf, "that thou art not quick at arms nor sure of thyown strength, even against me. And I knew thou wert a coward long ago,when I saw thee on thy ship's deck, giving no orders, but lettingother men save thy ship and thyself. No great deeds of daring would Isee with thee as shipmaster."

  When Kiartan rode away, he was as glad at parting as were those of thehouse.

  "He is not changed," said Hiarandi, "in all the years he has beengone."

  "Where," asked Asdis, "is the harm which he was to do us?"

  And she laughed, but rejoiced too soon. For after six weeks men cameto Hiarandi, sent from Laxriverdale, where traders had given goods toKiartan upon his promise that Hiarandi should pay. And it wasdiscovered that Kiartan had not only used the money which Hiarandi hadout at call in that region, but had obtained goods from other mencreating debts. And he had filled all his ship at Hiarandi's expense.Then Rolf told to his father his own tale of Kiartan's secret offer,and Hiarandi was bitterly wroth.

  And then began those troubles which Thurid had foreseen. For whenHiarandi refused to pay for the goods, but instead sought to regainhis money from those who had supplied Kiartan, the matter was broughtto the law. And first at the Quarter Thing, and then at the Althing,many small suits were disputed. But the end of the matter was, thatHiarandi was beaten by the skill of lawyers; and he had to lose hismoney and pay more besides, and stood stripped of all which he hadlaid up against his age, or against that time when Rolf should need astart in life. And the farmer was greatly cast down, recalling themisfortunes of the Soursops, and how he himself had been always calledthe Unlucky. But Asdis and Rolf strove to keep him in good heart.