The Story of Rolf and the Viking's Bow

by Allen French

  CHAPTER XXVIII

  OF THAT HARVEST FEAST

  Now Einar's shepherd came in haste, and said the folk of thecountry-side were coming from all directions, and a great number wouldbe at the feast. "Yet many," said he, "bear weapons, and I know notwhat that may mean."

  So men looked, and it was seen that the farmers and bonders werecoming over the hills, in small companies or large. Those of keen eyessaid that most carried short-swords. Then Ondott looked at those twolarge parties that came riding, one from the east and one from thenorth, and thought them very numerous.

  "Meseems," said he, "that Snorri and Kolbein bring more men than theyneed."

  "Fearest thou, Ondott?" asked Grani. "This only do I fear, that wehave not enough food ready. Only on going to church do men lay asideweapons; not strange were it if Snorri and Kolbein, coming from sofar, bade their men bring longswords, spears, and shields. Yet theywear no mail, and bear only the one weapon--clear token of peace.Come, bid the women prepare more food; and do thou, father, let bringout more casks of ale, to welcome so many guests!"

  Thus he shamed the household, and all went quickly to make ready morefood and drink. Then the neighbors began to arrive, some on horses andsome on foot, all in holiday guise save that each man bore a singleweapon. Grani and Einar welcomed each as he came; and then thecompanies of those chiefs rode in, and there was great bustle toreceive them. The horses were taken to the stalls, and the men ledwithin the hall.

  Gracious to Einar was Snorri the Priest, and he said fine words ofGrani's growth and fair looks, and the goodly house. Kolbein was moresilent, but looked about him much; and all those at Cragness werepleased with their great guests, save only Helga, who worked among herwomen and looked sad. When Grani saw that, he sought to cheer her,bidding her mark the pleasure of the visitors.

  "Methinks," said Helga, "the old man smiles too much and the young mantoo little. Little good does my heart prophesy of this visit."

  Grani was impatient with her and left her alone.

  Now guests continued to come in, a great number, so many that theywere not all able to come into the hall; those of lesser condition satoutside on the mead. And the time drew near noon before all werethere. So at last Einar asked if more were to be seen coming, and hismen looked abroad from the hilltop, and saw no one travelling. Theysaw only three living souls: two were Asdis and Thurid where theyworked in the garden by the little hut across the valley, and one wasa great man who lolled on a nearer hillside and seemed to look outupon Broadfirth. Something glittered in the grass by his side, but noone knew who or what it might be. So Einar let call all forth from thehouse, and he stood on a stool, and spake to them.

  First he bade them welcome, and then he spoke of that custom which thelast year had seen begun: shooting at the boundary in memory of hisownership of those lands and that hall. Some, he knew, had beendispleased thereat, yet he trusted that now they saw his reasons forit. "For in the sight of all," quoth Einar, "I will have it known thatmy title is just, and will prove that all which made me master herewas done within the law."

  Very reasonable was that speech: Snorri smiled and nodded graciously,and Einar's folk applauded, but the others not so much.

  "Now," Einar said, "men claim that Grettir the Strong can make thisshot and put me from my lands, but since the law allows no outlaw tomeddle in suits, he may not make the trial. Yet I invite all other menhither to prove me guiltless; therefore come ye with me to thebrookside, and let all try who will. Few do I think will assay, butall are free to it. In token of peace leave your arms here, and let usgo down to the boundary."

  When they heard that, Einar's men laid aside what weapons they had;but those strangers made as if they heard not, yet all together beganwalking to the meadow by the brook. And Einar, when he saw they tookno heed to his request, was of two minds: whether to say no more, orto ask them again to lay aside their swords. But that seemed a slightto his guests; so he spoke not of it again, and all together they wentdown the hillside, leaving at the hall only the women, still cookingfor so many people. Einar had given orders that no ribald mockingshould be made in shooting, such as the baser of his men had donebefore, for all should be decorous. So bows were brought, the bestthere were; his bowmen made ready, and one by one they shot before theguests. Snorri sat on a dais which Einar had let make, and Kolbein andEinar sat on either hand; but Grani stood. He was very anxious to seehow near the arrows would fall to the oak; but the nearest fell roodsaway, and he said to himself, "Now my father is completely justified,for not even Grettir could shoot so much farther than these men."

  So he begged the visitors to shoot, and of Snorri's men and Kolbein'ssome few made the trial, but shot no better than those who assayedafore. Grani was much pleased.

  Then Einar stood up with smiles, and said he, "Let us now go to thefeast, for it is ready at the hall."

  "Here cometh one," said Snorri, "who may wish to try; wait we here foryet a little while."

  Men looked, and there was a great man coming down the hill, and theyknew him for the huge fellow who had been lolling across the valley.On his shoulder he bore a bill with a shaft big as a beam. Coming so,down the hillside above them, he looked so large that Einar wasuneasy, wondering what champion he should be; the sun was behind him,and he seemed like one who might do all manner of feats of strength,even to making the long shot with the bow. Einar felt fear.

  But when the large man reached the first of the people, and they couldsee his face, then laughter began among them, and one cried aloud,"'Tis only Frodi the Smith!"

  So Frodi came before them, and Einar was wroth because he had fearedsuch an one, who was all softness. Said Einar: "What dost thou herewith that great weapon at our feast, where no man comes in war?Seekest thou to take up the feud for this land?" And he gave sign thathis men should be near, ready to seize Frodi if only cause were given.

  But Frodi laid the bill at the feet of Einar, and said: "I bring theethe bill which is thine own, since it came ashore on thy beaches. Asfor that feud, it is not mine, but it belongs to the nearest of kin.Who knows where he is? Let me stay here a space, I beg, and watch theshooting."

  "The shooting is past," said Einar, "but stay if it pleases thee. Asfor that bill, keep it for thine own, if it is at all dear to thee."Then he turned to Snorri, and said, "Shall we not go to the feast?"

  "But tell us of this great bill," said Snorri. "And were there notperchance other heathen weapons which are thine, coming ashore in thatgreat storm?"

  So Grani told of the bill, how it had belonged to that dead viking;and he said there had been a bow with it, which was useless because noone could string it.

  "Much would I like to see that bow," says Snorri.

  Grani knows not what to answer and looks at Einar, and Einar looksback at Grani; but at last Einar says: "Old and useless is the bow,and it is in some out-of-the-way place. Come now to the feast, for itis all ready."

  "It is not yet noon," answered Snorri, "and before noon I am neverready to feast. But here comes another one down the hill, who may giveus sport until we sit down."

  So men looked again up the hillside, and there was another figurecoming, seen against the sun. (Now in Iceland, even in summer noon,the sun never stands overhead.) Fast the figure strode, all muffled ina cloak which flapped in the wind; and so wild and large did thenewcomer seem that again Einar was afraid at the strange sight. Butwhen it came near the figure dwindled, and the people laughed again,crying to make way for Thurid. With slow and halting step the cronecame through the lane of men to Einar.

  "Wishes the strange woman anything here?" asked Snorri.

  "Give her money," said Einar to Ondott, "and bid her begone."

  But she turned her back on Ondott with his purse, and went nearerEinar; and then she saw the bill which Frodi had left lying at Einar'sfeet. A strong shudder seized her, and there she stood shuddering,gazing beneath her hood at that great weapon.

  "What is wrong with the woman?" asked Snorri as if impatient. "Bid hert
o speak."

  "She speaks never," answered Einar.

  But it seemed as if she were talking to herself, for first she beganto mumble hoarsely, and then a little louder, and then at last shebegan to drone a song, in a cracked voice which, to those who hadknown her, seemed not her own. She sang thus:

  "Here is come from foreign shore, A heathen weapon and one more. First the bill which can be swung By the peaceful smith alone; Next the bow which can be strung Nor by him nor anyone. Yet I say in one of those, Laid in spells by Christ his foes, Danger lies to Einar's house."

  When she had sung thus, she drew her hood still closer over her headand crouched down there by the dais.

  Mark now all that which next was said and done, as if those visitorsknew the fearsome nature of Einar, and played with it.

  First Kolbein drew his feet away from the blade of the bill which laybefore them; and he looked uneasy, saying to Einar: "Of human force Ihave no fear, but evil and witchcraft like I not."

  But Snorri leaned forward and looked in the face of Frodi. "Tell us,"says Snorri the Priest, "for what reason thou hast brought the billhere."

  Answered Frodi: "I live alone in my smithy, and the bill stands alwaysin the corner. Now sometimes it gives out a strong humming, there as Iwork, or as I sit by myself of nights; and at such times I think evilthoughts of vengeance, longing to do violence with the bill, untilsometimes I fear I will snatch the weapon and rush forth and slay. Andmethinks the thing must be like the terrible bill of Gunnar ofLithend, which before every one of his slayings gave forth a singingsound. Yet Gunnar got his bill by the mere death of a man; but I wonthis in fight with a ghost, and so I fear more dreadful things willhappen from mine than ever came from his. Lest blood-guilt come on mysoul I brought the bill hither, to restore it to its rightful owner."

  "But he gave it thee again," says Snorri.

  "So," answered Frodi, "I see no way at all to avoid thatblood-guiltiness."

  "Thou canst cast the bill in the sea," says Snorri.

  On a sudden Frodi started back from the bill, and clutched at theclothes on his breast, and cried: "Heard ye how it hummed even then?"

  Said Grani, "I heard naught."

  But Kolbein hitched his stool further away from the bill, saying: "Iheard something."

  Snorri looked upon Einar, who was pale with fear. "Now," said Snorri,"what of that bow which, if shooting here at this boundary may costthee thy life, is mayhap the greater danger to thee of the two?"

  Einar answered nothing.

  "Come," says Snorri, "do this if thou wouldst avoid all evil: castthis bill and that bow into the sea."

  Now the crone rose up again, and she sang this song:

  "Bring ye here those weapons forth. Lay them crossing, east and north, Here upon the fateful ground Where death Hiarandi found. Over them make ye the sign Of the church, with holy wine. Build ye then a fire great; Ere the flames to coals abate, Cast those weapons in them here. Power of spells will disappear; No fate then need Einar fear!"

  "Now," said Snorri, "this burning is the best counsel, for weaponscast in the sea would come again to shore."

  Then Thurid covered her head again and crouched down as before. ButEinar rose in a panic and bade Grani fetch the bow, the arrows, andsome wine. Grani departed hastily, and ran to the hall, and called hissister, bidding her bring wine while he got the bow and arrows.

  "Now," cried Helga, "wilt thou mock the death of Hiarandi, and jeer atRolf, who saved thy life here on the rocks?"

  "What sayest thou of saving my life?" asked Grani.

  Helga told how Rolf and Frodi had borne him to shore.

  "Be comforted," said Grani. "No man shoots with the great bow, forRolf, who alone can string it, is away. But witchcraft lies in it, andit shall be burnt. And when this feast is ended I will send for Rolf,and offer him peace and friendship."

  "No peace comes from Rolf," answers Helga, "while we own his lands,nor friendship while we sit in his hall. Violence meets violence, sosays the good book." But she went and got the wine, and Grani seizedthe bow and its quiver from out the rick, and bore all to thebrookside again. There the fire was already built.

  Snorri received the bow in his hands, for neither Kolbein nor Einarwould touch it. The priest of Snorri's household took the wine, tohallow it; and Snorri drew the bow from its case.

  "Let all give back," said he. "Make space for the fire and the burningof the bow. Let the crone say when all is ready."

  So all men gave space; and the home-men and the guests, mingledtogether, made a great circle round the spot where the bow should beburnt with the bill. At only one place the ring was broken: theshelving bank of the brook, where men might not stand. Then Thuridrose and began to circle the fire. Thrice around it she walked, andSnorri with the bow came down from the dais and stood near; butKolbein went and stood by Grani, and Frodi kept his place at the feetof Einar. So when the cloaked woman had circled the fire three times,she stopped and said to Snorri, "Give me the bow."

  Snorri gave it her.

  All watched to see what she would do, whether mutter spells or breatheupon it. But she looked at it carefully from end to end, andoverlooked the string, and after that she raised it and shook italoft. Then first men saw any part of her, namely her arm, which wasnot withered, but firm and large, like a man's. When she spoke hervoice was no longer cracked.

  "Water hath not harmed thee, oh my bow! Thou art the same as when thouslewest the baresark. Now shalt thou do a greater deed!"

  And in a moment she set the end of the bow to her foot, and bent thebow, and slipped the string along, and the bow was strung! There stoodthe homefolk gazing, but the crone cast off the cloak. No woman wasshe at all, but Rolf in his weapons!

  Then Frodi laid his hand on Einar's knee, and said: "Sit still!"Kolbein set a knife to Grani's throat, saying: "Thy life if thoustirrest." And Snorri cried on high: "Where are ye, men of Tongue andSwinefell?"

  All those guests drew their short-swords; and it was seen that byevery one of the homefolk was a man of Snorri's or Kolbein's, or haplytwo of them. They threatened death to all of Einar's folk.

  Rolf looked around on his enemies, and there was not one that couldeither fight or flee. So he took the quiver from Snorri, and lookedwithin it; he chose that arrow with the silver point, and snapped thesilken thread that bound it, and drew the arrow forth. At no man helooked, but up to heaven. Then he set the arrow on the string; he drewthe bow and sped the shaft. High it flew, and far--across the brook,across the mead. It passed through the upper branches of the littleoak, and fell to the ground three roods beyond.

  Then in the sight of all Rolf bowed his head, nor for a while could hespeak at all.

  But when at last he turned again toward that high seat where Einarsat, his eye fell first on Ondott who stood by. Said Rolf: "Bring methat fellow here!"

  Yet when they would seize Ondott he slipped away, and fearing deathran shrieking up the hill with men in chase. Such was his speed thatthey caught him not, so great was his fright that he recked not wherehe was going, He ran to the cliffs, nor saw them; from their top hefell and died.

  "So is the greater villain gone," said Rolf when all saw Ondott fall,"but the less remains. Einar, Ondott hath made his choice of death andlife; what choice makest thou? Wilt thou bring this to the courts,where outlawry is sure; or wilt thou handsel the case to me, to uttermy own award for the death of my father and the seizing of my land?"

  Einar said quickly: "On thy mercy I rely, and I handsel all to thee,for I am too old to fare abroad." So he came down from the dais, andhastened to Rolf, offering his hand and calling Snorri to witness thathandselling. There they struck hands before all those witnesses.

  Said Rolf: "Now I hold in my hands thy death or thy life, even as oncethou heldest my father at thy mercy. No pity hadst thou then. Shall Ispare thee now?"

  "It was all Ondott's doing," said Einar.

  "Now," quoth Rolf, "this do I award
, and thy forgetting it will be thydeath. Thou shalt go to the little farm where my mother has lived, butnow she is on her way to Cragness. On those few acres thou shaltabide, and stay within all space a bowshot from it. The one ewe whichis there thou mayest have; the store of meat which is in the loft isthine; my mother's gray cloak hangs by the door: take it. But thineown livelihood thou shalt earn from the soil when these are spent; andwhen thou comest from thy boundary farther than this bow can shoot,thy life is forfeit to me."

  Einar accepted that award.

  Then Rolf turned to Grani, and said: "Grani, it lies in thy power tochange all this by uttering two words."

  Grani said nothing.

  "Only two words," said Rolf again.

  But still Grani answered nothing, and Rolf turned from him sadly.

  "Proud is the heart of youth," quoth Snorri. "Come, let us sheathe ourweapons. The sun stands at noon; now shall we execute the act ofdistress which will make Rolf master of his own--yes, and of the halfof Einar's wealth, for the rest goes to the men of the Quarter. Let usgo to the hall."

  So all men went to the hall; and there went not only those guests fromafar, but also those from the dales. Aye, and the men of Einar lefthim, and went to the hall with the others. Only Grani stayed with hisfather, and Helga whom anxiety had driven from the hall.

  "Let us go to our new home," said Einar.

  So they went, and from the first hilltop they saw how the act ofdistress was beginning at the crags; but from the second hilltop theysaw that the act was finished. And when they rested on the long climbto the hut, whence Asdis had gone to her own old home, they saw howoutside the hall men were seated at the long tables, and the womenpassed the food and drink, and all was merry at Cragness.