Then he stooped, and I helped him to get the sack on his shoulders. It was heavy, but not very --- not so heavy as a young calf in a sack would be; and he carried it easily, taking my spear to help him.
"The thrall is even going to take this to the house of Grim the merchant, whom the king will not know again, though he may see in the dark," said he; "then we shall know how we stand."
We met no one on our way back, for the town had gone to sleep, until the watchman pa.s.sed the time of night with us, thinking no doubt that we had fish or goods in the burden. And when we came home a sleepy thrall opened to us, for all were at rest save him. And he too went his way to the shed where his place was when he had stirred the fire to a blaze and lit a torch that we might see to eat the supper that was left for us.
Then we were alone, and while I set Arngeir"s weapons in a corner, my father put down the sack, and stood looking at it. It seemed to sway a little, and to toss as it settled down. And now that there was light it was plain that the shape of what was inside it was strangely like that of a child, doubled up with knees to chin, as it showed through the sacking.
"Hodulf or no Hodulf," said my father, "I am going to see more of this."
With that he took a knife from the table and cut the cord that fastened the mouth, turning back the sack quickly.
And lo! gagged and bound hand and foot in such wise that he could not move, in the sack was a wondrously handsome boy of about the size of Withelm; and for all his terrible journey across the king"s saddle, and in spite of our rough handling, his eyes were bright and fearless as he looked up at us.
"Radbard," said my father, "what if Hodulf had met with a thrall who had done his bidding in truth?"
I would not think thereof, for surely by this time there had been no light in the eyes that seemed to me to be grateful to us.
Now my father knelt down by the boy"s side, and began to take the lashings from him, telling him at the same time to be silent when the gag was gone.
And hard work enough the poor child had to keep himself from screaming when his limbs were loosed, so cramped was he, for he had been bound almost into a ball. And even as we rubbed and chafed the cold hands and feet he swooned with the pain of the blood running freely once more.
"This is a business for mother," said my father, on that; "get your supper, and take it to bed with you, and say naught to the boys in the morning. This is a thing that may not be talked of."
Now I should have liked to stay, but my father meant what he said, and I could be of no more use; so I took my food, and went up to the loft where we three slept, and knew no more of what trouble that night might have for others.
CHAPTER III. HAVELOK, SON OF GUNNAR.
Now after I had gone, Grim, my father, tried to bring the child round, but he could not do so; and therefore, leaving him near the fire, he went softly to call Leva, my mother, to help him; and all the while he was wondering who the child might be, though indeed a fear that he knew only too well was growing in his heart, for there would surely he only one whom Hodulf could wish out of his way.
As he opened the door that led to the sleeping room beyond the high seat, the light shone on Leva, and showed her sitting up in bed with wide eyes that seemed to gaze on somewhat that was terrible, and at first he thought her awake. But she yet slept, and so he called her gently, and she started and woke.
"Husband, is that you?" she said. "I had a strange dream even now which surely portends somewhat."
Now, as all men know, our folk in the north are most careful in the matter of attending to dreams, specially those that come in troubled times, holding that often warning or good counsel comes from them. I cannot say that I have ever had any profit in that way myself, being no dreamer at all; but it is certain that others have, as may be seen hereafter. Wherefore my father asked Leva what this dream might be.
"In my dream," she answered, "it seemed that you came into the house bearing a sack, which you gave into my charge, saying that therein lay wealth and good fortune for us. And I would not believe this, for you said presently that to gain this the sack and all that was therein was to be thrown into the sea, which seemed foolishness. Whereon I cast it into a corner in anger, and thereout came pitiful cries and wailings. Then said I that it were ill to drown aught that had a voice as of a child, and so you bade me leave it. Then I seemed to sleep here; but presently in my dream I rose and looked on the sack again, and lo! round about it shone a great light, so that all the place was bright, and I was afraid. Then you came and opened the sack, and therein was a wondrous child, from whose mouth came a flame, as it were the shaft of a sunbeam, that stretched over all Denmark, and across the sea to England, whereby I knew that this child was one who should hereafter be king of both these lands. And on this I stared even as you woke me."
Now Grim was silent, for this was pa.s.sing strange, and moreover it fitted with his thought of who this child might be, since Hodulf. would make away with him thus secretly.
"What make you of the dream?" asked Leva, seeing that he pondered on it.
"It is in my mind that your dream will come true altogether, for already it has begun to do so," he answered. "Rise and come into the hall, and I will show you somewhat."
On that Leva made haste and dressed and came out, and there, lying as if in sleep before the fire, was the wondrous child of her dream, and the sack was under his head as he lay; and she was wont to say to those few who knew the story, that the kingliness of that child was plain to be seen, as had been the flame of which she had dreamed, so that all might know it, though the clothes that he wore were such as a churl might be ashamed of.
Then she cried out a little, but not loudly, and knelt by the child to see him the better; and whether he had come to himself before and had dropped asleep for very weariness, or out of his swoon had pa.s.sed into sleep, I cannot say, but at her touch he stirred a little.
"What child is this? and how came he here?" she asked, wondering.
"Already your dream has told you truly how he came," Grim answered, "but who he is I do not rightly know yet. Take him up and bathe him, wife; and if he is the one I think him, there will be a mark whereby we may know him."
"How should he be marked? And why look you to find any sign thus?"
But Grim had turned down the rough shirt and bared the child"s neck and right shoulder, whereon were bruises that made Leva well-nigh weep as she saw them, for it was plain that he had been evilly treated for many days before this. But there on the white skin was the mark of the king"s line --- the red four-armed cross with bent ends which Gunnar and all his forebears had borne.
Seeing that, Leva looked up wondering in her husband"s face, and he answered the question that he saw written in her eyes.
"He is as I thought --- he is Havelok, the son of Gunnar, our king. Hodulf gave him to me that I might drown him."
Then he told her all that had happened, and how from the first time that he had lifted the sack and felt what was within it he had feared that this was what was being done. Hodulf would have no rival growing up beside him, and as he dared not slay him openly, he would have it thought that he had been stolen away by his father"s friends, and then folk would maybe wait quietly in hopes that he would come again when time went on.
Now Leva bathed Havelok in the great tub, and with the warmth and comfort of the hot water he waked and was well content, so that straightway, when he was dressed in Withelm"s holiday clothes, which fitted him, though he was but seven years old at this time, and Withelm was a well-grown boy enough for his ten winters, he asked for food, and they gave him what was yet on the board; and we lived well in Denmark.
"There is no doubt that he hath a kingly hunger," quoth Grim as he watched him.
"Friend," said Havelok, hearing this, though it was not meant for his ears, "it is likely, seeing that this is the third day since I have had food given me. And I thank you, good people, though I would have you know that it is the custom to serve the king"s son kneeling."
"How should we know that you are the king"s son indeed?" asked Grim.
"I am Havelok, son of Gunnar," the boy said gravely. "Yon traitor, Hodulf, has slain my father, and my two sisters, and driven out my mother, whither I cannot tell, and now he would drown me."
Then the boy could hardly keep a brave front any longer, and he added, "Yet I do not think that you will do to me as I heard him bid you."
Then came over Grim a great pity and sorrow that it should seem needful thus to sue to him, and there grew a lump in his throat, so that for a while he might not answer, and the boy thought him in doubt, so that in his eyes there was a great fear. But Leva wept outright, and threw herself on her knees beside him, putting her arms round him as he sat, speaking words of comfort.
Then Grim knelt also, and said, "Thralls of yours are we, Havelok, son of Gunnar, and for you shall our lives be given before Hodulf shall harm you. Nor shall he know that you live until the day comes when you can go to him sword in hand and helm on head, with half the men of this realm at your back, and speak to him of what he did and what he planned, and the vengeance that shall be therefor."
So Grim took on himself to be Havelok"s foster-father, and, as he ended, the boy said with glowing eyes, "I would that I were grown up. How long shall this be before it comes to pa.s.s?"
And then of a sudden he said, as a tired child will, "Friends, I am sorely weary. Let me sleep."
So Leva took him in her arms and laid him in their own bed; and at once he slept, so that she left him and came back to Grim by the fireside, for there was much to be said.
First of all it was clear that Havelok must be hidden, and it was not to be supposed that Hodulf would be satisfied until he had seen the thrall to whom he had trusted such a secret come back for his reward. If he came not he would be sought; and then he would find out to whom he had spoken, and there would be trouble enough.
But it seemed easy to hide Havelok on board the ship, and sail with him to England as soon as possible. A few days might well pa.s.s before a thrall could get to Hodulf, so that he would suspect nothing just at first. There were merchants in England who would care for the boy well, and the two boats might be sunk, so that the king should not ask whose they were. So when Grim came home again the fisher would be thought of as drowned on his errand, and Hodulf would be content.
But then, after a little talk of this, it was plain that all the town could not be told to say that the fisher was drowned on such a night, and Hodulf would leave naught undone to find the truth of the matter. So the puzzle became greater, and the one thing that was clear was that Grim was in sore danger, and Havelok also.
Then suddenly outside the dogs barked, and a voice which they obeyed quieted them. Grim sprang for his axe, which hung on the wall, and went to the door, whereon someone was knocking gently.
"Open, uncle; it is I, Arngeir."
"What does the boy want at this time?" said Grim, taking down the great bar that kept the door, axe in hand, for one must be cautious in such times as these.
Arngeir came in --- a tall young man of twenty, handsome, and like Grim in ways, for he was his brother"s son.
"Lucky am I in finding you astir," he said. "I thought I should have had to wake you all. Are you just home from sea, or just going out?"