Olaf the Glorious | Page 2

sea. Before him stretched the rippling,
sunlit bay with its wooded holms. A fleet of fishing boats was putting
out with the flood tide, and some merchant vessels lay at anchor under
shelter of the green headland.
Nearer to the strand a long dragonship, with a tall gilded prow rising
high above the deck tent, was moored against a bank of hewn rock that
served as a wharf. At sight of the array of white shields along this
vessel's bulwarks his eyes brightened, for he knew that she was a
viking ship from his own birth land in distant Norway, and he was glad.
Not often did it chance that he could hold speech with the bold warriors

of the fiords.
Close by the ship there was a noisy crowd of men and boys. He strode
nearer to them, and heard the hoarse voices of the vikings calling out in
loud praise of a feat that had been performed by someone in their midst.
Sigurd joined the crowd, and saw a boy step out upon the vessel's
narrow gangplank, and there, standing between the ship and the shore,
begin to throw a knife high up into the sunny air, catching it as it fell.
It seemed that the lad was of good station, for his clothing was of finely
woven cloth, and there was a gold neckband to his kirtle, and his long
black hair was well combed and curled. Thrice he threw up his
glittering knife high above his head and deftly caught it again. But soon,
thinking perhaps to excel those who had gone before him, he took a
second knife from his belt, and juggled with them both with such skill
that the shipmen watching him from under the awning swore by the
hammer of Thor that the feat could never be surpassed.
"Well done, well done!" they shouted. And the boys on the bank cried
out, "Well done, Rekoni!"
At this the youth put fuller strength into his arms and flung the knives
yet higher into the air. But his ambition for the praise of the warriors
was greater than his caution, for, in reaching forward to catch one of
the weapons, he lost his balance and fell headlong into the deep green
water beneath. And as he swam to shore the vikings laughed aloud, and
some who had thought of giving him a reward put back their gold into
their wallets and turned away.
Now, very close to where Sigurd Erikson was there stood two boys,
whose close cropped hair and dress of coarse white vadmal showed
them to be slaves. One of them was a tall, gaunt youth, with pale thin
cheeks and large sad eyes. He was fair of skin, and by this Sigurd knew
that he was not an Esthonian. His companion seemed about twelve
winters old, sturdy and broad backed, with very fair hair. His neck and
bare strong arms were burnt by the sun to a ruddy brown. Sigurd could
not see his face, and might not have noticed him had not the elder lad
urged him forward, bidding him step upon the plank and show his skill.
"Not I," said the younger, with an impatient toss of his cropped head.
And he thrust his thumbs into his belt and drew back. "Too much have
I already done in bidding Rekoni try the feat. Well is it for me that he is
not hurt by his fall into the sea, else would his father's whip be about

my back. Even as the matter stands, my master will surely stop my
food for having left his sheep to stray upon the hills."
"I had but wished to see you succeed where your master's son has
failed," sighed the elder lad. And at this the boy turned round and said
more softly:
"Well, Thorgils, for your pleasure will I do it, and not for the vikings'
praise. Lend me your dirk."
So he took the knife from Thorgils' belt, and, leaving the crowd,
walked boldly to the end of the gangplank. Here he rubbed the soles of
his bare feet in the dust and then stepped to the middle of the narrow
board.
"Now what thinks this child that he can do?" cried one of the vikings.
The boy turned sharply and looked at the man who had spoken. He was
a tall, red bearded man, whose nose was flat against his scarred,
bronzed face. At sight of him the boy drew back a pace as if in fear.
"Ay. What thinks the babe that he can do?" echoed another of the
warriors. But those who were nearer made no answer, for they saw that
the boy was very agile and strong beyond his years.
Sigurd watched him as he took his stand on