Olaf the Glorious | Page 6

her train,
so no harm came to her. And at last she took refuge on a certain islet in
the middle of Rand's fiord, and lay hidden there for many days. On that
islet I was born, and I am told that they sprinkled me with water and
named me Olaf, after my father's father. There, through the summer
tide she stayed in safety. But when the days grew short and the nights
weary and long, and when the wintry weather came upon us, then she
left her hiding place and set forth with her folk into the Uplands,
travelling under the shelter of night. And after many hardships and
dangers she came to Ofrestead, her father's dwelling, and there we
abode through the winter.
"Little do I remember of these matters, which befell while yet I was a
babe in arms. This that I tell you was taught to me by Thorgils, my
foster brother, who is the thrall of Biorn the merchant; and he can tell
you more than I know, for he is older than I, and the son of our faithful
Thoralf. Thorgils has said that when Gunnhild got tidings that I had
come into the world she sent forth many armed messengers, and bade
them fare into the Uplands in search of this son of King Triggvi, that
they might prevent my growing up to manhood and claiming my
father's realm. But in good time the friends of Erik were aware of the
messengers; so Erik arrayed Astrid for departure, and gave her good
guides, and sent her east--away into the Swede realm to one Hakon
Gamle, a friend of his and a man of might, with whom we abode in all
welcome for a long while."
"And what then?" urged Sigurd. For the boy had paused, and had
pulled a tangle of brown seaweed from the rock where he was sitting,
and was cracking the little air bladders between his fingers.
"Now it chanced," continued Olaf, "that even again Queen Gunnhild
secretly learned our hiding place. So she sent a goodly company east to
the Swede king with good gifts and fair words, asking that he might
send Olaf Triggvison back with them into Norway, where Gunnhild

would foster me, and bring me up as became a king's son. And the king
sent to Ofrestead. But my mother Astrid knew that there was treachery
in this--for in like manner had Gunnhild beguiled my father,--and she
would by no means let me go into the care' of my father's murderers,
and so Gunnhild's messengers went back empty handed.
"By this time I was full three winters old and strong of limb, and my
mother took me on board a trading ship that was eastward bound for
Gardarike; for in that land her brother was a great man, and she knew
that he would gladly succour us until I should be of an age to avenge
my father's death and claim my rightful heritage."
At these words Sigurd grew very grave, and he put his hand gently on
Olaf's arm, and asked to know what ill had befallen Queen Astrid, and
whether she had reached her journey's end.
"Alas!" answered Olaf. "You ask me what I cannot tell. Would that I
knew her to be still living! But never once have I seen her or heard
tidings of her since the dread day when we were brought into this land
and sold into bondage."
As he spoke the lad looked sadly over the sea to where the viking ship
was slowly drifting into the shadow of the holms. Sigurd's eyes dwelt
upon him with curious intentness.
"We set sail across the Eastern Sea," Olaf went on "and there were
many merchants on our ship with great store of money and rich
merchandise. And, as always, Thoralf and his son Thorgils were with
us. Now, scarcely was our vessel beyond the sight of land when we
were met by a great viking ship, that bore down quickly upon us, and
attacked our seamen, first with arrows and stones, and then with spear
and sword, and there was great fighting. So the vikings killed many of
our people, and took our ship and all that was in it. When we had been
made captives the rovers took and shared us among themselves as their
bond slaves, and it befell that my mother and I were parted. An
Esthonian named Klerkon Flatface got me as his portion, along with
Thoralf and Thorgils. Klerkon deemed Thoralf over old for a thrall, and
could not see any work in him, so he cruelly slew him before our eyes
and cast his body into the sea. But he had us two lads away with him,
and he sold us here in the marketplace