The Kings Sons | Page 3

appeared above the
distant ridge; and the boys stopped to look, the head being followed by
the shoulders and breast of the man, while behind him there was a
fringe of something bright and shimmering in the sunshine.
The next minute the boys began to run, for they saw that the object first
seen was a mounted man, and what followed the heads of spears borne
by a party of quite a hundred men, whose leader had been seen first
owing to his being mounted upon an active little horse.
"Where's Cerda going?" shouted one of the boys.
"There's a fight somewhere," said another.
And the other two joined in, crying together:

"Let's go and see."
So, in a state of wild excitement and wonder that they had not heard the
news of danger before, the boys raced to head off the body of armed
men, the first up being greeted by the big bluff leader with a cheery
shout.
"What now? What now?" he cried. "Have you boys come to tell us that
we are too late, and that the enemy are all slain? Who was it found the
Norsemen's ship?"
"Then the Danes have landed?" cried the eldest boy excitedly.
"Yes," cried his brother. "I knew that was it."
"Yes, that's it, boy," said the leader, dragging at his horse's head, for the
animal was impatient to go on.
"Where are they?" cried the youngest boy, with his cheeks flushing and
eyes sparkling.
"A day's journey away, my boy. The people over Farringdon way have
asked for help, and the King sends me."
"That's right," cried the boy who had last spoken. "We'll go with you."
The leader smiled and shook his head, and the band of fine-looking,
picked men indulged in a hearty laugh.
"What are you mocking and gibing at?" cried the youngest boy fiercely.
"Do you think that because I and my brothers are young we cannot
fight?"
"Yes," cried the eldest brother; "we can shoot an arrow with any of you.
Pick out your four best men, Jarl Cerda, and we'll shoot against them."
"Yes," said another. "You know we can shoot well."
"Do I not?" said the jarl; "for I taught you."

"Yes, yes; they can all shoot well," came in concert.
"Oh, yes, they can shoot," said the leader; "but I have no time to prove
it."
"Of course not," cried Alfred. "Never mind that. Lead on."
"I'm afraid we should never catch the Danes if you boys came," said the
jarl solemnly.
"Why?" cried Bald, the eldest.
"Yes, why shouldn't we?" cried Ethelred.
"Don't ask him," said Alfred, frowning.
"Why?"
"Look at his eyes and the corners of his mouth. He's laughing at us."
The big jarl's shoulders began to shake, and his lids half-closed in his
mirth, while the eyes of all four boys flashed in their anger.
"Why, of course I'm laughing, my boys," he said; "but it's not out of a
desire to mock at you. I know you, my brave little fellows, and I hope
to come back safe, and to see you all grow up to stark men who will
deal well with the Norsemen. But you must wait a bit."
"No, no," cried Alfred. "We can stand back and shoot."
"So can the Danes, my boy; and their arrows are sharp."
"But we can shoot sharper and quicker than they," said Ethelred. "Oh,
do take us, Jarl Cerda."
"No, my boy," said the stout Saxon noble firmly; "I cannot take you.
The King stood by and picked out my men, and he said I was to take
these and no more. Would you have me give pain to our good Queen
Osburga by breaking the King's commands?"

"No," said Alfred, with a quick, old-fashioned look. "We cannot do that,
boys."
"Come, that's bravely spoken, Alfred, boy; I like that," said the jarl,
leaning down from his horse to pat the youngest boy on the shoulder.
"Look here, if I come back safely after beating the Danes I'll bring you
one of their winged helmets for a prize."
"You will?" cried Alfred.
"I promise you I will, my boy," cried the big Saxon noble, "and
trophies for your brothers too.--There, we must go on. Good-bye, my
brave boys. Give them a shout, my lads."
The men waved sword and spear in the air as they marched off and
Alfred and his brothers stood watching them till the last twinkling spear
had disappeared in the distance, and then the boys turned away with a
sigh.
"Oh, I wish I was a man!" said Alfred sadly.
"No use to wish," said the next brother. "Here, let's go on down the
stream to get some fish."
The disappointment was soon forgotten, and the boys dashed off
downhill as hard as they could