Beyond 
 The PalceocrYSlic Sea 
 
 '. S* Morton 
 
 fornia 
 nal
 
 I, 
 
 rfA 
 
 ,.
 
 Beyond the Palseocrystic 
 Sea 
 
 or 
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 
 
 BY A. S. MORTON 
 
 CHICAGO 
 PRIVATELY PRINTED 
 
 MDCCCXCV
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1895 
 BY A. S. MORTON
 
 SRU 
 UtB 
 
 INTRODUCTION
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 My own story shall be as brief as possi 
 ble, but it is necessary, to a complete 
 understanding of how I came into posses 
 sion of the facts given hereafter, that I 
 should relate the circumstances surround 
 ing my acquisition of the strange manu 
 script which follows. 
 
 In 1885 I was sent to Greenland by a 
 scientific society that I might study and 
 report on its geological structure, flora, 
 fauna and all other matters of keen interest 
 to the scientist, but of little value to the 
 layman. Delighted at having secured the 
 mission, for which I had unceasingly 
 labored ever since the subject was broached, 
 I lost no time in preparing for an absence 
 of some years, and not many months after 
 my appointment found myself located at 
 Upernavik, one of the most northerly set 
 tlements of that inhospitable country. 
 
 3
 
 4 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 With a species of intoxication I plunged 
 at once into my work, being richly re 
 warded by the encomiums which reached 
 me from my former fellow scientists in 
 London, who seemed to fully appreciate 
 my efforts and very kindly wrote to tell 
 me so. These letters reached me only 
 twice a year, both times during our brief 
 Arctic summer, and the ships that bore 
 them carried back my reports of months of 
 earnest and untiring work. 
 
 Having, during two years of constant 
 exploration and study, exhausted the ter 
 ritory lying about fifty miles north and 
 the same distance south of my location, as 
 well as penetrating the inland glacier it 
 self, tramping many a weary mile over its 
 frozen surface with no reward, since this 
 great traveling ice wall presents on its 
 moraineless face but few crumbs for the 
 hungry scholar, I decided to press farther 
 northward in search of new fields. Taking 
 with me three of the hardy sons of that 
 congealed race, I began my journey in 
 November, 1887, choosing the winter, as 
 it is not always comfortable to travel in
 
 Introduction 5 
 
 those regions during their apology of a 
 summer owing to the melting of the snow, 
 which is the traveler's best friend. My 
 first excursion was short and unproduc 
 tive of results, but in February of the next 
 year (1888) we set out again, this time 
 equipped with a boat, as well as our sleds, 
 and Upernavik saw us no more until the 
 following autumn. 
 
 Enduring many hardships, we pressed 
 steadily forward, my followers occasionally 
 grumbling when, at times, 1 insisted upon 
 remaining a day or two at some point where 
 my harvest proved unexpectedly rich. 
 Early in May we drew near Cape Parry 
 and sighted the open water of Smith 
 Sound; here we camped, it being my in 
 tention to remain some time. And while 
 I explored the meagre footing of land, 
 plucking here a flower, breaking off there 
 a piece of rock, again studying some fossil 
 generously offering itself to my eager eyes, 
 my men spent most of their time on the 
 water, bringing in an occasional fish or 
 news of a whale, walrus, bear or fox sighted. 
 
 One evening (if an hour when the sun
 
 6 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 should go down but obstinately refuses to 
 do so can be termed evening ) on my re 
 turn to our quarters the men showed me a 
 strangely shaped bag of walrus hide, tightly 
 sewed with thongs of the same skin, which 
 they had that day fished out of the water. 
 
 I examined it closely. It was smeared 
 with tallow or blubber to make it water 
 tight, and had evidently been prepared for 
 a long stay in the water. Filled with the 
 belief that within this bag was the history 
 of the struggles and death of some of the 
 heroes who have sought, at the price of 
 their lives, to open up to the world this 
 terra incognita, I handled it reverently as 
 my knife cut the thongs. Within the bag 
 was a roll of manuscript, or, more properly 
 speaking, a parchment, since it was the 
 dried and bleached skin of some animal. 
 The closely written characters were very 
 pale, but, to my delight, the writing was 
 English, and I began at once to decipher 
 it, working with a restless energy behind 
 which were both curiosity and science. 
 
 That manuscript I give here, leaving the 
 reader to do as he will with it. The scien-
 
 Introduction 7 
 
 tist who desires scientific opinions may find 
 them in my very lengthy and exhaustive 
 report, rendered to the Society for Arctic 
 Research, of London. This report has re 
 cently been published, and it will be found 
 that I take therein the position that many 
 of the statements made in this writing, so 
 strangely cast into my hands, are hardly 
 tenable in the light of even the little we 
 know, and yet I am forced to admit that 
 very many statements in the same writing 
 are open to the unqualified approval and 
 endorsement of every student of polar con 
 ditions, in addition to which, when I find 
 myself still doubting, I ask myself where 
 this manuscript could have come from if it 
 is spurious, and then my mind reverts to 
 the constantly recurring mirage seen off 
 the coasts of Alaska the vision of a strange 
 city never yet found or identified, and I 
 ask myself if it may not be that the story 
 of this ice-walled man is true and the city 
 of the Pole; that city never yet seen by us 
 save in the skies.
 
 THE MANUSCRIPT
 
 THE MANUSCRIPT 
 
 NlKIVA, 1858. 
 
 My name is Pierre Vacheron ; I was 
 born in New Orleans in 1820, am a Creole, 
 and of good family. In 1845 I married 
 Julie Ledere. (I pray she may now be 
 living, and, if these pages ever reach that 
 world I fear I shall never again see, I beg 
 him who finds them to seek her and tell her 
 of the fate which befell " Cher Pierre," as 
 she always called me.) 
 
 We were very happy, Julie and I, but 
 fortune frowned on us, and it was hard to 
 see the dear one want for those things 
 which ease the burdens of life. I sought 
 other fields, hoping for better luck, and in 
 1850 we landed in Philadelphia. There I 
 succeeded but indifferently, and the demon 
 of restlessness, as well as of bitter discontent, 
 entered my soul. Here the current of my 
 ii
 
 1 2 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 life changes, for in 1852 I met and became 
 very friendly with a man who I presume 
 made himself famous ; a man who, I 
 imagine, is even now reaping the fruits of 
 his heroism Morton, who, on Kane's ex 
 pedition, discovered the open arctic sea, 
 which up to that time none had seen. He 
 visited me frequently. Kane's expedition 
 was already the subject of much interest; 
 Morton was enthusiastic, I caught the con 
 tagion. Could it have well been otherwise 
 with my poor successes and constant rest 
 lessness ? 
 
 The result of it all was that in 1853, 
 when Kane sailed in search of Franklin, 
 both Morton and Pierre Vacheron were 
 with him on board of the Advance. 
 
 It is not my intention to give any de 
 tailed account of the expedition since, at 
 best, I can give but one side of it, and the 
 whole has doubtless long since been told 
 by those who, more fortunate than myself, 
 returned to their native land. I shall but 
 refer to leading facts in order to show how 
 it is that I am now where I am. 
 
 We sailed in June, 1853, and in August
 
 The Manuscript 13 
 
 of that year reached Rensselaer Bay, and 
 the last time I saw the brig Advance she 
 was still there, and may be now so far as I 
 know. That winter I was one of a party 
 that, pushing north, reached very nearly 
 the eightieth parallel, our journey being 
 accompanied with terrible hardships, but 
 safely accomplished. We were compara 
 tively comfortable in our quarters on the 
 ship, but Kane was indefatigable, working 
 like a beaver himself, and sending us here, 
 there, everywhere, to explore. I have lost 
 track of many of my dates, but think it was 
 about a year after our arrival when Morton 
 led a party, of which I was a member, on 
 the trip which should immortalize him, and 
 doubtless has. 
 
 Our route lay up Kennedy Channel, 
 opening from Smith Sound, and we pushed 
 along until we had reached a latitude of 
 more than eighty-one degrees north, when 
 one day Morton suddenly gave a great 
 shout, " The open polar sea !" pointing 
 northward. All eyes at once turned in 
 that direction, and there, sure enough, lay 
 a vast expanse of open water stretching as
 
 14 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 far as the eye could see. We were beside 
 ourselves with pride and delight Each 
 man felt that he had made for himself an 
 undying name. I remember Morton con 
 vulsively hugged me, and I think I hugged 
 him in return. At any rate, my naturally 
 volatile spirits were at high pressure just 
 then. A mad race started, I leading, over the 
 slippery slopes of the frozen wall surround 
 ing this unfrozen sea. For hours I ran, think 
 ing of nothing, unless it might be of dear 
 Julie and how proud she would be when I 
 returned. My companions, whom I had 
 long since distanced, were forgotten. In 
 deed, myself and my own existence were 
 forgot as well. I think I was scarcely 
 human at the time, though the cause of this 
 sudden exhilaration I have never yet un 
 derstood, being forced to content myself 
 with the belief that it was but the active 
 operation of that dread power known as 
 fate. Whatever may have been the cause, 
 I could not stop, nor indeed did the 
 thought of stopping enter my brain until 
 my body refused to longer bear the strain, 
 and I paused panting and breathless. I
 
 The Manuscript 15 
 
 seated myself on the ice, intending to rest 
 until my companions came up, and, once 
 seated, a thousand weird fancies came 
 trooping through my brain as though I 
 were bewitched. At last, being somewhat 
 recuperated, I came to my senses and be 
 gan to look around me. My first thought 
 was one of uneasiness that my comrades 
 had not come up, but I dismissed this idea, 
 remembering how swiftly I had run, and 
 tried to divert myself with the scene around 
 me. This, however, did not serve to keep 
 me long unconscious of my own loneliness. 
 I soon became alarmed and, rising, sought 
 to retrace my steps, when, what was my 
 horror to see a wide expanse of water be 
 tween myself and the land (or ice) I had 
 left only a few hours before. I was adrift 
 in this polar sea. Not a sign of life 
 around me. I now was panic-stricken, 
 paralyzed with fear, and shouted at the top 
 of my voice, but no reply came save the 
 mocking echo from the everlasting ice that 
 rose around me like the frozen walls of a 
 deserted hell. 
 
 For hours I shrieked like a madman,
 
 1 6 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 hoping against hope, straining my eyes 
 for a glimpse of those I had so shortly left, 
 nor did I entirely relinquish hope until my 
 observations showed me that I was steadily 
 drifting north ; borne by a resistless current 
 I was moving toward the unknown land of 
 eternal ice, each gentle wave bearing me on 
 from life and hope to death and despair. I 
 felt that I was on my way to that Mecca of 
 Arctic explorers, the Pole, and in my 
 mind's eye could see my frozen body, laid 
 out on this tomb of ice, circling around 
 the globe's congealed axis, while my sight 
 less, staring eyes gazed ceaselessly up to 
 that heaven whose splendor now mocked 
 my impotent agony. Overcome with hope 
 less torture I fell in a swoon as deep as 
 death save for its waking ; I know not how 
 long I remained unconscious but it must 
 have been for hours as, when I raised my 
 self and instinctively turned my gaze in 
 the direction from which I had come, the 
 ice wall which, so agonizingly far, had yet 
 seemed so close, had grown dim in the 
 distance and now loomed up against the 
 horizon like the gloomy, fog-curtained
 
 The Manuscript 17 
 
 banks of Newfoundland. I rose stiff with 
 cold and, to rouse the circulation in my 
 benumbed limbs as well as satisfy a 
 mournful curiosity, began a tour of inves 
 tigation, circling my icy tomb, which I 
 judged to be about half a mile in circum 
 ference; the same sight greeted me at 
 every turn an unbroken expanse of wa 
 ter desolation, death everywhere; my 
 mind was tortured with varying scenes of 
 agony; death from starvation, death from 
 freezing, madness from overwhelming ter 
 ror all grinned at me with their horrible 
 faces so close to mine I felt as though 
 their fetid breath fanned my cheeks. At 
 one moment, in my paroxysms of impo 
 tent rage, I felt strong enough to stran 
 gle a polar bear, to cope with a famished 
 lion; at another, shivering in every limb, 
 I should have run in abject fear from 
 even a titmouse. Time had lost its signifi 
 cance to me ; having no way of noting the 
 passage of day and night I could form no 
 idea how long I had been on my awful 
 cruise, but my next sensation was one of 
 desperate hunger ; in my frenzy I gnawed
 
 1 8 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 off great chunks of ice, devouring them 
 only to find the same distressing empti 
 ness ; I discovered imbedded in the ice a 
 rock covered with a moss or lichen and this 
 I tore off with greedy, trembling fingers, 
 making of it a banquet fit for a king. My 
 hunger somewhat appeased by this frugal 
 repast, I gave more attention to things 
 around me. The current to whose action I 
 owed my uncomfortable situation was gently 
 but resistlessly pushing, apparently, for the 
 very Pole itself, bearing upon its placid 
 bosom a living sacrifice. I knew I was 
 beyond all human aid, and yet, such are the 
 strange contradictions of human nature, I 
 felt at that time a species of exaltation at 
 the thought that I was the first rational 
 creature to navigate this unknown sea and 
 once or twice laughed hysterically as I 
 thought of the novel bark upon which my 
 voyage was undertaken. But then came, to 
 interrupt this vagrant pleasantry, fear, des 
 peration, the horrible gnawings of increas 
 ing hunger my frame would collapse. I 
 rolled on the ice in agony, almost hoping 
 I would slip and roll off into the hun-
 
 The Manuscript 19 
 
 gry waters, yet instinctively grasping any 
 friendly projection. After awhile I grew 
 impassive and lay awaiting the inevitable 
 end, when my dull consciousness became 
 impressed with the fact that the tempera 
 ture was steadily rising and I remember 
 my crazy fancies reverted to the ancient 
 fables that the Pole was nothing but a 
 great hole through which the waters un 
 ceasingly rushed but to be turned into 
 steam by the unquenching fires beneath, 
 and I thought this new warmth must be 
 from the great volumes of steam and won 
 dered how it must feel to be boiled, as I 
 felt sure I was to be. At about this junc 
 ture a great white owl alighted on my bark 
 and, settling comfortably down, sat sol 
 emnly blinking at me ; in an instant the 
 brute instinct fostered by hunger was alive 
 within me. With a cunning born of in 
 sanity I drew close without disturbing or 
 frightening him, seized him and with 
 strength fed from the soul, seeing that the 
 body was long since exhausted, held fast 
 to my prey. He scratched and tore me but 
 I wrung his neck and in a mad frenzy
 
 20 Beyond the Palzocrystic Sea 
 
 ripped him open with my knife, eagerly 
 drinking his still warm blood. A life for 
 a life it seemed to me that each drop of 
 this poor bird's blood as it trickled down 
 my throat gave me a new lease on life. I 
 felt once more the passion for life, that im 
 pulse which leads us to offer thanks unto 
 the Creator that we are allowed to live, and 
 with the thanks a prayer that we may be 
 spared for further enjoyment of his gift of 
 life. Hope's dying embers flashed up again 
 into a flame whose intensity seemed to 
 burn the walls of my breast within which 
 its evanescent life was imprisoned. But 
 man is a beast, an animal, at best, and my 
 hunger was not appeased; I tore the feath 
 ers away and with my teeth dug great holes 
 in the raw breast of the fowl, and, indeed, 
 should probably have eaten the entire bird 
 had I not remembered my situation and 
 forced myself to put away the best part of 
 it for future needs. 
 
 I was a man again! Such was the magic 
 influence of that savage meal that I felt for 
 a time absolutely safe and laughed at the 
 chimerical fears of an hour before ; I even
 
 The Manuscript 21 
 
 went so far as to feel happy at the thought 
 that I was alone on this sea which mortal 
 man had never before traversed ; the Pole 
 had now no terrors for me ; on the con 
 trary, I longed for a speaking acquaintance 
 with this prime favorite of enthusiastic 
 scientists. But with returning vigor came 
 also the instinct of self-preservation, stifled 
 for a time by the paralyzation of life's 
 forces. Again and again I searched the 
 horizon closely but not a thing met my 
 eye save the ever-restless waters, an occa 
 sional bird and a few floating islands of ice 
 similar to that which had so unceremoni 
 ously abducted me. 
 
 From my condition when that ill-fated 
 owl fell into my hands I judge I must 
 have been afloat at least five days and, as I 
 roughly guess the speed of the current 
 bearing me to have been about thirty miles 
 a day, I conclude that I was then approxi 
 mately 150 miles from my starting point 
 and, as well as I could judge in the absence 
 of any instruments, due north. I spent 
 my time watching with straining eyes for 
 any sign of life, any boundary to this
 
 22 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 seemingly limitless sea ; but the last shred 
 of flesh had been torn from the bones of 
 my owl, and I was reduced to the necessity 
 of gnawing, dog-like, the bones themselves 
 before the dark outline of something other 
 than water marked the horizon. When I 
 first saw this ragged fringe in the distance 
 I assumed that it was ice marking the limits 
 of the water, and I fell to speculating as to 
 whether we would impinge upon its frown 
 ing wall, and either recoil, shattered, de 
 stroyed, or remain welded to the mass, or 
 else, borne upon the wings of the silent 
 current, circle round and round this sea of 
 desolation for all time to come. However, 
 I had not been long in sight of this bound 
 ary before I saw that it could not be ice, 
 hence must be land, and no sooner did 
 this conviction force itself upon me than I 
 became fairly wild with joy. If we could 
 only go close enough to that land for me 
 to leave my frozen craft I should feel 
 saved despite the fact that I was, at the 
 very least calculation, two hundred miles 
 from any human being and one thousand 
 miles from regular habitations. I cannot
 
 The Manuscript 23 
 
 say that I had any idea of attempting to 
 make my way back. Indeed, that would 
 have been impossible, as I had not even so 
 much as a compass, but I did have a very 
 fixed idea of the desirability of maintain 
 ing my own animal life even under such 
 discouraging circumstances, and it was this 
 instinct of self-preservation which caused 
 me to sound a note of triumph on the dis 
 covery of land. I felt like the buffeted 
 mariner who, after barely escaping ship 
 wreck, sees his port ahead of him. I have 
 already alluded to the fact that the farther 
 north I got the higher the temperature 
 for more than a day, as well as I could 
 mark time, it would have been really too 
 warm for my dress had it not been for the 
 effect of the ice on which I floated; in fact, 
 before I sighted land a new cause of alarm 
 had arisen, as I had noticed a sensible dim 
 inution in the floe on which I rode. But 
 now fear was cast aside; there to my right 
 (northeast of Smith Sound as well as I 
 could determine) lay land ; rugged and 
 barren land, apparently, but land ; ice 
 bound and desolate, but still land ; doubt-
 
 24 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 less refusing support of life to the few 
 birds that visited its untrod shores, yet it 
 might, nay, should, support and keep me ; 
 it was land and in that one word I read 
 life, hope, safety. I quite forgot in my 
 excitement that I was again growing very 
 hungry; but one central idea held posses 
 sion of my brain that land and my 
 chances of reaching it. For hours I stead 
 ily watched it, and gradually the strange, 
 ragged looking peaks took definite shape. 
 I grew more deeply interested ; nearer still 
 I rubbed my eyes and began to fear that 
 I had grown crazy no, I was surely ra 
 tional, yet could it be? I pinched myself 
 to make sure that I did not sleep I was 
 awake. All the time I kept my eyes fixed 
 upon that distant shore, scarcely daring 
 even to wink for fear the dream, the mir 
 age, the feverish fancy of a frenzied brain, 
 whichever it might be, would melt before 
 my gaze. I was sure that I had full pos 
 session of all my faculties and yet equally 
 sure that the scene before me was an in 
 substantial pageant born of the vaporings 
 of a too diseased brain. Rising in the
 
 The Manuscript 25 
 
 distance and slowly assuming tangible out 
 lines rose in unmistakable clearness from 
 the unsounded depths of the sea, from the 
 unsealed heights of virgin peaks, a city, 
 yes, a city whose walls, towers, streets, be 
 spoke not the hand of the Creator of all 
 things but the handiwork of man. What 
 was before me? If my eyes served me no 
 trick and this was really a city, was it a 
 city of the dead? of a people long since 
 perished? Was I doomed to wander a soli 
 tary mortal through those silent streets, 
 finally to lie down and die as they who 
 reared those walls had died, within some 
 one of their deserted homes? I shuddered 
 at these thoughts. Had I entered the land 
 of magic, the home of the black art, and 
 had this great pile been reared by some 
 demon to torment and destroy me? These 
 and many other wild fancies chased one 
 another in wanton confusion through my 
 clouded brain while I steadily bore my 
 way, guided by some unseen hand, to 
 ward the coast whose present aspect fright 
 ened me far more than would have done 
 beetling cliffs fit for but the habitations of
 
 26 Beyond the Palzeocrystic Sea 
 
 feathery nomads. My sensations may pos 
 sibly be faintly imagined, but no one who 
 has not himself been an actor in such a 
 drama can realize the terror, the supersti 
 tious despair that filled my soul. My limbs 
 shook, I trembled all over and, unable to 
 stand, sank in impotent paralysis of fear 
 upon the ice. To my now crazed brain 
 the breeze playing around me seemed the 
 heated breath of a myriad of hellish imps, 
 shrivelling my cheeks as it fanned them. 
 The steady, irresistible movement of the 
 dissolving ice relentlessly bearing me to 
 frightful death, to annihilation, was to me 
 but the work of some hidden devil who, in 
 hideous glee disporting himself, was drag 
 ging me on and on that I might be offered 
 a vicarious sacrifice to the arch-demon him 
 self. The minutes seemed hours and yet I 
 neared that uncanny city with what seemed 
 to me frightful velocity. I had given my 
 self up for lost from the moment when I 
 found myself drifting, but now felt that I 
 was damned in soul as well as body and 
 would gladly have given my life for the 
 privilege of dying among my fellow-men.
 
 The Manuscript 27 
 
 The strongest mind wavers under pres 
 sure, the bravest heart has its sudden leaps 
 of fear, is it any wonder that I, with the 
 spectacle of a completely equipped city here 
 within a few miles of the Pole, apparent 
 life amid eternal death, should have suc 
 cumbed to the effect of the rude shock, 
 especially considering my previous condi 
 tion and the fearful strain I had borne? I 
 think not, and while I now laugh at my 
 agonizing fears, I have never been ashamed 
 of them, though I may add, by way of pa 
 renthesis, that I am not what men call a 
 coward. 
 
 Drifting, drifting, with not a star of 
 hope in the glaring sky whose unblinking 
 eye seemed to have forgot to sleep; nor 
 anchor to hold, nor rudder to steer as I 
 ploughed my way through the cold waves 
 green with envious desire as they licked 
 away, piece by piece, the glistening throne 
 upon which sat in mock dignity one of crea 
 tion's kings. Above me the heavens, illim 
 itable, illuminated by the cold and ghastly 
 glare of a sleepless sun; below the softly 
 surging, silent sea whose whispering waves,
 
 28 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 caressing, creep through ever growing 
 gaps upon ray frozen craft, the while with 
 restful restlessness, with the rare rhythm 
 of their siren songs they bear me, helpless, 
 hopeless, to their goal, my grave ; beyond, 
 the bare and barren ragged rocks against 
 whose frowning face, with frightful force, I 
 might be dashed or, those rocks escaped, 
 that city of the dead, whose winding walls 
 did mark the tortuous trail of the con 
 demned and tortured soul, its silent streets 
 and hearthless homes the hopelessness of 
 hell ; its towering domes of demon make 
 but fingers of fate, pointing upward, do 
 show the way below to the noisome, bot 
 tomless depths of hell. 
 
 Nearer, still nearer, that silent current 
 bore me. I saw I should miss the rocks, 
 yet seeing this saw, but too well, that I 
 must ground upon the beach before that 
 awful city, and in this knowledge found 
 more of dread than of comfort. Nearer, 
 yet nearer what is that I see? Have the 
 imps of hell taken tangible shape before 
 my eyes? Oh! Horror of horrors! They 
 run in wanton glee to see the death of the
 
 The Manuscript 29 
 
 body, the damnation of the soul! There 
 they crowd before hell's open portal, that 
 beach, and elbow and jostle one another 
 that they may see my doom. More, still 
 more of them, the shore is black with hell's 
 minions. I even fancy I can hear their 
 wicked shrieks of fiendish delight my 
 brain reels, something seems to crack with 
 a snap within my head ; mortal man can 
 bear no more ; in a senseless swoon I fall 
 prone upon the ice, murmuring with my 
 last fleeting consciousness a prayer to the 
 Almighty.
 
 II 
 
 I did not fall into the hands of imps, 
 devils or goblins, but, what is still stranger 
 to me, when I recovered from my swoon 
 found myself in the hands of men. To 
 my eyes they were strange and uncouth 
 looking, but they were none the less men 
 and seemingly mild and kind in disposi 
 tion. I no sooner found myself safe from 
 immediate danger of death than I became 
 frantically hungry and at once essayed to 
 make this fact known, but my captors were 
 apparently rather dull and slow of wit, and 
 it was only when I had about exhausted all 
 signs known to me that they seemed to 
 comprehend ; there was then great jabber 
 ing and gesticulating among them, when fi 
 nally one who had seemed to bear the air of 
 a dictator came forward (they had all been 
 standing at a respectful distance from me) 
 and, after first prostrating himself upon 
 30
 
 The Manuscript 31 
 
 his face, waved his hand toward the city as 
 though to invite me to enter its walls. 
 Having already gathered that I was in 
 good favor with my odd-looking hosts, and 
 assuming that the road to food was the 
 path leading into the city, I drew myself 
 up and with as much dignity as my stiff 
 and tottering limbs would support began 
 my triumphal march, for such it proved to 
 be. No sooner had I taken one step than 
 the entire multitude fell face down prone 
 upon the ground, and I really think they 
 would have permitted me to tread upon 
 them, since they never moved as I made 
 my way with difficulty between them, rising 
 only after I had passed and following at a 
 respectful distance. 
 
 A great wall surrounded the city and 
 when I entered its open gate a tremen 
 dous noise arose; it proved to be their 
 music, consisting of drums made of wal 
 rus-hide stretched on frames and several 
 wind instruments contrived chiefly out of 
 the bones of birds. At the sound of this 
 noise or music those remaining in the city, 
 principally women and children, rushed
 
 32 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 forth from their houses into the streets ; 
 he who had silently invited me to be their 
 guest walked some distance ahead of me 
 crying certain strange words at sound of 
 which all who looked on prostrated them 
 selves in silence until I had passed, when 
 they took up the same cry until the welkin 
 rang. Despite hunger, fatigue and sore 
 ness the novelty of my position, the 
 strangeness of the people and the welcome 
 I received at their hands deeply impressed 
 me and I endeavored to walk with the air 
 of a mighty conqueror, though I fear with 
 poor success. For some distance I passed 
 through narrow streets lined on either side 
 with small stone houses, when finally my 
 leader paused in a square court and with a 
 profound obeisance indicated that I should 
 precede him into a large building whose 
 four towers I had so clearly seen while 
 floating toward this haven. 
 
 I entered as he bade me and immedi 
 ately concluded that I was in their temple, 
 but soon began to doubt this when at the 
 farthest extremity of the edifice I came to 
 a great throne chiseled out of stone and
 
 The Manuscript 33 
 
 garnished with walrus tusks and similar 
 trophies of the chase. Obedient to a 
 silent gesture from my guide I mounted 
 the throne and at the moment when I 
 seated myself there was a great burst of 
 their uncouth music, a shout from the 
 people who had crowded after me into the 
 building, and my eyes surveyed a vast sea 
 of bowed heads; doubtless they would 
 have again prostrated themselves had they 
 not been too closely wedged. Food was 
 now brought me, which I greedily de 
 voured while the assembled multitude 
 gazed in rapt attention ; having stifled the 
 pangs of hunger I felt the need of rest I 
 grew dull and heavy, my peaceful conquest 
 of this unknown people interested me no 
 longer, and I made desperate efforts to 
 convey my wishes to the master of cere 
 monies, finally succeeding after I had 
 cursed his stupidity in every language but 
 his own. My wish was law. He spoke, 
 the hum of the crowd hushed and as si 
 lently as the unreal shapes of a dream the 
 vast crowd glided out ; when the place was 
 empty he led me to a corner where was a
 
 34 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 bed made of mosses and seaweed ; upon 
 this I threw myself, nor had mortal man 
 ever softer couch. 
 
 I woke from my deep sleep refreshed 
 but sorely perplexed and rubbed my eyes 
 to assure myself that the events I have just 
 related were no dream. But the reality of 
 my surroundings was soon made apparent 
 since no sooner did I stir than I was 
 waited on with food and drink, the word 
 was given outside, the people again poured 
 into the temple, and again I seated myself 
 on the throne and received what was evi 
 dently the worship of this race. 
 
 Having no means of measuring time I 
 am unable to say how long this panto 
 mime lasted, but, feeling that I should have 
 to spend my days here, I immediately set 
 to work to learn the language and soon 
 succeeded reasonably well in understanding 
 most of what was said, though I fear I 
 shall never be able to pronounce a large 
 proportion of their ear-splitting, jaw-break 
 ing words, hence shall always prove a bet 
 ter listener than talker. I had assumed 
 from the first that they had made me
 
 The Manuscript 35 
 
 either their prince or their god ; I now 
 found that I held the dual position. Half- 
 jord, their first king, according to their 
 legends, was also their god and they had a 
 fixed belief that he would some day return, 
 make of this barren waste a smiling gar 
 den and of them a great and powerful peo 
 ple ; when they saw me floating to them 
 on my ship of ice, coming from where 
 mortal had never before come so far as 
 they knew, they welcomed me as the long- 
 expected Halfjord, seated me upon that 
 throne which had for centuries awaited 
 him, and patiently waited to hear from my 
 lips what was to be the outcome. This in 
 brief was what I gathered with my first 
 understanding of their speech. I did not 
 find it convenient to disabuse their minds 
 of this harmless superstition, since it was 
 entirely to my advantage ; on the contrary, 
 I fostered their belief in my supernatural 
 attributes as far as I thought proper and 
 confess I revelled in the thought of being 
 an accepted king, even of this simple, un 
 taught people. 
 
 Here I was, then, king of an unknown
 
 36 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 race, god of an untaught people, spending 
 my days in an unsought, unexplored coun 
 try. 
 
 Having now through means of this 
 writing located myself, with the hope that 
 some one may find my story and seek to 
 restore me to my home and people, I shall 
 devote but little time to describing those 
 with whom my lot is cast, as I live with an 
 ever-present hope that of rescue and 
 writing is a thankless task when one's pa 
 per is the tanned skins of birds, pen a 
 stick and ink the juice of an Arctic plant. 
 Those who come to seek me can tell the 
 world more of these strange people than, 
 with my present opportunities, I am in 
 clined to tell. I shall, however, give a 
 brief sketch of them but, before beginning, 
 let me say a word to my rescuers, whom I 
 now confidently expect, since I shall con 
 sign this history of mine to the same cur 
 rent which bore me hither and which I am 
 sure must at some point north of us (per 
 haps at the Pole itself) turn and work 
 itself south ; therefore I shall cast this, my 
 story, upon the placid bosom of our im-
 
 The Manuscript 37 
 
 prisoned sea with serene confidence that it 
 will some day be found heaven grant 
 that day be not too distant ! 
 
 I have no instruments, consequently can 
 give no exact bearings, but if the search 
 ing party will pass through Smith Sound 
 and up Kennedy Channel until they come 
 in sight of this open sea, and then bear 
 almost due west through the thousand 
 channels cutting into the ice, they will, in 
 about a day's journey, reach this polar cur 
 rent, when all they have to do is to allow 
 it to bear them with it north-northeast to 
 this port. May the God of our race incline 
 the hearts of heroic men to brave the dan 
 gers of the palseocrystic sea for my restor 
 ation to home, friends, wife ! Heaven 
 hear my prayer and bear this letter on the 
 bosom of the restless sea with lightning 
 speed to the land of my own people !
 
 Ill 
 
 These people are undoubtedly of Scan 
 dinavian origin, and from their legends it 
 would appear that the settlement was 
 founded in about the year 900 by the Norse 
 men, those hardy, restless wanderers who 
 made both history and nations. But none 
 of the old spirit of adventure is left in 
 these simple, childish folk; they seem con 
 tented with what they have, barring the 
 one exception of their undying hope of 
 Halfjord's return. They have no tradi 
 tions, no legends beyond the life, adven 
 tures and death of this, their first king. 
 Their simple, inoffensive disposition is 
 doubtless due to force of circumstances, 
 travel by land beyond a few miles being 
 out of the question and travel by water 
 equally impossible, owing to the absence 
 of timbers for vessels. I have used every 
 effort to induce them to build a great boat 
 38
 
 The Manuscript 39 
 
 of skins and let me lead an expedition of 
 discovery with the hope that I might thus 
 escape, but they will not hear of this, even 
 though I tell them it is necessary in order 
 that their resurrected Halfjord may do 
 those things of which they dream. It is 
 evident that they fear to have me leave 
 them even for a short time, and I am so 
 beset with attention, so closely followed at 
 all times, that independent escape, even if 
 I had the means of transportation, would 
 be entirely out of the question; in other 
 words, though enjoying the privileges of a 
 sovereign and the power of a deity, I have 
 always felt that I was a prisoner whose 
 every move was closely watched, my per 
 son jealously guarded by my subjects; I 
 have no hope of escape and must live and 
 die their king, their god, unless my fellow- 
 men shall rescue me from this living death. 
 They are a simple people, as I have said 
 before free from vices, kind and charita 
 ble, hardy yet lacking in courage, cool 
 under circumstances where civilized (?) 
 man would be frantic with rage, but panic- 
 stricken when confronted with physical
 
 4O Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 danger ; in some senses ingenious but very 
 primitive in their methods, though this 
 may be accounted for by the fact that they 
 really have nothing with which to work 
 save iron and stone, both of which are 
 found in great abundance. There are no 
 trees, a few bushes and stunted pines, sel 
 dom reaching the height of a man's head, 
 being all of the forest growth found here ; 
 these they use solely for kindling fires, 
 which are afterward fed by a lignite coal, 
 of which great seams appear, even rais 
 ing their grimy faces above the thin and 
 poverty-stricken soil. It had never oc 
 curred to them to use this wood in any 
 other way, and, when I showed them how 
 to fasten a knife upon a pine staff and cast 
 this weapon, javelin-like, at their chase, 
 instead of, as they had been taught, steal 
 ing upon the prey and knifing it at close 
 quarters, they regarded it as a miracle and 
 proclaimed anew all through the city that 
 I was indeed Halfjord; the young men 
 watched me closely and soon became very 
 proficient in the use of this their new weapon. 
 I said my subjects were free from vices,
 
 The Manuscript 41 
 
 and this is true looking at it from their 
 standpoint, but it must be confessed that 
 their views and customs regarding marriage 
 are startling, to put it mildly; in fact, they 
 really have no such thing as a marriage cer 
 emony, nor do their laws or customs require 
 but a single mate; there is frequently seen 
 plurality of wives in some cases, husbands 
 in others, but the relations between these 
 parties last only so long as they are mutu 
 ally agreeable, any or either of them being 
 at perfect liberty to select other compan 
 ions without prejudice. Strange to say, 
 this freedom does not seem to be abused. 
 Both polygamy and polyandry are com 
 monly practiced, but what we would term 
 divorces are infrequent, and in both cases 
 the dual wives or husbands seem to live in 
 perfect amity and content ; it therefore fol 
 lows that some of the most repulsive vices 
 of civilization are unknown, though, as a 
 natural consequence of their habits of life, 
 these people have no conception of life's 
 greatest blessing the love of two united 
 hearts wedded in perfect union. I have 
 made some efforts in the direction of estab-
 
 42 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 lishing a fixed marriage law, but mine are 
 a stiff-necked people and ill brook inter 
 ference with their settled institutions, even 
 when that interference comes from him 
 they worship, and I found my proposed 
 measures so extremely unpopular that it 
 seemed but the part of prudence to aban 
 don for the present, at any rate, my attempt 
 to establish monogamy. 
 
 I remember, when I woke from the 
 heavy sleep just after my arrival, the leader 
 (whom I afterward learned had been their 
 prince until I appeared), with a great show 
 of ceremony, presented twelve comely 
 maidens, who thereafter attended me so 
 closely as to frequently embarrass, even 
 sleeping upon beds of moss laid in the 
 same chamber as mine, though that could 
 hardly be helped seeing that no house in 
 the city possessed more than one chamber. 
 At first I thought these young women were 
 servants, but on gaining some familiarity 
 with their language found they were my 
 wives, had been tendered as such, and my 
 tacit acceptance had completed the cere 
 mony which bound them to me. How was
 
 The Manuscript 43 
 
 I to do otherwise than accept them when 
 I knew not a word that was being said, 
 nor how to decline so many brides? 
 Somewhat disturbed by the information 
 that I had unintentionally become a much 
 married man I yet exercised the right be 
 longing to me under the laws of Nikiva, 
 and at once divorced the entire dozen 
 much to their regret, I fear, as they had 
 seemed much elated at being wives of the 
 great Halfjord. Under other circum 
 stances I might have acted differently, 
 but with the constantly recurring hope of 
 rescue and the ever-present memory of my 
 darling Julie waiting to welcome me I 
 could not form any entangling alliances. 
 
 In stature my people are short, rather 
 dwarfed and thick-set. (My people! How 
 soon one falls into the habit of claiming a 
 right of which he never dreamed until it 
 was forced upon him.) Their complexions 
 are clear, their coloring usually blonde 
 occasionally one sees a brunette but red 
 hair marks a child of the demon, and no 
 sooner does a poor babe show on its bald 
 pate a few red hairs than it is brought to
 
 44 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 the temple and there, before the assembled 
 people, boiled alive; its flesh is then thrown 
 into the sea, its bones afterward burned, 
 and the water in which it was boiled 
 poured over the house in which the child 
 was born. I have tried to stop this bar 
 barous custom, but they tell me it prevailed 
 in Halfjord's time and, for fear of display 
 ing, even to their dull wits, my unwitting 
 imposture, and being possibly forced to 
 submit to the inconvenience of being my 
 self boiled, I keep quiet, after having en 
 tered a mild protest and met with vigor 
 ous opposition. 
 
 The climate here is wonderfully temper 
 ate. Summer lasts about three months, 
 and during that time I should say our 
 average temperature is about sixty degrees, 
 while, judging from my own feelings, I 
 think in mid-winter it has never been 
 colder than twenty or thirty below, though 
 we have a great deal of snow, which the 
 natives get over by using sleds, ingeniously 
 contrived of iron frames over which skins 
 are stretched. Furs are seldom worn, the 
 people dressing chiefly in skins from which
 
 The Manuscript 45 
 
 the hair has been scraped, but in winter 
 they wear an under-garment woven from a 
 fibrous sea-plant or, in a few cases, made 
 from the breast of the eider-duck. 
 
 Our food is principally flesh, sometimes 
 fresh, usually dried. For birds we have 
 the duck, ptarmigan and owl, the latter 
 being considered quite a delicacy; our 
 principal fish is the cod and among ani 
 mals both the walrus and the wolf are 
 deemed choice morsels ; the whale is some 
 times seen but not sought after by these 
 people, who have no taste for the blubber 
 which forms so important a part of the 
 diet of the Esquimax further south. One 
 vegetable is raised here but I cannot well 
 describe it as I know of nothing to which 
 to compare it. I rather incline to the be 
 lief that it is a cross between the potato 
 and the turnip ; it is nauseating at first but 
 one grows to like it and the natives con 
 sider it a great luxury. I may say in pass 
 ing that my stomach has not entirely ac 
 customed itself to the radical change and 
 I frequently pine for a good beefsteak and 
 some bread, both of which are, of course,
 
 46 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 unknown in this semi-barbarous, wholly 
 abandoned land. 
 
 I have already told of the mild inoffen- 
 siveness of the people and in support of 
 this I find that there is record of but one 
 murder since the founding of the city 
 of Nikiva; the culprit was boiled (their 
 usual mode of exorcising the devil), and 
 his bones are still exhibited in the temple 
 which is my abiding place a palace, sanc 
 tuary and charnel-house at one and the 
 same time. 
 
 I am writing as I get the opportunity, and 
 under many disadvantages; among them 
 the curiosity of the people who, having 
 never seen writing, think I am dealing in 
 magic and, while they fully expect that 
 from Halfjord, yet are consumed with 
 curiosity as to the marks I make and 
 pester the life out of me. Hence, I presume 
 I have put down many things that need 
 explanation, but I hardly feel like explaining 
 them. In truth, I am giving only skele 
 ton information, as I hope some day to 
 welcome men from my own country who 
 will take me back and with me a more
 
 The Manuscript 47 
 
 complete description of this forgotten land, 
 but I remember one statement that I must 
 at least qualify it is regarding the ab 
 sence of vice; the vice of drunkenness 
 exists here and I might say not even the 
 babe in the arms is free from it, but as it 
 occurs only on special occasions it might 
 be charitable to overlook it, after all. The 
 Nikivans distill a powerful stimulant from 
 the juice of their stunted pines, mixed with 
 a pulp from the leaves of a shrub known as 
 "org," this drink they call "nogalik" and 
 the entire populace busy themselves pre 
 paring it each summer when the sap runs, 
 storing it in walrus-hide casks(?). It must 
 not be inferred, however, that this liquor is 
 promiscuously drunk; on the contrary, it is 
 carefully put aside and makes its appear 
 ance only when the grim reaper, Death, 
 comes to Nikiva. On such occasions the 
 entire populace repair to the temple, where 
 the body lies stretched upon an iron frame, 
 and there for a space of time which I should 
 judge to be about two days they give them 
 selves up to orgies beside which an or 
 dinary Irish wake pales into insignificance,
 
 48 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 save that the former is always good natured, 
 the latter sometimes a bit rough, as I dis 
 tinctly remember from my own experience 
 at one. At our wakes here the very first 
 duty of every good citizen, male or female, 
 is to get gloriously drunk, and to this end 
 are copious libations of "nogalik" served; 
 one by one the crowd becomes first noisy, 
 then hilarious, then stupid, and as the lat 
 ter stage comes on they fall where they are 
 and sleep it off. This performance is re 
 peated three times and, after arousing from 
 the third drunken stupor, they bear the 
 body to the beach and toss it into the wa 
 ter. Should an epidemic visit us I very 
 much fear me Nikiva would get so drunk 
 as never to be able to sober up again, but 
 as it is now, so soon as the body is cast into 
 the water, Nikiva returns to its usual irre 
 proachable sobriety, repeating the orgy 
 only when another unfortunate bids adieu 
 to this mundane sphere. 
 
 Of religion we have none save the wor 
 ship of Halfjord, now become the worship 
 of myself as Halfjord returned. The prince 
 or ruler is also priest and it has been his
 
 The Manuscript 49 
 
 mission to preach to the people the return 
 of the long expected restorer, hence I now 
 find myself in the equivocal position of 
 preaching myself as their messiah returned 
 to lead them to glory, power, happiness. 
 I cannot say that I relish this self-stultifi 
 cation, but man will do much for life 
 will inflict mortal injury upon that eternal 
 thing known as the soul for the sake of 
 that insignificant phosphorescent flash 
 called life, and I seem to be no excep 
 tion to the rule ; I daily preach myself to 
 these ignorant people and when my con 
 science upbraids me stifle it with the 
 thought that if I told them the truth they 
 would not believe me, or, if believing, they 
 killed me as an impostor, they would still 
 continue to worship and look for the re 
 turn of their Halfjord. With this view of 
 the case I do not find it hard to persuade 
 myself that I am preserving the life God 
 gave me and at the same time doing no 
 harm to any one, not even myself; I go 
 even farther than this, assuming with su 
 preme self-complacency that with my ad 
 vanced and civilized ideas I may be able
 
 50 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 to help these people, lifting them up to a 
 higher plane, arguing with specious soph 
 istry that the greatest good of the greatest 
 number demands some self-sacrifice on my 
 part. But it is not worth while to spend 
 time explaining my motives; every man 
 has been through very much the same ex 
 perience at some time in his life and if 
 there be a man so fortunate as never to 
 have been forced to the use of trumped-up 
 arguments for the justification of his own 
 course, yet is even he sufficiently aware of 
 humanity's weakness to need no lengthy 
 dissertation from me. I did it I still 
 persist in the same course of action I do 
 not believe I have shown more moral turp 
 itude than the average man. 
 
 My brief account of the people over 
 whom I am now supreme ruler is ended 
 when I say that my great nation consists 
 of about eighty thousand souls; now be it 
 my task to find a fitting opportunity for 
 consigning to the waves this prayer for 
 succor, this greeting to my poor little wife, 
 who has doubtless long since given me up 
 for lost; this appeal to the land of light for
 
 The Manuscript 5 1 
 
 one flash to break the impenetrable gloom 
 of this everlasting darkness. 
 
 My watchers are very jealous of my 
 movements, and I may find it troublesome 
 to get rid of this now that I have written 
 it, since they have already shown a decided 
 inclination to take unto themselves these 
 sheets, of whose mysterious cabalistic char 
 acters they have no understanding. They 
 have given me to know that they consider 
 this scratching of mine closely allied with 
 their destiny and mine, and do not propose 
 to lose sight of it any more than of me. I 
 am required to deposit it with a keeper 
 chosen by the people whenever I weary of 
 writing, and receive it from his hands when 
 I wish to resume my narrative. For the 
 present, at least, my case seems hopeless; 
 may the God of mercy soften their hearts 
 and grant a fair voyage to my message. 
 
 1860. 
 
 My dates are, of course, haphazard, be 
 ing based entirely on the passage of the 
 seasons, and I know not if I am right as to 
 the year, either now or before, but twice
 
 52 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 have the seasons rolled around since I 
 wrote the last word above, and still I have 
 been unable to elude the vigilance of these 
 people and send my message on its solitary 
 journey. 
 
 My poor Julie, doubtless you have long 
 since donned a widow's weeds and wept in 
 silence over the unknown fate of your 
 Pierre; I will not insult your faithful heart 
 by dreaming that, listening to whispered 
 words from other lips, you have allowed 
 the noisome weeds of sorrow to blossom 
 once more into the rose of love and given 
 your heart to another. Poor child, in my 
 suffering I ceaselessly remember you alone 
 with your grief, shut up in a heart too ten 
 der for the rude laceration of such sorrow. 
 Merciful God! If / have no claim upon 
 Thy mercy at least she has, pure as the 
 driven snow, sinless, sanctified; for her sake 
 I pray Thee bear my message safely on the 
 bosom of this unfathomable ocean. 
 
 My people have begun to grow restless 
 for the glory and power Halfjord was to 
 bring them and I have finally succeeded 
 in cajoling them into the belief that it is
 
 The Manuscript 53 
 
 necessary to the full consummation of their 
 expectations that this manuscript be sent 
 on its journey, and have assured them that 
 after the lapse of four recurring sets of 
 seasons (four years as we would say) an 
 answer shall come, that answer being the 
 beginning of the fulfillment of their 
 prophecies. 
 
 The time is at hand, the walrus-hide is 
 ready to receive my message, I but add a 
 word before trusting my all to the mercy of 
 yonder waves. I say all my hopes, because 
 these people, inoffensive as they are natur 
 ally, bear no trifling, and if, by the expira 
 tion of the time I have set, I am not res 
 cued, the boiling-pot with all its horrors 
 stares me in the face. The consignment 
 of my writing to the sea is to be made 
 a public ceremony. The people are already 
 moving toward the shore to the strains of 
 their unearthly music, and in a moment I 
 must join them, and, with a smile on my 
 lips, agony in my heart, cast my last die. 
 
 During the long wait since I finished 
 the story of my wanderings I have gath 
 ered into compact form the legend of
 
 54 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 Halfjord, and to while away tedious hours 
 have woven it into a romance. I enclose 
 the whole along with this, my prayer for 
 succor. It may reach that which I term 
 the world too late to be of any service to 
 me, in which case I bequeath it to my dear 
 wife, Julie Vacheron, of Philadelphia. 
 
 One prayer more and I have done : O! 
 Thou God who boldest in the hollow of 
 Thy hand this universe, I beseech Thee look 
 in pity upon Thy unworthy servant, doomed 
 to a life but little better than that hell 
 Thou hast ordained for sinners! If I have 
 found favor in Thy sight I beseech Thee 
 succor me in this my hour of needl If, 
 O, Lord, I am too great a sinner for Thy 
 tender mercies even then I pray Thee, O 
 God, spare me that I may learn to walk in 
 the paths of righteousness. Spare me, O 
 God! for the sake of her who hath given 
 her life unto Thee and who loveth me. 
 Spare me, heavenly Father! 
 
 I now place myself in God's hands. 
 PIERRE VACHERON.
 
 THE LEGEND OF HALFJORD
 
 THE LEGEND OF HALFJORD 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 The good king Halfjord had gathered 
 his knights and gentlemen and for the 
 space of three days and nights great rev 
 elry had reigned at his castle; from all 
 points of his kingdom his vassals had 
 hastened at his bidding, bringing with 
 them their ladies and a mighty following 
 of servants and men-at-arms. They had 
 come to pay homage unto their queen, 
 Halfjord's bride, the fair Grunhilde, and 
 surely vassal never bent the knee to love 
 lier queen, nor did queen ever mate with 
 nobler consort. Thus it was that there 
 was great rejoicing. Valiant men and 
 noble dames passed the hours in the sweet 
 pleasantries of love's ever-changing fancies; 
 hardy hunters sought the savage boar in 
 his wild lair; lowly serfs drank the health 
 of their new mistress in generous draughts 
 57
 
 58 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 drawn from the king's cellars; love and 
 joy reigned supreme and life was like a 
 summer morn. But, alas ! all things end, 
 the rosiest dream has its waking, and 
 Death's hideous spectre stalks ever in ad 
 vance of all earthly pageants. 
 
 It was about noon of the fourth day. 
 Halfjord and his nobles with their retainers 
 were off to the chase; the women, left 
 alone, busied themselves as only women 
 can, each with her thoughts filled with 
 some gallant squire whose sword and lance 
 were ever at his king's service. There was 
 the clatter of hoofs in the courtyard, a 
 hurried movement among the waiting 
 menials, the sound of steps, and, following 
 close upon the heels of the maid who an 
 nounced him, entered a young man. Tall, 
 magnificently formed, his curling locks 
 blowing carelessly in the wind, his droop 
 ing moustache seeking to hide the too 
 severe lines of a mouth formed but for 
 determination, he was a fine sight even 
 though covered with dust from his long 
 ride. 
 
 As he entered the queen looked up and
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 59 
 
 spoke in rather playful chiding: "Ah! 
 Olaf, our festivities were not complete 
 without you. Methinks you are tardy in 
 paying homage to your queen." The 
 young man, first casting his eye on a 
 maiden who, with flushed cheek and heav 
 ing breast, sought to conceal her furtive 
 glances, approached close to the queen, 
 and, bending his knee, said, " Fair queen, 
 it needeth not Olaf's presence to prove his 
 devotion; my duty to my sovereign king 
 has kept me from the festive board; that 
 same duty brings me first to thy feet on 
 my return. I would fain have made one 
 of the merry party that first offered thee 
 homage, but sterner tasks have kept me 
 from thy presence; if I live I hope to prove 
 to thee that thou hast no more loyal sub 
 ject than Olaf." Stooping still lower he 
 kissed the queen's outstretched hand, add 
 ing, " Accept, I pray thee, my homage, 
 fair queen. Though tardy it hath behind 
 it the true and loyal heart of a devoted 
 subject." 
 
 Grunhilde smiled. " Methinks," she 
 graciously said, "our liege lord, Halfjord,
 
 60 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 hath a tried and faithful servant in you. 
 But while we wait return of our lords 
 from the heated chase, beguile the weary 
 hours with story of your adventures ; truly, 
 these maids and wives weary of their tapes 
 try, and would fain hear from noble lips 
 the tale of manly deeds. What duty kept 
 Olaf so long from feet of his queen, 
 and whence come you spurring so hotly 
 that the dust of the road lieth on you even 
 as thick as the snows of winter? What 
 news bringeth Olaf ? " 
 
 The young man seemed distressed at 
 her questionings, and a covert glance at 
 the maid on whom his eyes had first rested 
 discovered her eagerly waiting his reply. 
 He hesitated. An imperious gesture from 
 the queen bade him speak. "Nay, fair 
 queen," he faltered, "what hath Grun- 
 hilde with stern affairs of state that call 
 for scheming brains and iron hands ? 
 Thou hast thy king, most valiant of men ; 
 thy kingdom, fairest spot on this earth ; 
 thy subjects, faithful and true ; that were 
 enough. I pray thee disturb not thy 
 dainty mind, nor wrinkle thy sweet face
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 6 1 
 
 with secrets of state that do too frequent 
 prove a weight so heavy even the strongest 
 mind droppeth or betrayeth them. Live 
 thou, O, queen, in the rosy bowers of 
 youth and love while yet thou hast them 
 within thy grasp, nor seek to destroy life's 
 sweetest flowers by plucking with too rude 
 a hand the gaily colored bloom of ambi 
 tion's vine that withers in the grasp." 
 
 " Strange words these from subject to 
 queen," said Grunhilde in reply; "stranger 
 still when I bethink me you have not the 
 silvered hair of the sage, grown gray in 
 service of his king ; nay, your years are 
 no greater than mine, and methinks this 
 wise advice hath an ugly sound from lips 
 as young as yours. What mean you, Olaf ? 
 speak." 
 
 The queen had spoken with majesty 
 and dignity but without hauteur, her soft 
 mellow tones breathing woman's sympathy, 
 though at the same time sounding the note 
 of woman's insatiable curiosity. Olaf 
 raised his head, and, opening wide his 
 great blue eyes, looked full at Grunhilde. 
 It was a strange look he gave her a
 
 62 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 dreamy, far-away, reminiscent look but a 
 look full of powerful concentration, of 
 conscious power, a gaze at once sympathetic 
 and controlling, introspective and search 
 ing, sorrowful and triumphant, loving yet 
 challenging, a look that in these days 
 would be termed mesmeric, and under its 
 influence Grunhilde closed her eyes, while 
 a scarcely perceptible shudder threw its 
 tremors over her slender frame. I said it 
 was a loving look, yet it was not a lover's 
 look, but rather the reverential homage of 
 a devoted subject than the passionate 
 yearning of a sighing lover. All this took 
 but a moment. There was a scarcely per 
 ceptible pause before Olaf replied to her 
 question, but in this brief space of time 
 each had seen something of the other's 
 soul she saw a man hardy, resolute, 
 even fierce with man, yet tender as the 
 dove with woman, daring all save that 
 which might bring tears to bright eyes 
 that should swim in joy ; he saw a woman 
 tender, clinging in love, fierce in passion, 
 uncompromising in ambition ; willing to 
 dare all for love, yet more for power
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 63 
 
 such were the sleeping souls hardly yet 
 aroused which each saw in the other's 
 breast. 
 
 The photographic view perturbed them, 
 but Olaf, bowing, answered her : " Fair 
 queen! Olaf's words have no meaning 
 save that they bear unto thy mind. I deal 
 not in riddles, O ! Queen of Landsvag. I 
 pray thee reproach me not for too great 
 freedom. Thou hast said true, Olaf is 
 young, yet, sweet queen, when thou didst 
 busy thyself with chasing the bright-winged 
 butterfly Olaf sat at the feet of the great 
 Morgan, and from his lips learned the 
 things he hath even now told to thee. 
 Yea, queen, Olaf is young, but who in this 
 kingdom beareth heavier loads?" 
 
 "Mistake me not, Olaf; I do not chide; 
 I but seek to know the news you bear our 
 lord, the king is it not the queen's duty 
 to learn wherein she may aid her spouse 
 and sovereign?" 
 
 " Yea, queen ; but should she not hear 
 that from her king and not from one of 
 the lowliest of his subjects?" and Olaf 
 again turned his eyes upon the maiden.
 
 64 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 That look, full of compassion, of yearn 
 ing love and fear, Grunhilde intercepted, 
 and with a woman's intuition divining that 
 the presence of this maiden was the cause 
 of Olaf's silence, she turned to the women 
 in waiting and said : " Leave us; we would 
 be alone." 
 
 When the chamber was deserted she 
 smiled sweetly on Olaf as she said : "You 
 were right to hold your peace before the 
 women, but now are you alone with your 
 queen speak." 
 
 Olaf shook his head. " Queen, I have 
 no words for thee save the love and hom 
 age of thy most faithful servant." 
 
 Grunhilde began to grow impatient, she 
 stamped her foot. " Have done with this 
 unseemly trifling ! I saw the presence of 
 the maiden, Hilda, whom you love, locked 
 your too discreet tongue and so dismissed 
 her. Now are we alone ; speak ; I com 
 mand you ! Where have you been ?" 
 
 " On the king's mission, queen." 
 
 "And that mission ?" 
 
 "To obey his orders." 
 
 "What report bring you back?"
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 65 
 
 "That I have fulfilled the mission en 
 trusted to me." 
 
 "I have asked you what that mission 
 was ; a queen does not repeat her ques 
 tion." 
 
 "And I have replied, queen." 
 
 The man stood stately, imperturbable, 
 inscrutable ; the woman, with kindling 
 eye and flushed cheek, watched him 
 closely. Realizing that her queenship 
 had no terrors for such a soul as his she 
 tried another plan. Going up to him she 
 laid her hand on his shoulder and softly 
 said : " Olaf, is the friendship of Grun- 
 hilde the queen of less value to you than 
 that of Grunhilde the maid? Do you no 
 longer recall the days of our innocent 
 childhood when we kept not so jealously 
 our secrets?" 
 
 Olaf reached up, took the hand that 
 rested on his shoulder, kissed it tenderly 
 but reverently as might a brother, and 
 answered : 
 
 " Grunhilde ! my more than sister, 
 death shall claim me before I forget 
 the days thou recallest, but we are chil-
 
 66 Beyond the Palzeocrystic Sea 
 
 dren no longer ; fate separates us ; thou art 
 now the queen, I the subject. Thou know- 
 est full well thou hast my allegiance, but 
 thou art unkind to press me ; I hold my 
 honor above even thy sweet smile, and to 
 my king, and him alone, sweet Grunhilde, 
 will I render report of that I have done 
 and seen." 
 
 Grunhilde knit her brows. 
 
 "There be disturbing rumors abroad, 
 Olaf." 
 
 "Yea, queen; Olaf has heard them." 
 
 "Have you sought to find if there be 
 weight of truth in them? If so, the 
 queen should know, that she may aid her 
 liege lord in meeting the dangers which do 
 beset his path." 
 
 Olaf made no reply. The queen was 
 growing angry. 
 
 "Your queen spoke, Olaf," she said, 
 sharply. 
 
 "Olaf heard thee," was the quiet 
 reply. 
 
 "Then what saith Olaf ?" 
 
 " Nothing, queen." 
 
 This was too much ; she broke out :
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 67 
 
 " Rebellion beginneth early with you, 
 seeing that you have this hour tendered 
 your homage. Hath Olaf grown so mighty 
 that he feareth not the anger of his 
 queen ? Halfjord brooketh no insolence, 
 and hath a long and heavy arml" And 
 the queen, with an indignant parting 
 glance, swept from the room, leaving poor 
 Olaf, firm in his resolution to speak only 
 to the king, deeply distressed at the 
 queen's evident displeasure, combined 
 with the disquieting news he bore. 
 
 The young man was about to retire when 
 a rustling sound caught his ear. As he 
 looked up, a curtain at the other end of 
 the chamber parted, and through the open 
 ing peered the half-frightened, half- 
 expectant face of the girl, Hilda, and 
 a very pretty picture she made, with her 
 dark chestnut hair resting against the blue 
 of the curtain, her bright face flushed with 
 mingled expectation and trepidation. See 
 ing him alone, she advanced a step. 
 
 "Hilda," he said, in tones full of pa 
 thetic tenderness. " Olaf 1 " she was in 
 his arms.
 
 68 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 Softly the young man smoothed away 
 the curls that clustered about the girl's 
 forehead, then taking her face between his 
 hands, gazed earnestly and fondly at her, 
 while she, with uplifted eyes, met his gaze 
 with the trusting frankness of innocent 
 love. " Olaf," she murmured, " My heart 
 has been heavy in your absence." 
 
 Still caressing her soft and dimpled 
 cheeks, the young man smiled compla 
 cently at her innocent confession of love, 
 as he replied, " Olaf's heart knoweth nei 
 ther peace nor rest save in Hilda's pres 
 ence." 
 
 A glad smile flitted across her face but 
 to be hidden beneath the heavy cloud of 
 apprehension that rolled its dark pall again 
 over her features. " Olaf, my heart is full 
 of nameless terrors." 
 
 " What, little one ; what unkind dreams 
 come in your virgin sleep ? Your days 
 should be filled with peace and joy ; your 
 nights with fair dreams of happy love ; 
 what has Hilda to fear? " 
 
 " Naught for Hilda ; much for Olaf. 
 My heart misgives me when you go on
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 69 
 
 these long journeys, while even the gods 
 seem to have joined with ruthless men in 
 warring upon those who seek to hold the 
 thrones and homes of their fathers. When 
 you are away my heart tells me of your 
 dangers ; for at such times a strange and 
 stifling flutter stops my eager breath, and 
 on my heart is burned as with an iron the 
 words, 'Olaf is in danger !' ' 
 
 " Peace, child ! Olaf loveth too well your 
 sweet love to say you do love Olaf too 
 well ; nay, love Olaf even more, maiden ; 
 let your heart never forget him ; but in 
 loving Olaf seek not to make your love 
 the father of that foul bastard Fear. In that 
 time the king shall name the fair Hilda 
 shall be Olaf's bride ; but Hilda will also 
 be mother of Olaf's unborn sons ; then see 
 to it, timid maiden, that your present fears 
 be not so deeply graven on your tender 
 heart as to make of those sons whom you 
 shall bear but cringing, craven cowards." 
 
 "Olaf, upbraid me not, I pray you ; my 
 heart is torn with anxious fears, yet those 
 fears are but for you. Hilda is no coward 
 save when love bids her fear. Hilda hath
 
 7O Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 heart to bear a son as valiant as any in 
 Landsvag." 
 
 " Sweet one, I did not chide ; I but 
 sought to stifle your needless fears. But 
 come, Hilda, tell me what you know of 
 these happenings that bring disquietude to 
 your loving heart." 
 
 " Olaf, the queen saith Harold, he whom 
 they call 'The Fair-haired,' hangeth even 
 upon the borders of our land, of which 
 his covetous heart would despoil us. Tell 
 me, Olaf, is this so?" 
 
 Olaf knit his brows in a dark frown as 
 he answered rather sharply: "What hath a 
 young maiden with such tales? These things 
 are for men. Grunhilde is a good queen, 
 but overfond of stirring with her slender 
 hand the pot in which are brewed the 
 histories of peoples. Listen not to her, 
 Hilda, else will you too grow ambitious, 
 and in feeding ambition's poisonous weed 
 forget to water the fragrant flower of 
 love." 
 
 She shook her head sadly. " Olaf, you 
 know me not if you do think I have 
 stomach for such things. I but hear with
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 71 
 
 my ears, see with my eyes for the sake of 
 him whom I love. If Harold comes, then 
 will Olaf go forth to attack him, and I 
 fear me I shall die at thought of your too 
 great chance of death." 
 
 " Olaf has done battle before and doubt 
 less will again, but let not that thought 
 disturb the sweet joy of our meeting." 
 
 " Ah 1 Olaf, that you do not tell me 
 what I have heard is but idle tales disturbs 
 me the more. But that is not the whole I 
 would tell." 
 
 Olaf's interest increased. " What more, 
 Hilda ?" he asked, briskly. 
 
 "It is even said that Olaf, Halfjord's 
 trusted vassal, hath been into Harold's 
 very camp seeking if he might not turn 
 aside the sword from this land. This is 
 the reason given why Olaf hath not been 
 seen at the festive board nor in the chase 
 his heart loveth ; say they true, Olaf ? " 
 
 " Hilda," he answered sternly, " Within 
 the hour, in your very presence, I did re 
 fuse to disclose aught to our good queen, 
 thereby much vexing her ; you do wrong 
 to question me."
 
 72 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 " Nay, I seek not those secrets you say 
 are so heavy ; I did but think if that they 
 say be true Olaf should have told Hilda 
 of the great danger which should beset 
 him, and not have left without even see 
 ing Hilda." 
 
 " Girl ! where I have been matters not ; 
 yet this will I say : I dared not see you 
 for fear sight of your sweet face, your tear- 
 washed eyes, would move my heart to too 
 great tenderness for those things I must 
 do." 
 
 These were grateful words ; she smiled 
 sweetly at him, but continued : " Even 
 more disturbs Hilda's heart." 
 
 " Your fears are many as the sands of 
 the seashore. What more?" 
 
 "The queen is angered, Olaf." 
 
 " Yea, she seeks to rule : Halfjord she 
 may rule, but Olaf only through his king. 
 I love our queen, as you well know, but 
 women have no place in those movements 
 which may make or wreck kingdoms. She 
 is vexed, but tomorrow will have forgot 
 it and be the Grunhilde of old to her 
 playmate Olaf."
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 73 
 
 "I fear not so," was the doubting 
 reply. 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 The girl did not answer for a moment ; 
 she stood seemingly lost in thought, but 
 finally lifting her head, looked him full in 
 the face as she asked hesitatingly: "Olaf, 
 often have you told me of the days of your 
 childhood when Grunhilde was your play 
 mate your sister ; have you never thought 
 the love that, in the child, was a sister's, 
 in the woman might be more ?" 
 
 Olaf's great eyes opened in unfeigned 
 astonishment. A smile of incredulity, 
 amusement, was wreathing about his lips, 
 when, without giving him time to reply, 
 she added in a tone of mournful convic 
 tion, " I have." 
 
 Olaf's first impulse was to burst out 
 laughing, but, noting her serious, pained 
 expression, he checked himself and waited 
 for her to continue. She spoke with diffi 
 culty, as though the words hurt her: "Olaf 
 is valiant and noble ; Grunhilde hath eyes, 
 a heart as well ; Olaf's heart returneth not 
 the tenderness of Grunhilde's ; Olaf heed-
 
 74 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 eth not her words. The queen is angry, 
 yet is the queen not so angry as the 
 woman ; the queen may forgive, the wo 
 man, never." 
 
 " Hilda, your young fancy findeth in me 
 so much to love you may not see how other 
 women should not love Olaf. You are 
 silly, child, yet is it a silliness that delights 
 my heart. But harbor not in your mind 
 such thoughts as these. It were death to 
 you, to me as well, were those words spo 
 ken to another save me." 
 
 'That know I, Olaf, and I tremble as with 
 an ague at very thought of such thoughts, 
 yet does my woman's heart tell me I am 
 right." 
 
 Provoked at her persistence, Olaf, to 
 whom it all seemed the silly fear of a timid 
 woman, chided her sharply. The tears 
 came into her eyes, but she made no reply, 
 and after a few moments he said : " Come, 
 little one, this is but a sorry meeting after 
 my absence. Dry your bright eyes and 
 drive away these troublous thoughts. I 
 have done great service for our king, and 
 this night shall I ask of him your hand as
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 75 
 
 my reward. Nor do I fear he will refuse 
 me." 
 
 " Halfjord might grant your prayer, but 
 Grunhilde, never ; and if Grunhilde re 
 fuses then does Halfjord deny." 
 
 "This again? Hilda, you grow foolish." 
 
 " Nay ; hear me out, Olaf. During 
 your absence Alric has hotly pressed his 
 suit." 
 
 " What ! that spawn of a demon ! Alric 
 of the bloody hair dare to raise his eyes to 
 look upon Hilda ! Have a care for your 
 self, Alric ! " And the young man, grind 
 ing his teeth with rage, shook his clenched 
 fist in the air in mute defiance, and began 
 striding with feverish haste up and down 
 the long room, while Hilda, scarcely able 
 to keep up with him, continued : 
 
 "Yes, Olaf, Alric of the bloody hair 
 seeks Hilda for his bride. You need not 
 me to tell you that he finds no favor in 
 my eyes ; but, Olaf, he hath won a power 
 fully ally." 
 
 "In whom?" 
 
 " In the queen." 
 
 " The queen ! " Olaf stopped short in
 
 76 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 his amazement, and turned almost sav 
 agely on the girl. 
 
 " Yes, the queen, Olaf ; shall I tell you 
 all ?" 
 
 " Yes," he muttered between his clenched 
 teeth. 
 
 "Alric won the queen's ear and she 
 spoke to me urging me to listen kindly to 
 his suit. I told her I could not love him, 
 and she said that mattered not. She per 
 sisted ; I pleaded ; she grew vexed, and 
 finally I told her I was betrothed to an 
 other ; she demanded his name ; I gave it, 
 and she flew into a terrible rage, upbraided 
 me, and ended by saying I should take the 
 husband my sovereign chose for me. Olaf, 
 the queen is against us." 
 
 "And the king?" he asked. 
 
 " Will do aught to please his queen ; 
 remember, she is yet a bride." 
 
 "True; are you not dreaming, Hilda? 
 Can it be as you say?" 
 
 "Olaf, would Hilda hug so dreadful a 
 dream to her breast, or find room in her 
 heart, which beats but for you, for sense 
 less fears so harrowing to the soul ?"
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 77 
 
 Olaf walked in gloomy silence to the 
 open casement, and, stretching out his 
 hand toward the rolling valley far beneath, 
 said in half-soliloquy : " This, then, is the 
 reward for faithful service. To Morgen, 
 my father, this land owes its power; to me 
 does Halfjord owe his throne ; Grunhilde 
 her king. For Landsvag's sake have I 
 dared do that which would blanch the 
 cheek of swaggering knights who elbow 
 one another before the throne I helped to 
 make. A stripling I, and yet for Half 
 jord I do bear upon these young shoulders 
 a weight beneath which a giant might 
 totter. While Halfjord seeks the luring 
 pleasures of life's morn I do support the 
 throne whereon he gaily disports himself, 
 and that he may taste the rich wine of 
 lusty youth do grovel out my halcyon days 
 in the noisome cellar of politics beneath 
 the foot of the throne. A thankless task 
 at best, yet have I never murmured nor 
 yet have sought a boon, holding myself 
 above the fawning sycophants who do lick 
 the hand that feeds them and then cry, 
 ' More ! more ! ' Shall Olaf now approach
 
 78 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 on bended knee that throne he made and 
 ask of him, the king whom Olaf seated 
 upon that throne, as sole reward for faith 
 ful service done, the hand of this most 
 gentle maid, but to be spurned like a dog; 
 nay, more, to see this lovely casket of 
 a lovelier soul thrown as a sop unto a 
 snarling hound, sired by a demon out of a 
 she-wolf ? Landsvag, I love your valleys, 
 each separate ragged peak of yours doth 
 rest its base upon my heart, yet will I not 
 brook this even for your sake. Oh ! Mor- 
 gen I let your departed shade guide me in 
 this hour 1 See ! here comes Halfjord, 
 returning from the chase ; a goodly sight 
 those valiant men do make ; cheek by jowl 
 they ride, yet can Olaf pit them one 
 against the other and overturn them even 
 as they have stricken down the boar their 
 menials bear behind them. Look to thy 
 self, Halfjord ! This night shall Olaf 
 demand of thee the price of his service 
 beware if thou refuse him ! " 
 
 Hilda had stood in breathless suspense 
 during this outburst ; not daring to speak, 
 she yet feared to keep silence, but now
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 79 
 
 approaching steps were heard, and, run 
 ning to the window, she plucked Olaf's 
 sleeve. He turned 
 
 "Go! some one cometh," she whispered. 
 The man hesitated for a moment, then, 
 grasping her hand, said : " Tonight ! " 
 and went hurriedly out just as two of the 
 queen's ladies appeared at the other end 
 of the apartment.
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 It is necessary to take the reader back 
 for a brief sketch of the events leading up 
 to the opening of the previous chapter. 
 
 Norway was cut up into petty principal 
 ities or kingdoms, while each separate 
 kingdom had usually its rival claimants for 
 the throne, nor was Landsvag any excep 
 tion to the rule. 
 
 After years of struggle and bloodshed 
 Morgen, Olaf's father, had succeeded in 
 firmly establishing Heljar upon the throne 
 of Landsvag, but old Morgen died, and 
 the contending factions, seeing in his death 
 their opportunity, renewed their efforts to 
 overturn the throne. 
 
 Heljar was not strong enough to crush 
 them, and his power was crumbling away 
 when Olaf, then a mere lad, took up arms 
 for the perpetuation of that which his 
 father had established. His successes 
 soon made him popular. Recruits daily 
 80
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 8 1 
 
 flocked to his banner. Old men hearkened 
 readily to the wise counsels of this re 
 markable youth. The conspirators, find 
 ing their cause lost, hastened to make 
 peace on any terms, but Heljar died just 
 at the time when Olaf's masterful leader 
 ship had assured him a tranquil reign. 
 The young man now found the crown of 
 Landsvag within his reach. Had he seized 
 it his sovereignty would have been recog 
 nized with rejoicing such was the hold he 
 had gained upon the people's hearts. But, 
 wonderfully true to principle for a man of 
 his time, he scorned the tempting bait and 
 caused Heljar's son, Halfjord, to be pro 
 claimed. 
 
 Discontent broke out afresh. Thous 
 ands who would have bent the knee to 
 the redoubtable Olaf were less ready to re 
 cognize the untried Halfjord. But Olaf 
 crushed the rebellion with an iron hand, 
 and, seating the son as firmly on the throne 
 as his father had the father, he stood im 
 perturbable, immovable, invincible, a liv 
 ing rampart between his king and his 
 country's destroyers ; nor were there any
 
 82 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 in Landsvag who dared face his menacing 
 frown or meet the force of his uplifted 
 arm. While Olaf stood on guard Lands 
 vag was safe from the vipers warmed in 
 her own bosom. 
 
 The king and his sturdy supporter 
 were of relatively the same age, had 
 grown up together and even borne arms 
 together in support of the cause so 
 dear to both, yet were they utterly dis 
 similar, seemingly having nothing in com 
 mon save the rule of Heljar's house. Half- 
 jord was generous, sympathetic, open in 
 speech as in heart, free of confidence, 
 quick in resentment, yet ready to forgive. 
 Olaf, equally brave, reckless, a veritable 
 god of war, yet off the field calm, inscru 
 table ; inviting confidences, never impart 
 ing them ; watchful, suspicious, guarded, 
 of few words and those to the point ; not 
 without generosity nor devoid of sympathy, 
 with a kindly heart, a wealth of natural 
 affection, but presenting so cold an exterior 
 as to have it said he knew no feeling. Half- 
 jord, in a burst of generous sentiment, 
 would forgive and load with honors his
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 83 
 
 most implacable foe should he present his 
 hypocritical face in humble supplication ; 
 Olaf, like a Brutus, would slay his own son 
 rather than endanger the peace and safety 
 of the state to which he owed his fealty. 
 The king, slothful and indolent in work, 
 eager, impetuous in pursuit of pleasure, 
 ever susceptible to bright eyes, from his 
 earliest youth involved in entangling al 
 liances with the fair dames who graced his 
 father's court ; the minister, indefatigable, 
 untiring in work, cold and undemonstra 
 tive amid scenes of pleasure save for a flash 
 from his eye, the heightened color of his 
 cheek when his own hand slew the boar, 
 seemingly unconscious of female charms 
 until the fair Hilda crossed his path. 
 
 Such were these two men within whose 
 breasts were locked the destinies of Lands- 
 vag. 
 
 Halfjord had been king something over 
 two years at the time our story opens. His 
 throne steadied by the hand of Olaf, he 
 (the king) had found time to look around 
 him. His generous, impulsive nature had 
 won him friends even among his former
 
 84 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 bitter foes, and now the court was thronged 
 with those who but a brief space of time 
 before had sought his ruin, death, or both. 
 Foremost among his erstwhile antago 
 nists was Alric (called " The Bloody Hair," 
 from the intense, peculiar red of his locks), 
 who now seemed to enjoy the full confi 
 dence of the king and was fast worming 
 himself into favor with the bride-queen. 
 
 Olaf, doubting Alric's sincerity, had on 
 more than one occasion warned Halfjord 
 against him, but the latter replied by good- 
 naturedly chiding him for his unkind sus 
 picions and continued in the even tenor of 
 his way, so that Olaf ceased speaking but 
 did not stop watching. 
 
 Surrounded by friends who vied with 
 one another in courting his favor, his days 
 full of sunshine, his throne rooted, Half 
 jord had looked about him for a queen to 
 share with him that throne, and his choice 
 fell upon Grunhilde a typical northern 
 beauty, with rich golden hair, deep-blue 
 eyes full of passionate tenderness, a match 
 less form. She had long been the pride of 
 Landsvag, and many a luckless swain had
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 85 
 
 sighed out his heart at her feet only to 
 bewail her iciness. A famous beauty, yet 
 of irreproachable character, of noble, even 
 semi-royal blood, and adored by the 
 people of Landsvag, she was a most 
 fitting consort for the young king, and the 
 entire kingdom gave itself up to rejoicing 
 for three days when it became known that 
 Halfjord and Grunhilde were betrothed. 
 
 Grunhilde was the daughter of a cousin 
 of King Heljar; her father had fallen bat 
 tling with Morgen for their king, and left 
 her, an orphan child, a ward to Morgen, 
 who had carefully nourished her, bestowing 
 on her the affection of a father. 
 
 Thus it was that Grunhilde and Olaf 
 had grown from childhood to womanhood 
 and manhood in all the close intimacy of 
 brother and sister, while unconsciously to 
 themselves the absence of such relation 
 ship added a peculiar charm to this same 
 intimacy a charm which might have been 
 dangerous had not Olaf so early in life 
 taken up the work his father had laid 
 down. Indeed, there were not lacking 
 those who said the mischief had been
 
 86 Beyond the Palzeocrystic Sea 
 
 already done, and that had Olaf but spoken 
 Grunhilde would have been his wife rather 
 than Queen of Landsvag. But Olaf did 
 not speak and she became Halfjord's 
 bride, Landsvag's queen, else might this 
 story never have been told. 
 
 How strange that a few words hastily 
 spoken, or not spoken at all words to 
 many but an unintelligible combination of 
 letters or of sounds may dam the sweep 
 ing current of history, make kingdoms 
 and overturn dynasties. Truly in this 
 world there is nothing small nor insignifi 
 cant ; even as all values are relative so is 
 the importance of all things. The gnat 
 may, under given circumstances, be the 
 agent of destruction as great as the mighty 
 elephant. A rose, a word, a tear the 
 rose withers, the word is forgot, the tear 
 dries, yet the soft and dainty bloom of the 
 rose was the guerdon of mighty battalions 
 in a ruthless war. Why ? Because in 
 angry discussion one plucked a red rose, 
 one a white. The faltering "Yes" of a 
 timid woman, rather breathed than spoken, 
 less than half a century later trampled
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 87 
 
 beneath iron hoofs the torn and throbbing 
 heart of humanity, made a funeral pyre of 
 the wrecked remains of empires, until, in 
 a sea of blood, went down the strangest 
 star that ever has flashed upon the eastern 
 sky. The half-concealed tears of a mother 
 raised aloft that torch of liberty lit upon 
 Concord's plain ; that torch, before whose 
 blinding blaze in sweeping circles search 
 ing out the dark and hidden corners of 
 the earth, the sun of heaven hid his duller 
 face. A word spoken or unspoken, a rose 
 plucked or unplucked, a tear shed or un 
 shed no, there is nothing small in this 
 world we call our own. Handle the wren 
 as you would the eagle, the worm as the 
 deadly cobra ; beware of the teeth of the 
 mouse as you would of those of the frenzied 
 lion, and, when tempted to think slight 
 ingly of the insignificance of aught which 
 comes to you, remember that in the end 
 but six feet of this vast earth is yours, and 
 even that but by suffrance six feet; a 
 bagatelle, but a handful of earth, and still 
 enough to cover all that is mortal of you, 
 proud man ! that findeth littleness in this
 
 88 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 world, but seeth not your own dwarfish- 
 ness. 
 
 If the gossips of Landsvag were right 
 Grunhilde was queen because Olaf had 
 not asked her to share his fate ; but 
 whether it be that the unspoken word was 
 the cause or that she gave her heart with 
 her hand to Halfjord, the facts are that 
 some three weeks or more before this story 
 opens Grunhilde and Halfjord were wed 
 ded with great pomp amid the rejoicings 
 of all their subjects. 
 
 But this is again anticipating, and once 
 more must the reader, with kind patience, 
 return with us to the time before the 
 nuptials. 
 
 Though Halfjord might, thanks to Olaf, 
 feel safe from enemies within his kingdom, 
 yet was not Landsvag safe from foes with 
 out. Many of the petty princes around 
 her looked with longing eyes upon her 
 rich and smiling valleys, and, had they 
 felt strong enough, would have overrun 
 her, but not able, unaided, to overcome 
 her, and too jealous of one another to com 
 bine, they now contented themselves with
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 89 
 
 armed incursions, forays across the bor 
 der, harassing the people and retiring 
 laden with spoils before troops arrived. 
 
 These expeditions were met with counter 
 invasions, undertaken for the purpose of 
 teaching these people a lesson, and the 
 hand of Olaf, who was on the frontier 
 whenever he could be spared from the 
 court, fell heavy on these marauding 
 neighbors. 
 
 Life next door to a thief who seeks every 
 opportunity of despoiling you has few 
 charms. The people of the border ap 
 pealed to Halfjord, to Olaf, nor did 
 they cry in vain. Each freebooting ex 
 pedition met a well-merited retribution, 
 but the most guilty always escaped the 
 inoffensive peasant gave up his worthless (?) 
 life while his thievish lord lived for another 
 pilfering raid. Wearied by these persist 
 ent attacks, indignant at the loss of life 
 and property suffered by Landsvag's serfs 
 and small landowners, Olaf had for a 
 year prayed Halfjord's consent to a great 
 expedition, organized for the purpose of 
 subjugating these disturbing neighbors.
 
 90 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 His idea was, since they would not other 
 wise be taught, they should be forced into 
 submission to Halfjord and their domains 
 blotted out from their now independent 
 position on Norway's political map, and be 
 made dependencies of Landsvag. It was 
 to be a war of subjugation, of extermina 
 tion if necessary. 
 
 " I will trample these robbers beneath 
 my horses' hoofs, crush these parasites in 
 the hollow of my hand," he said to Half 
 jord. But the latter was loth to undertake 
 so great a task; hesitated, temporized, and 
 would doubtless have finally refused had 
 not a particularly daring and successful 
 raid into the very heart of his kingdom 
 roused his kingly ire. In a fit of impetuous 
 rage at the bold audacity of these knaves 
 he gave the desired consent. 
 
 Olaf lost no time in preparing for this 
 expedition, which he now fondly dreamed 
 should make Landsvag foremost among 
 the powers of the North. But Halfjord 
 interposed ; his wedding was set within a 
 few months ; he could not have all his 
 valiant men in the field at such a time ;
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 91 
 
 the expedition must be postponed until 
 after that ceremony, when he would make 
 no further objection ; though, forsooth, 
 after his first violent outburst of temper 
 he regretted having sanctioned the enter 
 prise and gave but poor support to his 
 minister. Indeed, he would probably have 
 entirely withdrawn his consent were it not 
 for the fact that while he loved he also 
 feared Olaf, and dared not disavow openly 
 that to which he had given his approval, 
 lest Olaf, in anger, should leave him to his 
 own resources, which were few. 
 
 In vain did Olaf entreat, even advising 
 that the postponement be of the wedding 
 rather than of the expedition. In vain 
 did he warn the king that the second sum 
 mons to arms would be less eagerly obeyed 
 than the first. Halfjord was obdurate ; 
 Grunhilde first ; peace and protection, 
 glory and greatness after. Concealing his 
 chagrin as well as he was able, Olaf sus 
 pended preparations and impatiently waited 
 the day when, riding at the head of Lands- 
 vag's troops, the incarnation of war, he 
 might vindicate before the world the prow-
 
 92 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 ess of his native land. During the not 
 entirely amicable interviews between the 
 two at this time Halfjord frequently re 
 ferred to the now unusual quietude of the 
 borders, arguing from that a lack of neces 
 sity for the drastic measures proposed by 
 Olaf, and, indeed, an ominous peace 
 reigned at present over this distracted 
 portion of the land a peace as sudden 
 as the frightened stillness of the air before 
 the approaching storm. 
 
 " We have taught them even now, 
 Olaf," he said. " A wise master flogs not 
 too often his menials." 
 
 "True ; nor doth a wise king give into 
 the hands of others a rod with which to 
 beat his own subjects." 
 
 " What mean you ? " 
 
 " Thou knowest my meaning, Halfjord." 
 
 "Nay; make it plain unto me." 
 
 "This is my meaning, king: If these 
 too arrogant thieves be not rudely handled 
 then do they call the peace we give them 
 our weakness. The rod thou hast put into 
 their hands is this thy present delay." 
 
 " Why call you our peaceful disposition
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 93 
 
 a rod with which to beat our faithful ser 
 vants ? Your wit hath greater depth than 
 we can fathom ; we would be at peace 
 with the world during our coming nup 
 tials." 
 
 " Yea, king ; I would we were ever at 
 peace ; but these our warlike intentions 
 have been noised abroad. The report of 
 them hath reached the ears of those we 
 would disarm, and the false peace thou 
 pridest thyself upon is but as the sleep of 
 the silent waves before the whistling wind 
 hath lashed them into fell and frightful 
 fury. Dost think they rest ? Nay ! with 
 a robber's ready wit for a space of time 
 they hide, but in their hiding-place do 
 hatch foul schemes against the land we 
 would protect. While we, in idle dalliance, 
 do wait to dance attendance upon the fair 
 consort thou hast chosen, they gather to 
 gether their tried and trusty followers, 
 and, when we take the field, Olaf will find 
 for every man he thought to meet an hun 
 dred lances. Ah ! king ; with the too 
 soft pleasantries of idle youth thou dost 
 imperil thy throne ! "
 
 94 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 "Olaf, you have too stern a mind for 
 youth; you find no pleasure in those sweet 
 drops of honeyed life that fall into the 
 hungry mouths of the young ; go, cast 
 away your gloomy thoughts until your 
 king is wed, then mount your steed and 
 seek the bloody fray for which your nerves 
 are tingling, and Halfjord will not say you 
 nay. But this I tell you, Olaf for once 
 your mind hath lost its cunning ; these 
 troublesome marauders are quiet through 
 fear of our punishment through dread 
 of your long arm, and not with foolish 
 intent to combine in opposition to Lands- 
 vag's valiant men." 
 
 " Nay, king ; but hear me, I pray 
 thee " 
 
 " No more today, Olaf ; you are wrong, 
 I say." 
 
 Olaf went out, disgusted, disheartened; 
 and the news of the day showed that Half 
 jord was wrong while Olaf was not right. 
 
 When he left the king's presence Olaf 
 was informed that Jorg, baron of one of 
 Landsvag's border dependencies, craved 
 audience with him, and, going to a small
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 95 
 
 closet where, when with the king, he re 
 ceived the emissaries of state, he sum 
 moned the visitor to attend him. 
 
 While waiting, Olaf paced in feverish 
 restlessness the narrow confines of his 
 closet. He was not entirely free from 
 that trait of human nature which rejoices 
 in the fulfillment of its own prophecy at 
 whatever cost. The sweetest words (to the 
 man himself) that man ever utters are, 
 " I told you so ! " And even though the 
 faithful fulfillment of that he has foretold 
 presages death and ruin, yet the would-be 
 self-believed prophet walks triumphantly 
 through this wreck of human happiness, 
 and before each ghastly corpse compla 
 cently murmurs, " I told you so ! " 
 
 As Olaf strode up and down waiting the 
 appearance of his man he muttered to him 
 self from time to time, giving voice to his 
 troublous thoughts : " This Jorg bringeth 
 news of that I warned the king against. 
 Even now the hostile legions gather 
 against our land, and Jorg cometh to tell 
 us that the banner of Landsvag hath once 
 more been dragged in the slime of the
 
 96 Beyond the Palzeocrystic Sea 
 
 earth. The foolish dalliance of this our 
 king hath reddened our soil with blood of 
 many faithful servants." He clenched his 
 hand and, stamping his foot, exclaimed, 
 " If I were king " At this moment Jorg 
 was ushered into his presence. 
 
 The baron bowed respectfully and waited 
 for Olaf to address him, as though he had 
 been in the presence of the king himself, 
 and Olaf, critically surveying him from 
 head to foot, asked : " Whence come you, 
 Jorg, spurring so hotly ?" 
 
 " From my estates, Olaf," was the reply. 
 
 " You come early unto the king's wed 
 ding." 
 
 " I come not to the nuptials of the 
 king." 
 
 " Nay? Wherefore, then, ride you so 
 hastily, Jorg?" 
 
 "To gain your ear, Olaf." 
 
 " My ear ? That have you even now; 
 naught may Jorg ask that Olaf will not 
 grant if it be the king's good pleasure." 
 
 "I ask nothing." 
 
 " None seek the ear of a minister save 
 those who have prayers to offer."
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 97 
 
 " Nay, Olaf, there are you wrong. Those 
 who have much to say seek the king's 
 minister even as those who would ask 
 much." 
 
 "And you, Jorg?" 
 
 "Have much to tell." 
 
 " Then speak. The border barons have 
 again let loose their minions on your 
 lands ? " 
 
 " No, Olaf." 
 
 " They plan expeditions against you and 
 us?" 
 
 " No, Olaf, the border troubles me no 
 more." 
 
 "Then what brings you hither?" asked 
 Olaf, somewhat testily. 
 
 Jorg approached closer, and taking the 
 young man by the sleeve, said : " Olaf is 
 brave, but Olaf needeth an arm of iron, a 
 heart of stone, for that which cometh !" 
 
 " What mean you, man ? You deal in 
 unseemly riddles." 
 
 " Olaf, the border hath been quiet as the 
 sleeping lamb for these two moons." 
 
 "Yea, that know I." 
 
 " But know you the cause ? "
 
 g8 Beyond the Palzeocrystic Sea 
 
 "They plan against Landsvag ?" 
 
 " Not so, Olaf ; they seek to save them 
 selves." 
 
 " From whom ? " 
 
 The baron dropped his voice to a whis 
 per as he replied : " From Harold, the 
 Fair-haired." 
 
 Olaf started. 
 
 Often had he heard that name ; the 
 name of the scourge of southern Norway, 
 but he had never dreamt of the sword of 
 Harold piercing the very vitals of the 
 country to its extremity his own loved 
 Landsvag. 
 
 " Have they then sold themselves unto 
 Harold, and go they south to fight with 
 him? If this be so then is our task easier 
 and we shall present the fair Grunhilde a 
 coronet of circling baronies embraced 
 within Landsvag's extended arms," he 
 said, after a pause. 
 
 " Nay, Olaf," replied Jorg, sadly, " they 
 go south, but they go to withstand the 
 mighty army Harold bringeth ; if now 
 Landsvag join them then would we crush 
 this haughty Harold and make of these
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 99 
 
 men faithful allies in place of careless 
 robbers." 
 
 For a moment Olaf regarded with un 
 feigned admiration this man who, having 
 spent his checkered life on the border, 
 where few opportunities for the study of 
 statecraft presented themselves, had yet 
 so bluntly spoken the thoughts of his own 
 mind, that mind schooled in diplomacy as 
 the arm was in the heavy blows of the fray, 
 but he sought to draw the man out. " And 
 if we join not with them, Jorg ?" he 
 asked. 
 
 " Then will Harold surely overcome 
 them and on the borders of Landsvag will 
 be not many small provinces, each jealous 
 of the other and too weak to fight us, but 
 the compact kingdom of this wizard of 
 the South who seemeth to do all things. 
 When that day cometh then will Harold 
 take from us even Landsvag." 
 
 "The words of Jorg have an unpleasant 
 sound in mine ears." 
 
 " Yea, and a bitter taste have they in 
 Jorg's mouth, but that they are true none 
 know so well as him to whom I speak."
 
 100 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 " Nay, Jorg, let not your words run so 
 fast ; Olaf keepeth his own counsel." 
 
 " That know I ; nor do I expect that 
 Olaf will aught reveal unto me, but Olaf's 
 thoughts are even as I say." 
 
 " You are a shrewd fellow, Jorg. Now 
 what would you that we do ? " 
 
 "What ? Why, Jorg would have you do 
 that which even now you have in mind." 
 
 " And that, Jorg ? " 
 
 "Olaf, my hair is white; your pleasant 
 ries please me not; but, though you do 
 seek to make sport of Jorg, yet for love of 
 that land I call mine own will I tell you 
 that naught remains to Landsvag save to 
 make peace at any price with these our 
 former enemies and in concert with them 
 present a solid wall to these invaders a 
 wall built of human hearts, beating in lusty 
 bodies ; a wall that shall mark the border 
 line between liberty and oppression; a wall 
 that shall teach Harold and the world that 
 Landsvag holds its liberty inviolate." 
 
 Jorg paused for breath; Olaf, advancing, 
 took him by the hand and said : " Jorg, 
 you have even spoken Olaf's mind."
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 101 
 
 Jorg unhesitatingly grasped the out 
 stretched hand. 
 
 "And is Olaf now with Jorg ?" he asked. 
 
 The young man, still holding the sinewy 
 hand, replied : " Olaf is ever for Lands- 
 vag." 
 
 "Yea, but Jorg's plan saves Landsvag." 
 
 "That doth it, wherefore is Olaf for 
 Jorg's plan." 
 
 The old man brightened up at this dec 
 laration. " Now, will Landsvag eat out the 
 heart of this wild boar of the South ! " he 
 exclaimed, enthusiastically. 
 
 Olaf made no reply to this outburst save 
 to dismiss Jorg, bidding him hold himself 
 in readiness to wait upon him when sum 
 moned. 
 
 Left alone, the young minister sat for 
 some time wrapped in deep and gloomy 
 thought. Once he exclaimed aloud: "If 
 he refuse!" But at the very thought he knit 
 his brows into a heavy frown, while fire 
 flashed from his eyes and the lines of his 
 mouth went down into fixed and stern re 
 solve. Presently he arose and, still with 
 thoughtful mien, went in search of the king
 
 IO2 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 He went first to Halfjord's own apart 
 ments, entering, with the familiarity of a 
 trusted friend; next to the audience cham 
 ber, but the king was not to be found in 
 either place. Questioning one of the 
 young gentlemen in the king's ante-room 
 he received no information save that he 
 must be in the castle since they were not 
 advised of his going out. Hardly waiting 
 for answers to his questions he moved im 
 patiently about the vast pile seeking every 
 where for his master, but not finding him 
 until, just as he was about to give up the 
 search and, returning to the king's apart 
 ments, await him there, one of his own 
 servants meeting him told him where the 
 king might be found.
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 Olaf found his majesty closeted in a 
 small chamber in a remote part of the 
 building, where, with a few boon compan 
 ions, he was indulging in those wild revels 
 so pleasing to his vagrant fancies. There 
 was a scarcely perceptible sneer on the 
 young man's face as, entering unan 
 nounced, he surveyed the scene, and 
 looked with cold disdain upon the flushed 
 faces and bloodshot eyes of the half- 
 startled sycophants as he walked steadily 
 across the room to where the king was 
 seated. 
 
 Half ashamed at being caught in such a 
 condition, half fearful of interruption, 
 wholly conscious of inferiority, Halfjord 
 no sooner saw Olaf than he rudely accosted 
 him with, " Why hath Olaf's gloomy face 
 and frowning brow disturbed us in our 
 merriment?" 
 
 Disgusted with the scene before him, 
 103
 
 104 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 angered at the king's reception, Olaf yet 
 gave no outward sign of his thoughts, but, 
 bowing respectfully, said : " Olaf hath 
 sought thee, king, for urgent reasons ; I 
 crave an audience with thee, Halfjord." 
 
 But the king was in no humor for busi 
 ness. "Yea," he said, "I even thought 
 you came to break upon these, our pleas 
 antries, with some of your dull stories of 
 statecraft, but not tonight, sage Olaf, not 
 tonight; it were enough to spend these 
 pretty days with ear attuned to doleful 
 sounds of work, the which you chant in 
 solemn strains from morn till eve. A day 
 with you hath earned me needed rest I 
 will not work this night." 
 
 "King," repeated Olaf, "I crave a word 
 with thee." 
 
 "What? Hath the man no wit ? The 
 king said he will not work this night," 
 called out Alric, insolently. 
 
 Though Olaf with the king was long-suf 
 fering, he was quick enough to resent any 
 affront, real or fancied, that might be 
 offered by any below the throne. Turning
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 105 
 
 to face Alric, who sat near where he stood, 
 he spoke with meaning emphasis: "Olaf 
 hath wit to know a one-time traitor who 
 now doth lick in fulsome fawning the hand 
 of that king he would have slain, and, 
 knowing him, Alric, Olaf hath wit neither 
 to trust nor to love him." 
 
 The shot struck home. Alric flushed, 
 grew pale, stirred uneasily in his seat, 
 finally ending an awkward pause by asking 
 threateningly, " Olaf speaks of whom ?" 
 
 Olaf fixed on his antagonist a searching, 
 challenging glance as he replied in low, 
 steady tones, " Of Alric I speak ! " 
 
 The man sprang to his feet and, draw 
 ing his sword, rushed at Olaf, who had al 
 ready put himself on guard awaiting the 
 attack. The room was in an uproar ; men 
 rushed between the angry combatants cry 
 ing out: " Sheath your swords !" "What! 
 In the king's presence ? " 
 
 Halfjord himself called out: "Gentle 
 men, ye seek took too serious sport: put up 
 those stinging toys; he who draweth blood 
 shall feel my anger." At sound of the king's
 
 106 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 voice Olaf lowered his blade and, again 
 turning, faced Halfjord. Bowing respect 
 fully, he said : " Thy pardon, king." 
 
 "We like not your diversions, Olaf," re 
 plied the king, angrily. " You are too hot 
 for the sword, too cold for those pleasures 
 that do lend flavor unto life. Wherefore 
 are you and Alric enemies ? " 
 
 " King, Olaf hath no enemies save they 
 be thine," was the reply. 
 
 Alric sprang up shouting : " King, give 
 me leave, I pray thee ! I may not coldly 
 brook his words." 
 
 " Peace, Alric ; now are you too hot." 
 
 " He hath called me thy enemy," was 
 the sullen reply, as Alric resumed his seat. 
 
 " I will no more of this quarrel, which 
 hath so marred our pleasure," said Half 
 jord. " Drink, gentlemen, drink to the 
 fair Grunhilde a cup for Olaf," to one 
 of the menials near him " Drink to our 
 queen, Olaf." 
 
 The toast was quaffed with boisterous 
 enthusiasm. Olaf drank in silence and, 
 when he could be heard, said : " To fair 
 Grunhilde have I drank with loyal heart,
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 107 
 
 O king, but now, even in the face of thy 
 displeasure, do I repeat my prayer for thine 
 ear this night ; yea, king, this I ask even 
 for Grunhilde's sake." The king stared at 
 him in amazement. " What mean you, 
 Olaf? Hath aught befell our betrothed 
 queen ? " 
 
 " Nay, king, Grunhilde is well." 
 
 "Then doth Halfjord see not the point 
 of that you say." 
 
 Olaf stepped to the king's side and 
 whispered, "King, I have that to tell which 
 doth affect the throne whereon thou shalt 
 seat the fair Grunhilde, hence say I for her 
 sake hear me. It behooves us to act at 
 once, wherefore I pray thee to hear me 
 this night. King, for thy throne's sake 
 hear me !" But Halfjord broke out into a 
 loud, half-drunken laugh, and, pounding 
 the table with his great fist, fairly yelled, 
 "He talketh but of affairs of state as 
 though the day had not hours enough 
 for such dry food to our youthful minds. 
 Ha! ha!" 
 
 " Ha ! ha ! " echoed the parasites around 
 him. " Nay, good Olaf, too close attention
 
 IO8 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 to this your heavy task I fear me will drive 
 you mad. As though the state might not 
 live through the night, while we in sweet 
 merriment disport ourselves. If the pillars 
 of our state be crumbling have we not 
 swords to hold them up ? " 
 
 " Yea ! yea ! " shouted the revellers, 
 rising in their seats and brandishing aloft 
 their blades, with fierce oaths and lusty 
 cheers. 
 
 Waving his hand for silence Halfjord 
 continued, " Leave these dull and heavy 
 cares for the morrow, Olaf, and this night 
 join us in our gay diversions. A place at 
 the board for Olaf ! " 
 
 But the young man, seemingly heedless 
 of the invitation, stood like a rock for a 
 moment, then, seeing the futility of further 
 effort, turned and moved slowly to the 
 door. Just before passing the threshold 
 he again faced the boisterous crowd, and, 
 in solemn tones that thrilled the hearts of 
 his listeners, said, " King, hear Olaf, and 
 when thy power hath passed, remember 
 his words : Though thou dost revel by 
 night, there be those who use the night for
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 109 
 
 making of the day that cometh after. 
 Oh! Halfjord, my king, my friend, be 
 ware of him who sleepeth not nor revelleth 
 by night ! " 
 
 "What mean you?" cried the now 
 startled king, but Olaf had disappeared, 
 leaving on the fevered brains of the care 
 less bacchanalians the effect of a grue 
 some spectre. Some there were who rallied 
 shortly from the sudden fear that had 
 seized them, while others, knowing Olaf's 
 keen insight, felt that the warning uttered 
 by the departing minister was not an 
 empty flourish, and foremost among these 
 latter was the king, who took but little 
 pleasure in the gay badinage that once 
 more ricocheted around the board. Alric, 
 who had drank deeply before the interrup 
 tion, was now even more devoted to the 
 cup, and in an excess of wine-heated valor 
 cried out, " Ah ! king, if thou hadst not 
 prevented I should have cut his gloomy 
 heart out of his sour-faced body ! " 
 
 "Nay, Alric," the king spoke musingly, 
 " Olaf is too good a minister, you, too 
 good a friend, to be at each other's throats ;
 
 IIO Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 Landsvag hath need of you both." Shortly 
 after this the king rose and the revellers, 
 with unsteady steps, sought their couches. 
 
 In the meantime Olaf, on his way from 
 this scene, had encountered Jorg, who, 
 knowing that the minister would lose no 
 time in acquainting Halfjord with the situ 
 ation, asked the result of his interview. 
 Olaf replied that the king could not see 
 him until morning, but the old man knew 
 Halfjord's weakness as well as he did 
 Olaf s strength, and divining the reason of 
 the delay, said bitterly, " So the King of 
 Landsvag prefereth dining with courtesans, 
 bastards and drunkards to looking after 
 the crown his father left him. Then may 
 he lose it when he least expects ; truly he 
 who upholds the crown should wear it. 
 The throne holdeth not always the proper 
 man." Olaf sharply rebuked him for the 
 implied treason of his speech, and they 
 separated just as the king's companions 
 came reeling in drunken mirth from the 
 scene of their orgies. 
 
 On the morrow Olaf sought the king 
 early, finding him ready this time to hear
 
 The Legend of Halfjord n I 
 
 what he would say, seeking indeed with a 
 sovereign's graciousness to rub out the 
 ugly marks of a king's displeasure, but 
 even at his best Halfjord seemed to find it 
 a heavy task to take life seriously, and no 
 sooner had Olaf told him of Jorg's self- 
 appointed mission than he smilingly said, 
 "Hath old Jorg's excited dream disturbed 
 the rest of the lusty Olaf ? Methinks 
 mine eyes might never know the sweet 
 caress of sleep did I believe my throne as 
 shaky as you would make appear, good 
 Olaf." 
 
 " King, these are no idle dreams ; thou 
 hast heard of Harold, the Fair-haired, the 
 scourge of southern Norway, who seeks to 
 grasp within his mailed hand this conti 
 nent?" 
 
 "Yea, Olaf, but not even this Harold 
 may break the solid ranks of Landsvag 
 when Olaf is at their head, wherefore I dis 
 turb me not. If he comes we fight ; if we 
 fight, then do we vanquish him; is not that 
 enough?" 
 
 " Nay, king, Landsvag has not strength 
 alone to crush Harold; we do need allies."
 
 112 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 " I like not too well the allies of war ; 
 they find it an easy task to be enemies in 
 peace. Where would Olaf seek these 
 allies ? " 
 
 "Among the barons on our border, 
 king." 
 
 " What ! Would Olaf sue for peace to 
 men against whom he even now would be 
 leading Landsvag's troops were it not for 
 our kingly protest ? " 
 
 "Yea, king, Olaf would do aught for 
 sake of this loved land." 
 
 "And have you no greater wit than to 
 trust these old-time enemies who would 
 join our banner but to betray us ? " 
 
 "Nay, king, even now they gather to 
 protect themselves ; if they should unite 
 with us, then in betraying us would they 
 also sell their own possessions." 
 
 "Olaf, you have a searching mind and 
 study these things when Halfjord seeks 
 amusement, and yet methinks in this your 
 wit hath fault, for these whom you would 
 gather under our colors are but as robbers 
 they know no fealty save to their own 
 interest, and I think the king who rested
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 113 
 
 on promise of their support would find 
 that same oath but a rotten prop. Half 
 jord will trust Landsvag to Olaf." 
 
 These last words were spoken kindly, 
 affectionately, as to a tried and trusted 
 friend; Olaf acknowledged the compli 
 ment with a bow while he replied with 
 much show of feeling : " Halfjord, Olaf 
 thanketh thee for these thy kind words, 
 which are passing sweet unto mine ears, 
 but Olaf is one man and no more ; I will 
 do all, dare all, for the sake of this fair 
 land, and Olaf hath, too, a stout arm that 
 breaketh where it striketh ; but I beseech 
 thee, Halfjord, no more king than friend, 
 no less friend than king, turn not a deaf 
 ear to these solemn words. Oh ! Half 
 jord, bethink thee ; wouldst thou give unto 
 the lovely Grunhilde a crown that knoweth 
 no life save in name ? Landsvag is val 
 iant, but Landsvag may not unaided with 
 stand the hosts of Harold ; if thou dost sit 
 in indolent indecision Harold will over 
 come these border barons and then, with 
 none to dispute his way, will march upon 
 us, bringing with him the loathsome chain
 
 114 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 of servile dependence ; but if Landsvag, in 
 league with her neighbors, shall meet the 
 arrogant Harold, then shall we tear his 
 great army into bleeding fragments and, 
 that done, may turn our eyes upon these 
 too lawless pilferers. Halfjord, Landsvag 
 alone cannot prevail, but with those who 
 now present their iron faces to this resist 
 less demon's march enrolled under our 
 banner, then may we toss dirt in the 
 faces of Harold's vaunting legions and 
 laugh at their impotent rage. Halfjord, 
 thou art king, I pray thee now be a true 
 king, seeking but the good of this thy 
 favored land 1 " 
 
 The king made no reply and, after a 
 brief pause, Olaf continued: "King, Jorg 
 waits thy bidding ; even now is his horse 
 saddled that he may swiftly bear thy mes 
 sage unto those who, once enemies, are 
 now much needed friends." 
 
 But Halfjord was .as obstinate as he was 
 lazy ; indeed, his obstinacy was doubtless 
 but the result of an indolence that refused 
 to press to its best efforts a mind naturally 
 gifted.
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 115 
 
 " No, Olaf," he finally said, " no treaty 
 with these spoilers of our land." 
 
 The young minister, aghast, seemed un 
 able to comprehend the full meaning of 
 his king's words. 
 
 "What!" he gasped, "Doth Landsvag's 
 king refuse to save his own?" 
 
 " Yea, Olaf," was the reply ; " Halfjord 
 does refuse to save his own if in so doing 
 he must grasp in good fellowship the hands 
 of these robbers. I pray you press me no 
 more, I would ride to see the beauteous 
 Grunhilde and have but little time to 
 spare for your sad fears. Olaf, you are a 
 valiant soldier, a faithful minister, but you 
 have been so long enveloped in the clouds 
 of statecraft that your clear vision has lost 
 its penetration and you have naught for 
 our ears save tidings of storms which 
 never break." 
 
 " Thou sayest true, king," impetuously 
 interrupted the young man. " ' Storms 
 which never break ' why break they not ? 
 Because Olaf, seeing them afar, hath 
 warned thee and till now thou hast heard 
 my warnings, but now dost thou turn
 
 Il6 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 thine ear from me. Oh ! Halfjord, if now 
 thou refusest to hearken unto me such a 
 storm shall sweep over thy kingdom as 
 may rend in twain the rock whereon rest- 
 eth thy throne ! " 
 
 The king had grown impatient. "Then 
 let the storm come," he replied, "but this 
 I say unto you, Olaf before the King of 
 Landsvag will take in friendliness the 
 hands of these knaves who prey upon our 
 borders Halfjord will himself lead his 
 troops against Harold and all who come 
 with him, and if the heart of Olaf trem- 
 bleth at such thought let him remain to 
 guard her who shall soon be Landsvag's 
 queen." 
 
 At this covert imputation of cowardice 
 Olaf flashed up like a train of powder. 
 " Thou sayest cruel things unto Olaf, king, 
 but hear this before I go: thou hast sealed 
 the doom of thy land and of thy throne, 
 but before Landsvag falls shall Olaf go 
 down fighting for the land of his fathers 
 and, when thou hast been bereft of thy 
 crown and eatest the bread of a menial,
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 117 
 
 then shalt them remember the words of 
 Olaf and grieve thee over Olaf 's death ! " 
 
 He turned to go, but the king called 
 him back. " You are over-hasty, Olaf ; I 
 know full well your devotion, nor do I 
 doubt your courage, but that you ask of 
 me King of Landsvag may never do. Go, 
 tell Jorg he hath too timid fancies and bid 
 him remain for our nuptials ; go, good 
 Olaf, I am weary of these heavy affairs 
 and would rest." 
 
 As Olaf passed out from the king's 
 presence he met Jorg who, alive to the exi 
 gencies of the situation, was waiting him 
 at every turn. 
 
 "What news ?" he asked as he stepped 
 to Olaf's side. "Shall I ride today to 
 seal the doom of this Harold ? " 
 
 "Not today Jorg. Come with me," 
 was Olaf's reply as he led the way to the 
 cabinet where he had first received the old 
 baron. When they were alone the old 
 man crossed his arms over his bosom and 
 asked: "What of Landsvag?" 
 
 "How mean you, Jorg?"
 
 1 1 8 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 "Will our land be prey to Harold?" 
 
 "Nay, if Harold seeks to take this land 
 then must he fight." 
 
 " Olaf, you but play with me ; what 
 hath the king said ?" 
 
 "The king requesteth that Jorg remain 
 for his approaching nuptials." 
 
 " That will Jorg not do. If I may not 
 be of service to Landsvag yet may I pro 
 tect my own lands, and this day I return, 
 but Olaf, if ever Landsvag needeth help 
 you know where Jorg may be found." 
 
 " Yea, Jorg, if all the men of this land 
 were but as you I should not fear to meet 
 even the dread Harold. Go you at once?" 
 
 " My horse even now awaiteth me." 
 
 " I pray you, Jorg, send me messengers, 
 trusty men who will bear the tidings of 
 the day as they come to you." 
 
 "That will I, Olaf," and the two men 
 parted with mutual expressions of esteem. 
 
 Scarcely had Jorg left the chamber 
 when Olaf, looking out of the window, 
 beheld Halfjord with a brilliant cavalcade 
 ride forth on his visit to his inamorata 
 and even as the young man with frowning
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 119 
 
 brow and compressed lips watched the 
 careless pleasure-seekers he saw pass 
 through the same gate the faithful Jorg, 
 attended by but a single squire. Olaf's 
 eyes followed Jorg, nor did he leave his 
 post as long as the two horsemen were in 
 sight. Jorg was angered and rode with 
 savage speed, so that Olaf could not watch 
 him long. 
 
 The king returned in the evening and 
 Olaf, going to meet him, met also Alric, 
 whose temper was still none of the best. 
 Halfjord soon retired to his chambers, first 
 inviting his butterfly gentlemen to meet 
 him at the board later. Olaf was left 
 alone with this giddy, fawning crowd. 
 Alric approached the minister. 
 
 " Olaf speaketh hot words in presence 
 of our king," he said ; " Will Olaf dare re 
 peat them now ? " 
 
 A crowd gathered around them, and in 
 the crowd Olaf saw scarcely a friendly eye, 
 but, immovable as a rock, he stood facing 
 his angry antagonist, just as determined to 
 avoid trouble as the other was to force it. 
 "Alric," he replied, "Olaf saith that he
 
 1 20 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 thinketh, nor doth he think less than he 
 saith ; if Olaf's words are unkind to your 
 ears it were better you should close your 
 ears." 
 
 Olaf's cool dignity, combined with his 
 evident disdain, were ill-suited to an 
 amicable understanding between the two 
 and Alric broke out : " Alric closeth not 
 his ears to insult, nor may even the mighty 
 Olaf speak words that please me not ex 
 cept at point of his sword ; come, Sir Min 
 ister, draw and let these pretty blades say 
 which of us be right," and, suiting the 
 action to the word, Alric placed himself 
 on guard, but Olaf made no move to draw 
 his weapon. He stood for a moment un 
 decided, and then in slow, measured tones 
 replied: "At another time, Alric, would it 
 greatly please me to do that you ask, and 
 I shall later hold you to this your chal 
 lenge, but now it doth seem to me that 
 Landsvag hath need of all her valiant men, 
 and that she may not lose your estimable 
 services I would postpone our meeting 
 until that time our enemies are laid low." 
 
 Alric, seeing around him a crowd of
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 12 1 
 
 smiling courtiers, and enraged at Olaf's 
 cool reception of his challenge, lost his 
 head ; advancing, he struck Olaf full in 
 the face with the flat of his sword, at the 
 same time hissing between his teeth the 
 word, " Coward ! " Forth from its scabbard 
 leaped the patriot's pure blade ; a feint, a 
 parry, a thrust, and before the onlookers 
 were well aware what had happened the 
 luckless Alric lay weltering in his blood 
 before them. Olaf stooped and wiped his 
 sword on the skirts of the wounded man's 
 garment, saying as he rose, "Ye are wit 
 nesses he brought this on himself." The 
 wound proved not to be dangerous and 
 Alric was around again not many days 
 after the encounter, but that sword-thrust 
 was one of those little things which change 
 the destinies of the world. 
 
 The next day the king, angered at Olaf's 
 wounding of his favorite, refused to receive 
 his minister and the latter rode alone to 
 his estate, where Grunhilde waited the day 
 that should make her queen. Olaf paid 
 his respects to the king's betrothed, receiv 
 ing from his old-time playmate a most
 
 122 Beyond the Palasocrystic Sea 
 
 cordial welcome, but it was noticed that he 
 sought the society of Grunhilde less than 
 he did that of her companion, the lovely 
 Hilda. He remained some days in his 
 castle, and when he once more turned his 
 face toward Halfjord's court he bore with 
 him as a precious talisman Hilda's sweet 
 promise to share his lot. Is it strange that 
 Olaf rode with merry mind, with valiant 
 heart, to his king's stronghold ? A timid, 
 shrinking maiden is seemingly the dainti 
 est, yes, the weakest, of God's creatures, 
 yet is it easier for man to storm a frowning 
 battery of bristling guns, belching forth 
 their iron hail of death, than to breathe 
 into her expectant ears the tale she so loves 
 to hear. 
 
 Shame and pride are both estranged 
 from the heart of him who, having con 
 quered a lovely maid, feels not that he has 
 brought the world beneath his feet ; man 
 knows no triumph half so sweet as that of 
 love, nor has the trump of victory a note 
 so rich as the softly whispered consent of 
 Love's queen. The wreath of laurel deck 
 ing the victor's brow may fade, ambition's
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 123 
 
 cup too oft enjoyed grow bitter to the 
 taste,, but woman's love, the richest crown 
 that man may wear, grows never dim while 
 the rude hand of sorrow seemingly gilds 
 that self-same crown with finer lustre as 
 the rare treasures of a love not finite in its 
 source, scarce short of infinite in its scope, 
 shines brightly forth, illumining the dark 
 and gloomy shadows which cast their 
 deepening shades athwart life's pathway. 
 
 Man, working with a shapeless lump of 
 clay, produces beauteous forms in counter 
 feit of life; Nature, in her wondrous work 
 shop, transforms the lustreless carbon into 
 the flashing gem ; but, most marvelous of 
 all, the Creator fashions from the dust our 
 feet have spurned his masterpiece, woman, 
 and, breathing into her the breath of life, 
 sets upon her heart the seal of divinity 
 love for "God is love," and love is 
 woman's being. 
 
 As the clay takes shape beneath the 
 sculptor's hand, so does man's oft rude 
 embrace awake to endless life this sleeping 
 divinity of her soul, and, yet, lovely as 
 woman's love is at all times, it is as the
 
 124 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 uncut gem until the sharp blade of afflic 
 tion brings forth the hidden light that then 
 flashes from her pure soul to light the 
 weary way of grateful man. 
 
 Not all the praise of man is half so rich 
 as the willing homage of her heart, nor all 
 the hidden treasures in the mighty hills of 
 earth so great wealth as her loving, trust 
 ing smile that smile, that glance, which, 
 freely given, may yet not be bought. 
 Woman may sell herself, but she cannot 
 sell her heart, and he who has won that 
 heart has life's rarest prize. Let him 
 guard it carefully, nurture it tenderly ; let 
 him reverently uncover his head, for in the 
 atmosphere of her pure love he stands in 
 the very presence of his God. 
 
 The young man, happy in acknowledged, 
 triumphant love, rode, as we have said, 
 gayly singing, dreaming, a thousand fond 
 fancies filling his active brain ; as far as he 
 could see had he gazed back at the gloomy 
 walls of that castle, watching a white ker 
 chief fluttering in the breeze. He could 
 see the little rag long after the arm that 
 held it was lost to view, but now neither
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 125 
 
 could be seen, not even the frowning out 
 lines of the building itself, and he must 
 content himself with memories and dreams. 
 He rode hard. Affairs of state had now 
 no place in his heart, except that he 
 thought them cruel disturbers of love's 
 first sweet joys. He sought the court that 
 he might know what had transpired, do 
 what was required, and then return to his 
 love this the reason he spurred his horse 
 almost cruelly every hour's delay on the 
 road was an hour longer from Hilda's side, 
 and he had told her he would be absent 
 but a day. But a day ! How little we know 
 of the morrow's fate. Grunhilde was queen, 
 and Hilda's cheeks had grown pale with 
 fear, her eyes dim from tears, before that 
 promised morrow came. 
 
 It was evening when Olaf drew rein in 
 the courtyard of Halfjord's castle, and, as 
 he sprang from his horse, a young man 
 respectfully saluted him. He started with 
 surprise, exclaiming: "What, Jegge! 
 Whence come you, boy, and where is your 
 father here ? " 
 
 " Jorg is not here," the young man
 
 126 Beyond the Palseocrystic Sea 
 
 gravely answered. " I come to Olaf from 
 him." 
 
 " Bear you a message from him, Jegge ? " 
 
 " Yea, for your ears, alone." 
 
 " Follow me, then," and Olaf, without 
 waiting upon the king or even sending a 
 message to announce his return, showed 
 the way at once to his private chamber. 
 For a long time the two men were closeted, 
 and when he emerged it was with a troubled 
 brow that Olaf went at once to the king's 
 presence. 
 
 Halfjord was surrounded, as usual, with 
 his favorites. Olaf was known to be in dis 
 grace temporarily, and his entry was the 
 signal for many sly winks and whispered 
 jests, but, as he strode toward the king 
 there was that in his face which warned 
 the boldest to have a care for himself. 
 
 " So, Sir Swordspoint, you have re 
 turned?" 
 
 "Yea, King Halfjord, I have returned 
 from paying my devotions to the lovely 
 Grunhilde, who honoreth the walls of Olaf's 
 home, that she doth shelter herself within 
 them till thou shall take her thence."
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 127 
 
 Halfjord was in love, Halfjord was also 
 generous ; the man who had just returned 
 from a visit to the expected queen could 
 not longer be the victim of his temper. 
 He spoke heartily : " There Olaf did well; 
 and how fareth our sweet Grunhilde ?" 
 
 " Well, king ; never hath she been love 
 lier than when she spoke of thee and 
 whispered sweet messages I should bear 
 thee." 
 
 Halfjord's eyes glistened. " And the 
 messages, Olaf ? " 
 
 " Are for thine own ear, king." 
 
 "Yet you bear them." 
 
 " Is not Grunhilde's foster-brother Olaf 
 fit messenger unto Grunhilde's chosen lover 
 Halfjord ?" was the reply. 
 
 " True, Olaf, we will hear these honeyed 
 words for which our heart doth hunger. 
 Attend me, Olaf wait us here" (address 
 ing the crowd). 
 
 Olaf followed the king, carefully closed 
 the door and when they were alone ab 
 ruptly said, " Halfjord, I lied to thee." 
 The king stared at him in unfeigned as 
 tonishment, but the young man went on.
 
 128 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 " I lied and that lie was for Landsvag's 
 sake and for Halfjord's throne. There is 
 that I must tell thee this night, yet had I 
 not spoken Grunhilde's name thou wouldst 
 have turned me off as before and sought 
 thy more pleasing companions. My king 
 may refuse to forgive the lie but my friend 
 Halfjord will not." 
 
 Halfjord had already grown sulky at 
 thought of being entrapped into a busi 
 ness interview, but Olaf's closing appeal 
 woke the sleeping magnanimity of his soul. 
 He took Olaf's hand familiarly and said 
 half reproachfully, " You played me a sorry 
 trick, Olaf, but you have me now ; I will 
 hear you." 
 
 "Both as king and brother, Halfjord?" 
 
 " Yea, Olaf, my heart is ever with you, 
 though I love not work and give my smiles 
 to those who help me play." 
 
 " Even they will need to work now, 
 Halfjord." 
 
 " Wherefore ? " 
 
 "King, the barons I would have had 
 thee join as against Harold have been 
 dashed to pieces against the rocky wall of
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 129 
 
 his mighty army, their lands despoiled and 
 Harold advances with none to oppose him 
 upon our Landsvag." 
 
 "Who bringeth such dark news ?" 
 
 " It cometh from Jorg by his son Jegge." 
 
 " Jorg ? Is he not here ? " 
 
 " Nay, king, he loves his land more than 
 he fears thy displeasure and though bid 
 den to await thy nuptials he returned 
 home that he might watch like a faithful 
 sentinel." 
 
 " He was right," said the king thought 
 fully, then added, "What would you that 
 wedo,Olaf?" 
 
 "There is naught left but to put all 
 Landsvag against this man who seeks to 
 enslave us." 
 
 "Nay, Olaf, war hath a cruel sound to 
 him who seeks the soft delights of love." 
 
 " Hath it so cruel a sound, Halfjord, as 
 slavery ? " 
 
 "Nay, my good Olaf, but I would have 
 neither. At another time when sweet 
 Grunhilde's eyes are less bright will we 
 take the field against this knave, but not 
 now, Olaf, not now."
 
 130 Beyond the Palzeocrystic Sea 
 
 " Shall he then take from thee thy king 
 dom that thou mayest take and enjoy this 
 maiden?" exclaimed Olaf angrily. 
 
 "Not so, Olaf, Halfjord will have the 
 maiden but Harold shall have not this 
 throne." 
 
 "What meanest thou, king?" 
 
 " This, Olaf : You shall go to this Har 
 old, make peace with him on terms not 
 beneath our dignity ; when he hath gone 
 his way then shall we rise against him, bind 
 to us these border barons and overturn his 
 sway." 
 
 "Thy words have good and pleasant 
 sound, king, but Harold makes no peace." 
 
 " He will with the valiant Olaf." 
 
 The interview was prolonged into the 
 night, Halfjord insisting, Olaf objecting ; 
 the king, of course, had his way and just 
 before dawn Olaf, Jegge and two faithful 
 squires rode forth to the east, which is why 
 Grunhilde was queen before Hilda's mor 
 row came.
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 Harold, " the Fair-haired," full of the 
 venturesome spirit of this age of the Vik 
 ings, sought to put all Norway under his 
 rule, and through the land his victorious 
 army had advanced, leaving in its wake 
 dethroned kings, obliterated principalities, 
 death and devastation; whether singly or 
 leagued together, the petty sovereigns who 
 disputed his way shared the same fate 
 defeat and those to whom the god of 
 war was so unkind as to spare their lives 
 found themselves unwilling vassals to this 
 terrible scourge who swept everything be 
 fore him. 
 
 The law of compensation is inevitable, 
 immutable; no evil exists without its cor 
 relative good and yet, while admitting this, 
 we find it but cold comfort if it so happens 
 that the evil comes to us in order that un 
 born generations may reap the harvest of 
 good.
 
 132 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 The French revolution, with all its sick 
 ening horrors, was not unmitigated evil; 
 since, for every bloody head that rolled its 
 reeking way from the hissing blade of the 
 guillotine into the sawdust-filled basket, 
 another head, living and moving, has been 
 raised from the pestilential slime of des 
 potism's dungeon into the living light of 
 liberty. But still, to the headless trunk, 
 the trunkless head or the force-freed soul 
 that sped from the guillotine platform to 
 where? the knife which pruned the 
 too luxuriant branches of the tree of roy 
 alty and unearned privilege that through 
 the gap might shine the noonday beams of 
 the sun of freedom was but the cursed 
 agent of despair. 
 
 Were it not for the hideous spectres of 
 our own griefs which, with rude persist 
 ence, ever sit as guests at banquet table or 
 stalk in frightful silence by our sides, this 
 house of earth were much too fair a home; 
 but for the compensating good bequeathed 
 by those before us, a legacy of tears and 
 blood to them, this home of earth were 
 but a gruesome charnel-house, at every
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 133 
 
 step a grinning skeleton of dead hopes, 
 murdered joys, our only light as we grope 
 our stumbling way the fitful phosphores 
 cent gleam from their sightless sockets. 
 
 The tears of our ancestors water the soil 
 from which springs the bountiful harvest 
 of our happiness, while from the rolling 
 tide of their joys rise the silent vapors 
 which, condensing into clouds of sorrow, 
 pour down a tempest of tears upon our 
 troubled souls. 
 
 Thus Harold was a scourge the Lord's 
 scourge and indeed 'twas cruel to the 
 victims, but the Almighty works in His 
 own way; God's sword was in Harold's 
 hand, though the despoiler knew it not 
 and in his blindness dreamt he worked 
 but for his own ends. Through the glass 
 of history we can see those things which 
 from their clouded eyes were hid each 
 briny tear that fell from woman's swim 
 ming eyes, the silent token of a bruised 
 and broken heart, beneath the magic 
 touch of time became a priceless pearl in 
 Norway's diadem ; each drop of blood that 
 welled from patriot's heart in the Divine
 
 134 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 Alchemist's hands has long since been 
 transformed into one link of an endless 
 chain of love, soft as the gossamer thread 
 of a spider's web, yet binding as the hard 
 est steel, welding together in indissoluble 
 union a people whose curses of ten cen 
 turies ago, drifting on through limitless 
 space, have reached the heavenly orchestra 
 and now sweep back to earth, their harsh 
 notes mellowed into the soft cadences of 
 life's sweetest symphony, awaking the uni 
 verse to tuneful harmony. 
 
 So it was that Harold, in all the pride 
 of his greatness, stood, one night shortly 
 after the events just related, surveying the 
 mighty host encamped around him as he 
 conversed with his chief lieutenant. 
 
 "What land lieth there, Eric?" he 
 asked, stretching his arm toward where the 
 gloomy outline of a range of hills was just 
 discernible on the night sky. 
 
 "Beyond those hills is Landsvag, king." 
 
 "Ah ! the land of Half jord, he who loves 
 his ease; 'twill be an easy prey, Eric." 
 
 "Not so, king." 
 
 "Not so? Why?"
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 135 
 
 "Harold, the King of Landsvag, takes 
 his ease because he hath Olaf ; the king 
 sleeps but Olaf takes no sleep ; Halfjord 
 plays but Olaf works; the king makes 
 merry while the man does watch ; while 
 Olaf fights Halfjord dances ; while Half 
 jord rests Olaf rules." 
 
 " Who is this Olaf of whom you speak ? 
 Methinks I have heard the name, yet doth 
 my memory fail me." 
 
 "Olaf, king, is the thunderbolt of 
 Landsvag ; though still a mere youth yet 
 doth he with his single arm support the 
 throne his old father established. Leader 
 in the field, ruler in the closet, he unites 
 all factions ; some cling to him for love of 
 him, others for fear because he crushes 
 those who oppose him even as thou 
 wouldst the worm beneath thy heel. A 
 valiant warrior who leads a host of mighty 
 men, he will meet thee face to face, 
 Harold, and though thou shalt conquer 
 this land as thou hast all others yet will 
 Olaf make it cost thee much blood." 
 
 "In good sooth, Eric," said Harold, 
 "you make me to love this man Olaf from
 
 136 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 very sound of his deeds. I will, myself, 
 cross blades with this famous warrior when 
 we do meet him." 
 
 " Oh, king, I beseech thee, seek not this 
 Olaf on the field ; those who know do say 
 that in battle he is a very demon and even 
 the bravest go down before him, for none 
 may withstand the fierce Olaf." 
 
 "Ah ! Eric, now speak you unto my own 
 heart, for none may withstand Harold ; if 
 none may withstand Olaf why then are 
 we giants in battle and well matched; 
 verily, I will meet this wizard of Lands- 
 vag; nay, even more by all the gods of 
 our race ! if I had him here I would play 
 him the pretty game of single combat, his 
 land against mine to be the stakes. Eric, 
 my hand tingles to match blades with so 
 doughty a foe. I will 
 
 But the sentence was not finished. A 
 commotion arose a short distance from 
 them and an officer approaching hurriedly 
 with evident signs of excitement spoke 
 without waiting to be addressed: "King, 
 a man from Landsvag seeks audience with
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 137 
 
 thee ; he says he comes with a message 
 from Halfjord and would deliver unto 
 thee alone." 
 
 "What manner of man is he, Hengis?" 
 asked the king. 
 
 " Of fine presence and lordly bearing, 
 king a soldier of tried mettle if I mistake 
 not." 
 
 " We will see him ; bid him here, Hen 
 gis." As the officer moved away to exe 
 cute the king's order the latter turned to 
 Eric and said, half playfully : "A pleasing 
 fancy hath hold of my mind, Eric what 
 if this messenger were your own doughty 
 Olaf ?" 
 
 " Halfjord might not trust his most 
 mighty leader in thy hands, Harold." 
 
 "I know not; Halfjord doth know we 
 make war as men and destroy not those 
 who come unto us in peace with fair words 
 on their tongues." 
 
 Eric shook his head, saying, as he 
 peered into the distance : " Thou shalt 
 soon know ; here cometh him who would 
 speak with thee."
 
 138 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 " Then bid them bring lights that we 
 may see the face of him who beareth 
 Halfjord's message." 
 
 Olaf, with young Jegge, had ridden first 
 to Jorg's castle and, leaving his son to 
 guard their home, Jorg had joined Olaf. 
 Together they entered the enemy's camp ; 
 they were surrounded and after stating 
 their mission held until Harold gave 
 orders to have them brought to him. 
 
 Eric soon had a number of torches 
 burning around the king's quarters, their 
 fitful, ruddy glow, painfully suggestive of 
 the blood that had been shed by these 
 rude warriors, combined with the black 
 and swarthy forms that moved to and fro 
 amid the lurid glare, suggesting to the 
 minds of the approaching emissaries a 
 carnival of some of the most dreaded 
 demons of their mythology. 
 
 Olaf, Jorg and the two squires, the latter 
 leading the horses, approached dis 
 mounted ; the escort, as they neared the 
 spot where the king stood, separated and 
 passing around on both sides left the four 
 in the centre of an open space in which
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 139 
 
 beside themselves the king alone stood. 
 As the four drew near, their guard, in con 
 junction with those around the king, 
 crowded in behind, forming a circle of 
 solid steel, a chain with not a broken 
 link. 
 
 Olaf and Jorg had something of an ad 
 vantage at the start Harold was ignorant 
 of their names as well as of their mission, 
 while they, already knowing their errand, 
 no sooner beheld that giant frame topped 
 with a luxuriant mass of tawny curls falling 
 over his shoulders like the sunlit ripples 
 of an unruly stream than they knew in 
 whose presence they stood. 
 
 Approaching within a few feet, the two 
 men saluted the king with dignified re 
 spect. He returned the salute, following 
 it with a gesture that stopped them where 
 they stood. 
 
 "Who be ye," he asked, "that, strangers, 
 yet seek the camp of Harold ?" 
 
 " We are of Landsvag, King Harold," 
 replied Olaf, quietly, " and bear thee a 
 message from our good King Halfjord." 
 
 " That hath been already told," was the
 
 140 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 king's answer. " But before we hear the 
 message you bring to us we would know 
 with whom we speak." 
 
 Olaf raised his head and in the proud, 
 half-challenging poise of that head was a 
 majesty that not even kings may borrow 
 the majesty of a pure, irreproachable 
 soul that, forced to dwell for a time within 
 these thralling walls of weak and perish 
 able clay, yet never yields so completely to 
 the bondage of this flesh as to lose entirely 
 the impress of the seal of divinity ; he 
 lifted his arm and, pointing to his com 
 panion, said : " King Harold, those gray 
 hairs with which these night winds so care 
 lessly disport themselves do crown a head 
 that hath never yet bowed in weak sub 
 mission to victorious foe, nor yet hath 
 harbored thought of treason to acknowl 
 edged king ; here standeth a man who 
 hath bared his breast to storm of war that 
 kings might be made ; again, that those 
 made might be saved, and yet hath never 
 sought of those his arm upheld the small 
 est boon. In homage to his rightful king 
 he bends a willing knee, but that selfsame
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 141 
 
 knee hath not yet learned the fawning 
 crook of servile sycophancy! Look around 
 thee, King Harold, and see if among thy 
 bold and valiant men thou hast one so 
 faithful unto thee as Jorg, Baron of Norges, 
 is to Halfjord of Landsvag. As to myself, 
 I am called Olaf." 
 
 Jorg would have spoken, but Harold 
 silenced him with a gesture, as he said : 
 " There be many Olafs ; are you Olaf of 
 Landsvag, old Morgen's son ?" 
 
 " Yea, king ; Morgen was my father." 
 
 Harold regarded the young man with 
 a half-curious, half-respectful look, but, 
 after a moment's silence, he called out, 
 " Eric ! come hither ; behold Olaf of 
 Landsvag, who putteth himself in Harold's 
 hands!" 
 
 Eric, however, was a doubter. He came 
 at the king's call, and, carefully scanning 
 the young man who stood before him, 
 said : " How know we, king, that this man 
 is he whom he claims to be ? It were 
 more likely that he cometh with foul pur 
 pose, and the better to accomplish his end 
 taketh the name of Olaf. "
 
 142 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 " Yet hath he a soldier's bearing." 
 " Yea, king, and a brave front, but Eric 
 believeth not that Olaf of Landsvag 
 cometh unto Harold ; wouldst thou send 
 Eric unto Halfjord ?" 
 
 "Nay ; for Eric might not return." 
 " Even so then Halfjord sendeth not 
 Olaf unto Harold for fear he returneth 
 not." 
 
 The king, half doubting, more than 
 half believing, mused for awhile, but when 
 he again raised his head and looked at 
 Olaf, the young man's gallant bearing and 
 apparent sincerity, coupled with old Jorg's 
 evident respect for his companion, seemed 
 to decide him he turned to Eric and 
 said : " Yon gray head hath a noble air, 
 methinks it truckleth not to traitor nor yet 
 to assassin. See, we will prove their truth. 
 If this be the great Olaf, Harold will make 
 him prick up his ears." Then turning to 
 the two men waiting before him the king 
 exclaimed : " Now, thanks be to Thor, 
 who hath so soon granted Harold's wish ; 
 this very night, hearing of the deeds of 
 Olaf, Harold did sigh for sight of this
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 143 
 
 man who, having made a throne, refused 
 it and gave to his friends that which he 
 himself had earned. Nay, more, Harold 
 even said that were Olaf to come unto 
 him he would himself draw sword in 
 single combat, the gage to be Landsvag 
 against Harold's vast domain what say 
 you, Olaf ? " 
 
 The young man's eyes flashed ; in 
 stinctively his hand sought his sword as he 
 replied : " King Harold, Olaf would gladly 
 engage thee ; nor doth the charger leap so 
 lightly 'neath his rider's spur as would 
 Olaf's sword when Harold gave the word. 
 For thy dominions care I naught ; let the 
 gage be Landsvag free if Olaf wins, and 
 then, with kind permission of my good 
 King Halfjord, will I before thy great 
 army with this strong arm maintain even to 
 thy face, great king, the glory of my native 
 land ! " 
 
 Harold had watched him closely during 
 this speech, and at its close, advancing, he 
 threw one arm around the speaker, and rais 
 ing the other exclaimed : " Behold a foe in 
 whom Harold delighteth ! Verily, this is
 
 144 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 Olaf, for none other would dare to brave 
 in mortal combat Harold, the scourge of 
 the Northland. Olaf, foe or friend, Harold 
 greets you, for Harold loves a man who is 
 a man ! " 
 
 Olaf, taken by surprise, hardly knew 
 what to say, but gathering himself together 
 he answered : " King, thy words please 
 Olaf, yet have I words for thee from Half- 
 jord which I would fain speak in thine 
 own ear." 
 
 "Not tonight, good Olaf ; you and 
 your faithful companions shall even lodge 
 this night with Harold ; on the morrow 
 will we hear what your king hath to say." 
 
 At this Eric whispered : " King, be 
 ware how thou receivest those whom thou 
 knowest not ! " But Harold, seeming not 
 to hear this warning, dismissed the gath 
 ered crowd and led the way to his tent, 
 leaving none outside save his usual guard. 
 
 Olaf, a bit skeptical as to Harold's sin 
 cerity, as well as impatient to return, 
 seemed not to fully appreciate his gener 
 ous reception. He said nothing, but a 
 close observer might have noted both his
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 145 
 
 wary watchfulness and his restlessness. On 
 the other hand, Harold, delighted at the 
 chance which gave him an opportunity of 
 entertaining the man who, next to himself, 
 was most famous in Norway, and, feeling 
 irresistibly attracted by Olaf's blunt and 
 fearless honesty, was loath to see the time 
 come when the young emissary would turn 
 his face homeward. 
 
 In the morning all of Harold's leaders 
 were called to breakfast with his visitors, 
 and, following their king's example, they 
 sought in every way to allay suspicions 
 which the two men might still harbor, 
 yet through the whole meal Olaf's quick 
 eye was on the alert for any unexpected 
 move. 
 
 It was high noon before, after repeated 
 solicitation on Olaf's part, the king, leaving 
 Jorg at table with the others, repaired to 
 his tent to receive from Olaf Halfjord's 
 message. Just as they rose Eric said : 
 " King, it is not prudent to trust thyself 
 alone with an avowed enemy." 
 
 Olaf's cheek flushed ; drawing his 
 sword he offered it to Eric saying : " Olaf
 
 146 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 is no assassin, but if Eric hath such evil 
 thoughts let him keep this sword that he 
 may not fear for Harold's safety." 
 
 "Nay, nay, Olaf," said the king, "none 
 think so harshly of you nor shall any hold 
 your sword ; Harold is content nor feareth 
 evil. Eric, your zeal for your king putteth 
 hot words in your mouth." 
 
 Entering the tent Harold asked : " What 
 hath Halfjord to say unto Harold ?" 
 
 " King, Halfjord saith war is cruel, and 
 war when it be not necessary a crime ; if 
 thou shouldst force him Halfjord will meet 
 thee with a powerful army, and each step 
 thou takest shall be over the bodies of the 
 slain ; but Halfjord, King of Landsvag, 
 offereth thee friendship for enmity, peace 
 for war, life for death wilt thou take it, 
 king, or art thou so wedded unto the rude 
 art of war as to spurn the gentle presence 
 of peace ? " 
 
 " Harold hath no great love for war, nor 
 hath he ever yet refused to hear those who 
 would, for sake of peace, submit to his 
 rule. If Halfjord hath desire to offer 
 allegiance it pleases me."
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 147 
 
 "Submit! Offer allegiance!" fairly gasped 
 Olaf. "Good king, you jest." 
 
 "I jest not, Olaf." 
 
 "Hath Harold so mean opinion of the 
 King of Landsvag as to think he yields his 
 crown without a blow? Know this, oh 1 
 mighty Harold thou dealest not with so 
 cowardly a king, nor, if the King of Lands 
 vag had so craven a heart, would Olaf bear 
 his message so foul. I come to offer thee 
 a fair and honorable alliance, king, but 
 naught beyond that save the war thy rude 
 refusal shall force upon us. We seek not 
 to grasp that which is not ours, but that 
 which is shall we hold with firm hand, and 
 it needeth a long arm and heavy sword to 
 wrest it from our grasp. King, shall Half 
 jord meet thee with uplifted sword or with 
 the outstretched hand of friendship ? It is 
 for thee to say what answer shall Olaf 
 bear unto Halfjord ?" 
 
 " That if he acknowledge us he may hold 
 his lands, his kingship, a fief under our 
 good pleasure ; if this he refuse, then shall 
 we take from him both lands and throne." 
 
 " If this thy answer to the friendly offers
 
 148 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 of Halfjord, then hear me, king, as I hurl 
 thy threats back into thy teeth. For every 
 step thou takest beyond yon hills, that 
 mark the line of Halfjord's kingdom, an 
 hundred of thy warriors shall die; the 
 rivers thou wouldst drink from shall run 
 red as wine with the blood of thy slain, 
 and when thou wouldst rest thee thy couch 
 shall be the putrid corpse of one of these, 
 thy followers, who now raise aloft their 
 heads in such lusty pride ; thus, proud 
 king, doth Landsvag meet those who come 
 with arms in their hands." 
 
 Harold had listened with a half-amused 
 smile playing around his lips as the young 
 man delivered this challenge, and when he 
 paused for breath the king said: "You 
 are bold of speech, and yet your words 
 please me ; my heart rejoiceth in a valiant 
 man, even though he be Harold's foe." 
 
 "Not bolder in word than in deed, king, 
 as thou shalt find when thou shall cross 
 yon hills ; Olaf will meet thee at head of 
 Landsvag's troops. Did I but venture my 
 life thou shouldst have that meeting thou 
 sayest thou cravest, but without Halfjord's
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 149 
 
 permission I may not stake his kingdom 
 upon the prick of a sword ; yet, though I 
 may not now accept thy challenge, look to 
 thyself, oh, king! when the battle joins, 
 for Olaf will search thee out, and, finding 
 thee, the issue shall be not a kingdom but 
 thy life or mine." 
 
 " Verily," said Harold, " you speak harsh 
 words to one who can, with one word, turn 
 that manly body into carrion. Nay, nay, 
 Olaf, think not so hardly of Harold," he 
 broke in, as the young man at the implied 
 threat laid his hand on his sword in evi 
 dence that he would sell his life dearly, 
 "you are Harold's guest, and on Harold's 
 honor shall have safe conduct through this 
 camp ; Harold will gladly meet you, and 
 when you seek him it shall not be in vain. 
 See, I will wear this scarf that you may the 
 more readily know me but Harold, like 
 Olaf, is no assassin." Under sudden im 
 pulse the king sprang forward, reaching 
 forth his hand as he said : " Come, brave 
 Olaf, we must fight, for Landsvag must be 
 mine; but I love your noble heart, and 
 while you tarry with me I would you were
 
 150 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 my friend; your hand, good Olaf ; let it 
 be good fellowship now, though no quarter 
 when on the field we meet." 
 
 Olaf grasped the proffered hand, say 
 ing : "Thou art a brave and generous foe ; 
 my heart leaps with joy at thought of 
 meeting thee in combat, and yet thou 
 wouldst be better friend than enemy. I 
 grieve that thou shouldst force upon us 
 this coming slaughter have we no way to 
 peace, king?" 
 
 " Yea, that which I have named." 
 
 " No more, I pray thee ; thy offer re 
 peated insults my ears. My mission here 
 is ended ; I fain would leave thee, king, 
 and when again thou seest me 'twill be the 
 last time, even as this is the first." 
 
 "Though I would have you with us 
 longer," replied the king, "yet is Olaf's 
 wish Harold's command. If it be your 
 wish to go, Harold himself will see you 
 safe outside our camp;" and the king 
 started to lead the way outside, but Olaf, 
 seemingly clinging to the last straw, said : 
 " King, hast thou naught else to say unto 
 Halfjord?"
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 151 
 
 " Naught, Olaf," answered Harold with 
 out so much as turning around, " save that 
 which hath been said." Olaf made no re 
 ply but followed the king. 
 
 Curious eyes were fastened on these two 
 men who held, as it were, the destinies of 
 kingdoms within their grasp, as they re 
 joined the merry circle without ; Jorg 
 raised his eyes to Olaf's face, saw and un 
 derstood ; a glance was sufficient for the 
 old warhorse ; that mysterious keen sym 
 pathy of soul had told him before he 
 looked that their mission had been fruit 
 less ; on the other hand, Harold's officers 
 knowing nothing, surmised much and, 
 when Harold on returning seemed even 
 more gracious than before, they believed 
 that Landsvag had yielded without so 
 much as a blow. But this idea was dis 
 pelled before it had time to take definite 
 shape. Harold, as soon as they reached 
 the crowd, called out : " Now, Olaf, before 
 you leave us one merry toast ! " 
 
 " And that toast, king ? " was the quiet 
 query. 
 
 " To Olaf, the fearless warrior of Lands-
 
 152 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 vag." Olaf replied with quiet dignity : 
 " That toast I may not drink, but I drink 
 with thee to Landsvag first may she ever 
 be free ; then to Harold, a brave soldier, a 
 knightly foe, a generous king may he 
 rule long over the lands he holdeth, but 
 not over Landsvag ! " 
 
 Harold laughed while his lieutenants 
 with gloomy brows and half-suppressed 
 mutterings listened to this bold challenge. 
 " Of a truth, Olaf," said the amused king, 
 "you have a faithful heart but hold too 
 loose a rein upon your tongue to speak in 
 presence of your enemies. You offer me 
 a toast to mine own undoing, yet will I 
 drink with you, for in a glass of wine 
 lieth naught but good fellowship." Then 
 lifting his goblet he cried out : " Ho ! to 
 Olaf's toast!" 
 
 Harold, Olaf and Jorg drank alone this 
 strange toast. " Bring forth the horses ! " 
 then cried Harold, " We will ride with 
 Olaf and Jorg toward Landsvag." 
 
 Harold's free and easy treatment of 
 his formidable foe met but little favor
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 153 
 
 with his generals, all of whom stood by 
 with sullen countenances and gathered 
 here and there in little knots, voicing their 
 displeasure in undertones ; at last, just be 
 fore the party was ready to mount, Eric 
 left one of these disaffected groups and, 
 approaching Harold, said in an undertone: 
 " King, we beseech thee, let not Olaf re 
 turn." 
 
 "Wherefore, Eric?" 
 
 "In so doing thou puttest into the 
 hands of thy most powerful enemy a weap 
 on." 
 
 " Not so, Eric, by kindness I disarm 
 him ; but even if that you say be true Har 
 old maketh not war against him who 
 cometh with open hands ; Olaf hath our 
 kingly word and we will see that he 
 cometh to no harm through us. Let us 
 mount and away," and Harold vaulted 
 into the saddle, leading the way with Olaf 
 and Jorg on either side of him. 
 
 Harold's officers rode clustered around 
 Eric some distance in the rear. "What 
 said the king when you spoke unto him,
 
 154 Beyond the Palzeocrystic Sea 
 
 Eric? " asked a fierce, bearded giant as he 
 pressed the powerful stallion he strode 
 close in against Eric's horse. 
 
 "Why, the same smooth answer that 
 Harold ever gives," was the reply. 
 
 " And doth he mean that Olaf shall de 
 part? " 
 
 " Yea, Rolje, he saith his kingly word is 
 pledged." 
 
 Others crowded closer around to hear 
 what was said. " He may depart but why 
 should he reach Halfjord?" asked one. 
 
 "What mean you, Hengis?" inquired 
 Rolje. 
 
 " What mean I ? It seemeth easy enough 
 unto Hengis. The king's permission for a 
 foray secured, one of us taketh an hun 
 dred trusty men and making after this 
 Olaf we slay him ; it were for our good 
 and the king need never know it was we 
 who killed Olaf." 
 
 "Hengis, thou hast hit upon a happy 
 plan; I will gain the king's consent. 
 Now who shall lead in this pretty plot?" 
 
 No one spoke for a time. Eric's ques 
 tion had brought the point close home ;
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 155 
 
 none of them feared the outcome so far 
 as Olaf was concerned, but all dreaded the 
 king's anger should he find out what they 
 had done. Finally Rolje said, " I will do 
 it, Eric." 
 
 " Ride back then, Rolje, and pick your 
 men. Stay; on second thought it were 
 best not to take so many ; they are but 
 four, a score will do the work as well and 
 talk less." 
 
 Rolje galloped back toward the camp, 
 while the rest, their spirits heightened 
 since the hatching of their plot, rode on in 
 the wake of their king. 
 
 Reaching the outpost Harold stopped, 
 and, holding out a hand to each of the two 
 men, said, "We part here, to meet again 
 on the field of battle. Harold will have 
 Landsvag, but Harold grieveth that ye are 
 not with him. Verily, Olaf, I love you, 
 though I shall kill you when again we 
 meet." 
 
 "King Harold, I thank thee for thy 
 kind attention ; it seemeth pity we should 
 be foes, but being foes I scarce can wait 
 the day when this good sword of mine
 
 156 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 shall cross with thine. Thou sayest thou 
 wilt kill me beware, king, lest Olaf's 
 blade drink thy own hot blood. Until 
 thou facest Halfjord's army farewell, 
 king!" And doffing his cap Olaf spurred 
 forward, followed closely by Jorg and their 
 squires. 
 
 A few hundred yards away was a slight 
 knoll, and, reaching the top, Olaf wheeled, 
 faced the camp, and, drawing his sword, 
 waved it as though in challenge. As he 
 did so Eric rode to the king's side and 
 said : " King, Rolje asketh thy good con 
 sent that he take men and beat up the 
 country ; we are in need of provisions." 
 
 "Let him go, but see that he followeth 
 not Olaf; I would not have harm come 
 unto him." 
 
 "Yea, king, it shall be done as thou 
 sayest," and Eric turned to a rider near him 
 and spoke a few words in an undertone, 
 whereupon the man galloped away toward 
 the center of the great camp. 
 
 The king musingly watched the distant 
 horseman and, as if speaking to himself, 
 said : "One such heart as his is worth to a
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 157 
 
 king a whole army." Olaf was out of 
 sight when the cavalcade followed Harold 
 back to the camp. Eric at once made in 
 quiry about Rolje ; learning that he had 
 started immediately upon receiving word 
 of the king's consent, Eric was content, 
 Hengis was happy all save Harold were 
 expectant. 
 
 In the meantime Olaf and Jorg were 
 making the best of their time, each with 
 brain full of the work he knew awaited 
 him. Jorg had learned in a few words the 
 result of Olaf's mission, and was impatient 
 to get back that he might prepare for the 
 inevitable struggle ; Olaf's heart, filled 
 with sadness at the prospect of Landsvag's 
 coming fiery trial, yet found room for 
 softer fancies as the sweet image of gentle 
 Hilda floated before his gaze. They had 
 ridden for some hours, scarce exchanging 
 a word, when an exclamation from their 
 two followers, who were some distance be 
 hind, caused them to rein in. Dashing up 
 the man said that both he and his com 
 panion had several times thought they 
 heard the hoofs of horses, and but a mo-
 
 158 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 ment before they had caught sight of a 
 body of mounted men riding hotly after 
 them, as though in pursuit. Olaf called 
 the other man, who verified his fellow's 
 statement, and even as they spoke the 
 pounding of heavy hoofs greeted their ears. 
 
 " Surely," said Olaf, " Harold is not the 
 dastard to send a troop to strike us in the 
 back. What think you of this, Jorg?" 
 
 " I think," was the quiet response, "we 
 must fight." 
 
 " Ah ! Harold, Harold 1 " exclaimed Olaf 
 passionately, as he shook his clenched fist 
 in the direction from which he had come, 
 " this is a foul deed, worthy of an assassin, 
 but not of a mighty king !" 
 
 " Harold hath not done this," said Jorg. 
 "I am old, Olaf, and see with the eyes of 
 age. Harold is no liar. This hath been 
 done by those who knit their gloomy 
 brows at us, and he knoweth it not, but we 
 must fight if we would live." 
 
 " If it be not Harold's doing I care not," 
 answered Olaf. " See ! Let us turn into 
 this timber for shelter, and when they 
 have passed us, then can we catch them in
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 159 
 
 the narrow pass between yon hills, where 
 one man is even as a score." 
 
 They turned into the woods and going 
 a short distance halted, where they might 
 see and possibly hear all that passed 
 though themselves well screened from 
 view. They had waited but a few mo 
 ments when Rolje dashed up at the head 
 of his squad, some twenty strong. Draw 
 ing rein he halted almost directly opposite 
 where the four were hidden and first closely 
 scanning the road in his front said to his 
 men: "We have them now; the proud 
 Olaf cannot be much beyond that bend in 
 the road. Harold's greatest foe is before 
 us ; let us hasten but once more let each 
 man swear to reveal naught of that we do, 
 for Harold's anger would strike even as the 
 lightning from yonder sky." 
 
 "We swear!" cried the men in chorus, 
 brandishing aloft their swords. 
 
 " Forward then ! death to Olaf ! " 
 
 "Death to Olaf!" echoed from lip to 
 lip as the column dashed on. 
 
 " Heard you their words, Olaf ? " asked
 
 160 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 "Yea, Harold hath naught with such 
 foul carrion -seekers." Then pointing his 
 finger after the receding column he cried: 
 "Assassins ! I will teach you what manner 
 of man is this you seek to stab from be 
 hind ! Jorg, we ride," and the young man 
 led the way, closely followed by his three 
 companions. A strange race pursuers 
 pursued ; shall the victims be victors ? 'Tis 
 often so in life ; he who runs is not always 
 vanquished nor he who pursues trium 
 phant. 
 
 As Olaf rounded the bend in the road 
 Rolje was just nearing a rocky cut, nar 
 row with high walls ; the young man saw 
 the column stretch out into twos and halt 
 ing said: "See where they ride; they 
 leave us room ; now at them. We ride 
 four, they ride two ; forward and strike 
 for Landsvag ! Let each blow be death ! " 
 Olaf and Jorg were in the center, a squire 
 on either side as they swept like a whirl 
 wind against the unconscious enemy. 
 
 Rolje, having no thought of the rear, 
 was pressing on, wondering somewhat that 
 he came not in sight of those he sought,
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 161 
 
 and slowing up to breathe his horses was 
 just entering the narrow defile when with 
 a shout: " Landsvag ! Landsvag ! " the 
 four struck his rear with terrific force. 
 The two horsemen who received the first 
 shock went down before they could turn 
 in their saddles, the next two followed ; 
 all was dire confusion the clash of steel, 
 oaths, imprecations ; maddened horses 
 plunging, tearing their sides against the 
 ragged rocks. Rolje sought to wheel his 
 men that he might face the foe but each 
 rider as he turned found one of the four 
 ready for him. Through the column they 
 forced their bloody way, a terrible wedge, 
 splitting and tearing as it drove into the 
 heart of this quivering flesh. Nearly half 
 of Rolje's force was down. 
 
 Olaf, now wedged in, carcasses behind, 
 a living wall before, espied Rolje and 
 cried out: "You who would slay Olaf 
 come! he waits!" but Rolje, bent upon 
 getting his men out, disregarded the chal 
 lenge. There were left of his twenty 
 twelve beside himself; four faced about, 
 covering the retreat while the rest sought
 
 1 62 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 to press on beyond the binding walls of 
 rock ; a charge, two of the four went 
 down, the others turned and fled after 
 their comrades, close pressed by Olaf ; 
 again the shock, two more were down, 
 eight were now left, but the road began to 
 widen, Rolje made one last effort ; wheel 
 ing, he charged himself at the head of his 
 decimated troop. A crash, the devoted 
 four, outnumbered, almost surrounded, 
 recoiled ; Rolje, taking advantage of this, 
 put spurs to his horse and dashing up the 
 steep slope that now led off from the road 
 escaped, followed by seven of his men, 
 but not before Olaf's sword had drank 
 deep of his blood. 
 
 Olaf made no effort to follow the fugi 
 tives but said smilingly, as he wiped his 
 sword on his horse's mane: "Harold will 
 have not so many men when Landsvag 
 meets him." Then noting that they were 
 but three he asked: " Where is Thorsen ?" 
 
 "Dead, Olaf," replied Jorg, without a 
 sign of personal feeling, though the un 
 happy man had been his own faithful 
 servant for many years.
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 163 
 
 " He was a valiant man and deserved a 
 better fate," said Olaf. 
 
 "Yes, Olaf." 
 
 By nightfall they had reached Jorg's do 
 mains, and shortly after entered the castle. 
 Jegge, coming forward to meet them, heard 
 in a few words the result of the embassy, 
 and the boy, full of the sublime confidence 
 of youth, could scarcely conceal his delight 
 at the prospect of war ; to his mind war 
 meant glory for his land, renown for him 
 self ; he could not understand defeat ex 
 cept when it overtook the enemy. 
 
 Olaf, after supping and resting for an 
 hour, declined further hospitality, and 
 pushed on to the court from which he had 
 already been two weeks absent, leaving the 
 faithful Jorg to watch the frontier until 
 Halfjord's entire force could take the field. 
 
 That same night a weary, crestfallen 
 band of seven, two of whom bore between 
 them the insensible body of their leader, 
 while a third led a riderless horse, made 
 their way over the ragged hills that marked 
 Landsvag's boundary. Day was breaking 
 when they reached Harold's camp, and in
 
 164 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 whispers told the other conspirators what 
 had befallen them. Rolje was not dead, 
 but sorely wounded. On the third day, as 
 Eric, Hengis and others stood around his 
 couch, he said: "This Olaf is no man, 
 but a demon ; he slew thirteen of my 
 bravest men and gave me this soft re 
 minder of his visit. If Harold meets Olaf 
 in the field he will need to call upon Thor 
 for help." 
 
 History has never satisfactorily account 
 ed for Harold's delay just at this junc 
 ture ; he might have marched on Lands- 
 vag immediately after Olaf left him, and 
 yet his army lay idle for ten days before 
 the march was begun. It were a pleasing 
 conceit that this unmilitary delay was due 
 to a quixotic chivalry that refused to take 
 advantage of a strategic opportunity 
 against a worthy foe.
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 Olaf's absence during the festivities at 
 tending Halfjord's wedding was naturally 
 the subject of much comment; specula 
 tion was rife as to both the occasion of his 
 sudden departure and the nature of his 
 secret errand. As for Grunhilde, she com 
 plained bitterly to the king of Olaf's 
 apparent slight, seeking to draw from her 
 spouse some information, but Halfjord 
 held his peace, which, for a bridegroom, 
 was a most remarkable feat, and is remem 
 bered to this day by the descendants of the 
 men he once ruled. However, despite the 
 king's silence, the news of Harold's ap 
 proach, his victories, Landsvag's danger, 
 began to filter through a thousand leaks ; 
 wild stories were told with bulging eyes, 
 heard with bated breath ; an air of uncer 
 tainty, uneasiness, pervaded the court, dim 
 ming the most brilliant fetes given in 
 165
 
 1 66 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 honor of the young queen. It would have 
 been strange if the gossips had failed to 
 connect Olaf's secret departure with the 
 impending invasion, and they told some 
 stories hitting marvellously near the real 
 truth. The fever of excitement grew, new 
 reports came daily, hourly, from the fron 
 tier, and still Olaf came not. 
 
 After the interview with Hilda already 
 related, Olaf went at once to greet the re 
 turning king. As the gay cavalcade, cur 
 veting and prancing, entered the court 
 yard, the sight of Olaf awaiting them 
 produced intense excitement. Halfjord, 
 leaping from his horse, extended his hand 
 as he said : " Olaf, we welcome you ; your 
 presence maketh now our new joy com 
 plete." 
 
 Olaf bowed, saying in a low tone : 
 "King, I thank thee. I have much for 
 thine own ear." 
 
 "I will summon you shortly," replied 
 his sovereign. 
 
 A gallant-looking young fellow, hand 
 some, magnificently attired, one of whom 
 we shall see more, sprang toward Olaf and,
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 167 
 
 clapping him familiarly on the shoulder, 
 said : " You have missed much merry 
 sport, Olaf." 
 
 " Yea, Erling," was the quiet response, 
 "but Olaf hath seen much merry sport." 
 
 " Yet do you bear a sorry countenance 
 for one who taketh life's pleasures." 
 
 " 'Tis but the dust of travel, Erling ; I 
 I will go prepare for the night. What 
 pleasing fancy hath the king for this 
 night's diversion ? " 
 
 "A great dinner, at which both we and 
 our fair ladies shall be present." 
 
 " It is well ; I shall be there," and he 
 left the crowd. 
 
 "What saith our lordly Olaf, Erling?" 
 asked Alric. 
 
 " He saith he will dine with the king to 
 night, Alric." 
 
 "Ah ! But his sour face will make but 
 sorry pleasantry." 
 
 "Nay, Alric, Olaf hath not so black a 
 face," said one, while another laughingly 
 cried : " No, but with Olaf at the board Al- 
 ric's hand will so itch for his sword that it 
 may spill the cup of wine. Eh, Alric?" This
 
 1 68 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 reference to the recent encounter, from 
 the effects of which Alric was just recover 
 ing, provoked a general laugh at his ex 
 pense as the group dispersed. 
 
 Olaf responded at once when the king 
 sent to bid him come. Halfjord seemed 
 deeply concerned and plied the young 
 man with questions, readily and promptly 
 answered. He had never seemed to Olaf 
 so nearly what a king should be, and when, 
 after hearing of Harold's cool statement 
 that Landsvag should be his, the king 
 burst forth indignantly : " Not while Half 
 jord sits upon its throne ! " Olaf threw his 
 arms about him as he said : " There spoke 
 my king ! Halfjord, thou hast awakened, 
 thy sturdy soul is roused ; now art thou 
 indeed a king !" 
 
 "Yea, Olaf, Halfjord is King of Lands 
 vag, and that will we show unto this Har 
 old they call The Fair-haired. What ! he 
 will take Landsvag ? By the great Odin ! 
 Halfjord will himself take the field against 
 this bragging knave ! " Reaching out he 
 grasped Olaf's hand as he continued : 
 "Halfjord and Olaf we will ride together
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 169 
 
 to meet this rude Harold. Landsvag is 
 the prize, lad ! " 
 
 " Yea, king, and with our own Halfjord 
 in the field there be none in all Landsvag 
 will stay behind. Ah ! Harold, Harold ! 
 Look to thyself now ! " 
 
 "Yea, Harold 1" cried the enraged king, 
 "we will feed thy mighty men unto the 
 beasts of the forests! But, Olaf, there re 
 mains much to do ; our warriors must be 
 gathered together ; we may not sit in 
 quietude till he disturb our rest." 
 
 "All hath been done, king," replied 
 Olaf; "Jorg is even now abroad keeping 
 watchful eye upon our border, and I have 
 sent messengers into every part of thy 
 kingdom. Before another sun shall set 
 thou wilt see the first gathering of a mighty 
 army beneath the walls of thy castle." 
 
 " Verily, Olaf, you are a wizard, naught 
 may be done if you do it not." And the 
 king bent a fond, admiring gaze on his 
 boyhood's companion, then added: "See 
 ing that your work is done you will join 
 us in our last fete this night, eh, Olaf?" 
 
 "Yea, king, Olaf will be there."
 
 170 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 Rude, half-barbarous, yet gorgeous in its 
 very rudeness was the scene in Halfjord's 
 banquet hall as Olaf entered shortly after 
 leaving the king ; bright-eyed women sat 
 beside fierce-bearded men, soft hands 
 brushed against hard and heavy-hilted 
 swords, while half-smothered sighs of love 
 mingled with coarse oaths and boisterous 
 laughter. Great torches shed a flickering, 
 half-uncanny light over the vast apartment 
 whose cavernous walls seemed to mark the 
 confines of another world. 
 
 The feast began. All sat at one great 
 table, Halfjord at the end, Grunhilde on 
 his right, Olaf to the left ; further down 
 near the center sat Hilda next to Alric, 
 while just opposite was a young woman of 
 unusual beauty, another of the queen's 
 ladies, Olga by name. The latter seemed 
 not to like too well the arrangement at 
 the board and sought in vain to chain the 
 glance of Alric's vagrant eye, while Hilda, 
 unable even to see Olaf from where she 
 was placed, sat silent, with the air of a mar 
 tyr, giving no heed to the rough courtesies 
 of Alric.
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 171 
 
 Grunhilde was beaming, Halfjord de 
 lighted, Olaf gracious and, taking their 
 cue from their sovereigns, the rest of the 
 party overflowed with merriment ; wild 
 jests, hoarse shouts, mingled with shrill 
 exclamations chasing in perfect pande 
 monium up and down the board. 
 
 Halfjord drank less heavily than his 
 wont, Olaf scarce at all, but both seemed 
 anxious to press the cup upon the others 
 until, at a signal from Olaf, who feared a 
 too speedy culmination of the orgy, Half 
 jord commanded silence, saying when he 
 could be heard : " Men of Landsvag ! 
 Harold saith he will have this our fair 
 land. We look not kindly upon his vain 
 boast and will take the field in person; let 
 him who loveth Landsvag go with us, 
 those who fear Harold remain behind." 
 
 A tremendous shout greeted this speech. 
 Springing to their feet and brandishing 
 drawn swords the men cried : " With thee, 
 Halfjord ! " 
 
 " I would I were a man," said Grun 
 hilde, as with flushed cheek she watched 
 this scene.
 
 172 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 "Nay, sweet queen," responded Half- 
 jord, " it pleaseth me better that thou art 
 woman." 
 
 At this juncture, the tumult having 
 somewhat subsided, Olaf rose and cried: 
 "A boon, king ! " 
 
 "What would Olaf ?" was the answer. 
 
 " King, thou hast a beauteous bride, fair 
 as the day itself, but Olaf's castle is empty. 
 When I am weary I would fain throw my 
 self into soft arms and in the tender lan- 
 guishings of love forget this troublous 
 tempest of life. Olaf has served thee 
 faithfully nor yet hath sued for aught thou 
 mightest give; but now, oh, king, as sole 
 reward for true and faithful service, I ask 
 thy consent that Olaf wed this sweet maid 
 even before we depart to meet the mighty 
 Harold." As he spoke he had gradually 
 moved toward the girl who, remembering 
 the afternoon scene, was shivering with 
 fright, scarce able to sit up, yet never re 
 moving her eyes from Olaf as he drew 
 closer until with his last words he clasped 
 in his arms the form of the now almost 
 unconscious Hilda.
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 173 
 
 A murmur of astonishment ran around 
 the table. This was a most unlooked-for 
 culmination ; it might be safely said that, 
 with the exception of Grunhilde and the 
 two chief actors, none had dreamed that 
 Olaf had sought the solace of love. Alric's 
 face rivalled his hair in its fierce color, 
 Grunhilde looked as though a serpent had 
 stung her, Halfjord was amused, but Olga 
 was happy, happier even than the expect 
 ant lovers, whose fate hung on one man's 
 words. 
 
 " By Odin ! Olaf, but you are hot and 
 hasty in love as in war ! " exclaimed the 
 king, laughing, for Halfjord enjoyed the 
 rich spice of the unexpected. 
 
 "Not so, king; this gentle heart," indi 
 cating Hilda, " was a fortress before whose 
 sturdy walls I needs must sit in patient 
 waiting for the space of many long and 
 hungry hours, but now the prize is won, I 
 ask it of my king as my rightful spoils." 
 
 Halfjord was about to speak, Grunhilde 
 interrupted him. "Methinks," she said, 
 " this were neither time nor place for this. 
 See, Hilda hath not spoken, her gentle
 
 174 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 heart hath not stomach for so public an 
 avowal as you would force upon her, Olaf. 
 We will question her in private and accord 
 ing to what she saith shall Olaf's answer 
 be." 
 
 "Thou art right, as ever, sweet Grun- 
 hilde. We will hear this at another time, 
 Olaf," said the king. 
 
 Olaf had intercepted a look pregnant 
 with meaning which passed between Alric 
 and the queen as the latter was speaking. 
 He made no reply to the king, cast a re 
 proachful look upon Grunhilde and re 
 turned to his seat, while Hilda raised her 
 eyes in mute appeal to her mistress, and 
 in response to a sign of assent from her 
 withdrew. 
 
 The banquet, which had opened so bril 
 liantly, was a failure ; Olaf's stern brow 
 seemed to sit in judgment at the board, 
 condemning the selfish gayety of the syco 
 phants, nor were their spirits restored until 
 both Olaf and the women retired, when the 
 wine circulated anew, and in the excess of 
 the cup they found intoxication's counter 
 feit merriment.
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 175 
 
 In the morning the king informed Olaf 
 that his suit had been referred entirely to 
 Grunhilde as the better able to pass upon 
 it, and shortly after he was summoned to 
 the queen's presence. 
 
 Grunhilde was alone; she greeted her 
 foster-brother with a most gracious smile. 
 "Ah, Olaf ! come sit you near me." 
 
 Olaf bowed without speaking, reverently 
 kissed the proffered hand, and took the 
 seat she indicated. Grunhilde silently re 
 garded him for a moment, then, leaning 
 toward him; she asked : "Is Grunhilde less 
 sister now that you no longer tell her 
 those things which move you ? " 
 
 "Not so, sweet Grunhilde," he answered. 
 "I love thee still more now, for now art 
 thou queen as well as sister." 
 
 "And yet," she said, sadly, "time was 
 when Olaf would not have thought to wed 
 without telling Grunhilde." All the ten 
 derness of the girl's nature had come to 
 the surface ; her eyes were softly clouded 
 with that sweet, mysterious haze which, 
 rising from the depths of woman's soul, in 
 hiding much reveals yet more. Olaf looked,
 
 176 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 felt guilty of he knew not what, and, tak 
 ing her hand with old-time familiarity, was 
 about to explain to her that he had had no 
 opportunity of speaking, when her melting 
 mood vanished like the unseen flight of a 
 disembodied spirit. "Methinks," she said 
 imperiously, "Olaf is bold to ask the 
 hand of Grunhilde's maid with not a 
 thought of his queen." 
 
 The change in her bearing was no more 
 lightning-like than that in his. " Queen," 
 replied he coldly, "Olaf hath asked thy 
 kind favor for his suit." 
 
 "When?" 
 
 "When he asked Halfjord, queen." 
 
 "Nay, but you had bespoke the girl be 
 fore even that." 
 
 "Yea, queen, Olaf's heart had so drank 
 of love's sweet fountain that it did over 
 flow, and, thanks be to Odin, her tender 
 heart drank from the same stream." 
 
 The queen frowned. " It were sport to 
 those who gather around our good king to 
 hear Olaf, whom all think wedded to the 
 rude art of war, or the still more dangerous 
 game of statecraft, sighing like a lovesick
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 177 
 
 swain over a simple maid. Verily, Olaf " 
 she laughed, but there was no merriment 
 in the laugh " this new fancy of yours 
 would give me much pleasure, save that it 
 must give you pain." 
 
 Olaf started from his seat "Grun- 
 hilde ! " he gasped. 
 
 " Yea, I speak true, Olaf. Sit you down 
 and hear me hear the words of a sister, 
 one who loves you, Olaf, would gladly 
 spare you that which is to come, and yet 
 for her very sister's love must tell you. 
 Olaf, among men you are a man, but with 
 women you are a very child. A pretty 
 face has turned your thoughts in soft and 
 gentle strains, and you who know no guile, 
 think none, yet even now doth she for 
 whom you so hotly sigh yield to your in 
 sistence, while in private she weepeth out 
 her bright eyes for love of another." 
 
 Woman is all heart, yet has no heart 
 a paradox, you say. O yes, a paradox, 
 but none the less true, for the dear creature, 
 though that she calls her heart be full to 
 overflowing, will tease as the cat does the 
 mouse the man for whom she would give
 
 178 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 her life ; even more in some moods she 
 will wring the last drop of blood from his 
 heart, and, though her very soul be crushed 
 in the wringing, smile as she views the 
 wreck. 
 
 Ah ! woman ! woman ! It is well that 
 you know not your own power, else were 
 there little hope for man ! Without your 
 gentle presence man would find this life a 
 living hell, death a sweet release, and yet, 
 fair tempter, we are taught in holy writ 
 that but for you there were no such thing 
 as eternal hell. Ah ! well, little maid 
 creation's prize, Creator's masterpiece, we 
 have you, that is enough ; and though 
 your first act on earth was to form a part 
 nership with the devil, which (pardon me) 
 has never yet been absolutely dissolved, 
 still not a man of us but would rather take 
 long chances on salvation with you than 
 its absolute certainty deprived of your soft 
 ministrations in this weary life. 
 
 Olaf, despairing, raging, half wild at 
 what he heard, forgot that he was in the 
 presence of his queen ; he gripped her 
 hand like a vise as he fairly shrieked :
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 179 
 
 " Grunhilde ! drive me not to curse thee ! 
 thou knowest not what thou sayest ; not 
 even Landsvag's queen shall say to Olaf 
 that I have heard from thee. Speak ; say 
 thou didst but play with me ! " 
 
 The man's agony was terrible, but she 
 was cold, impassive, unyielding as stone. 
 
 "I spoke true, Olaf," she said. He 
 buried his head in his hands. " Grunhilde, 
 I suffer ! " he groaned. Her eyes flashed. 
 " You suffer ? Even so do others suffer. 
 Is Olaf's heart to be more tenderly nur 
 tured than those of less favored mor 
 tals?" 
 
 There was a moment's silence ; then 
 Olaf broke forth : " Fool that I am ; I 
 I will not hear thee, Grunhilde, though 
 thou art queen, yet my heart believeth thee 
 not. Hilda loves me ; nor will I doubt, 
 until with her own lips she telleth me she 
 hath lied ! " 
 
 " Then from her own lips shall Olaf 
 hear it," was the cold response, as the 
 queen summoned a menial and sent for 
 Hilda. 
 
 The waiting was painful ; neither spoke;
 
 i8o Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 Grunhilde sat wrapt in thought, Olaf went 
 to the casement and stood with back turned 
 on his queen until the sound of a soft foot 
 step caused him to turn with a start and 
 face Hilda. The girl had evidently been 
 weeping ; her face was drawn and pinched. 
 One look only a hungry, despairing look, 
 she gave Olaf when he saw not, then drop 
 ped her eyes to the floor and waited as the 
 victim waits the executioner's axe. The 
 queen averted her eyes, looked first at Olaf 
 who had again turned to the window, then, 
 seeming to regard intently a distant corner 
 of the room, said : " Hilda, we have been 
 chiding Olaf for the unseemly heat with 
 which he spoke for your hand ; he hath 
 grown angry, and believeth not even his 
 queen that you will not wed him, where 
 fore have we sent for you ; speak, that he 
 may hear you will you be Olaf's bride ?" 
 Hilda seemed to choke, but the half- 
 stifled word, " No !" was heard, Olaf 
 thought, too plainly. Turning, he faced 
 the women and, with a smile of bitter irony, 
 said : " So ; a simple maid hath done that 
 no man might do made Olaf a fool."
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 181 
 
 Suddenly his brow darkened with an angry 
 frown. " False as you are fair ! " he ex 
 claimed, " yet not so fair as false. But a 
 few hours since about this neck those soft 
 and clinging arms entwined, the while I 
 drank from your too willing lips the sweet 
 wine of love's kiss. That tongue which 
 now forswears itself hath oft, forsooth, 
 framed tender words to thrill this rugged 
 heart of mine ; your face is passing fair, 
 your form beyond compare, your heart the 
 noisome resting-place of infamy and 
 shame." He was working himself into a 
 frenzy. " You a maiden?" he continued ; 
 "Not so; you have a harlot's soul I 
 gorge at thought of your lascivious kisses; 
 strange, passing strange, so fair a temple 
 should hold so foul a tenant. Get you 
 gone, girl ! my very eyes do bleed at sight 
 of you get you gone ! " 
 
 Hilda was trembling like a leaf ; when 
 Olaf paused for want of breath her lacer 
 ated woman's soul found utterance in the 
 gasping words, " Oh ! queen ! " Grun- 
 hilde, apparently heedless of the girl's 
 torture, simply waved her hand, saying,
 
 1 82 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 " Go, Hilda." She went slowly out, turn 
 ing at every step to fasten her burning eyes 
 on the man whose scorn had withered her 
 tender heart. Like the everlastingly damned 
 soul which, falling, falling, falling into the 
 depths of endless perdition, yet, in agony 
 of despair, turns ever its envious eyes upon 
 that heaven forever lost, did she, with 
 faltering step, with eyes that saw naught 
 save that she left behind, pass from the 
 paradise of love, out to the darkness of 
 despair. 
 
 When they were again left to themselves 
 Grunhilde spoke with some warmth: "Me- 
 thinks Olaf forgetteth he speaketh in pres 
 ence of his queen." 
 
 "Grunhilde," replied he, " in the pres 
 ence of an outraged soul there are no 
 earthly distinctions." 
 
 She rose and going over to him laid her 
 hand caressingly on his shoulder. " Take 
 it not so hard, Olaf," she said, " 'tis but the 
 lot of many men." 
 
 "Yea, and of this man, too," he an 
 swered bitterly. "Thus endeth Olaf's 
 dream of love."
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 183 
 
 " Not so, brother, there be many women 
 in this world." 
 
 "Ah! Grunhilde, thinkest thou that 
 Olaf changeth like the wind from one 
 quarter to another ? Nay, in this world is 
 none other for me." 
 
 She still clung affectionately to his arm, 
 though at his last words she winced as 
 though something hurt her. 
 
 " And is there no love for Olaf hence 
 forth ? " she asked. 
 
 " Nay, Grunhilde, false though she be I 
 yet love Hilda, and none but Hilda." 
 
 " Then love none other, Olaf ; love not 
 even her for her falseness, and now that 
 love hath gone out of your life let ambition 
 be your stay." 
 
 She spoke with feverish intensity. Olaf 
 was surprised. Before replying he half 
 turned, and as he pondered, regarded her 
 with an inquiring look. " Ambition ! " 
 said he; "That hath no meaning unto Olaf." 
 
 " Ah ! Olaf ! she exclaimed impetuously, 
 " had you my ambition you would have 
 been king of Landsvag ! " 
 
 "And Halfjord?" he asked.
 
 1 84 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 " Your vassal, if he lived." 
 
 Olaf did not reply at once. He was 
 thinking ; she had suggested to him an en 
 tirely new train of thought. Finally he 
 asked : " And Grunhilde ? " 
 
 " Your faithful servant and friend, Olaf," 
 was her answer. 
 
 Again he paused for thought, then 
 reached up, and taking the hand that still 
 rested on his arm, said : " Grunhilde, learn 
 this ! Olaf hath no ambition save faithfully 
 to serve his country and his rightful king ; 
 Olaf hath no love save that which Grun 
 hilde hath seen spurned." He hesitated a 
 moment, then formally addressing her, 
 said : " Queen, Olaf hath much to do be 
 fore Landsvag goeth forth to meet Harold; 
 I crave thy permission to depart." Her 
 only reply was a gesture of assent. 
 
 Grunhilde, alone, stood just where he 
 left her. At last she threw herself on the 
 stone floor and weeping murmured : "Ah ! 
 Olaf, Olaf ! I love you not well enough to 
 sin with you, yet too well to see another your 
 happy bride ! For me your heart is ice ; it 
 is well!"
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 Meantime, in an apartment not far re 
 mote from that Olaf had just left, another 
 scene between lovers was enacting. 
 
 Alric, seeking Olga, had found her 
 alone and greeting her with a kiss he 
 asked, " Sweet Olga, what say the women 
 of these strange events which so stir us 
 men?" 
 
 " What say the women ? Wherefore 
 asketh Alric such things of Olga ? " she in 
 nocently inquired. 
 
 " Olga," said Alric impatiently, " I have 
 no time for senseless dawdling such as 
 this ; I needs must work. Have you aught 
 to tell ? " 
 
 " Nay, why should I have ? " 
 
 " Cease this teasing ! " he cried angrily. 
 " Tell me what you hear that may advan 
 tage Alric." 
 
 The girl turned and facing him said 
 slowly, deliberately, " Alric, for love have I 
 185
 
 1 86 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 given my soul into your keeping, played 
 the spy upon our trusting queen and, 
 worming from her those secrets told only 
 in the quiet seclusion of the wedded cham 
 ber, have brought them to your too eager 
 ears, inquiring not what use you make of 
 that I tell, yet knowing but too well you 
 mean no good to those who rule us. This 
 have I done for love of you and what have 
 I in return? Naught save the oft repeated 
 empty promise of him who, false to his 
 king, can but be false to her who too 
 weakly yields to his insistence. Nay, hear 
 me out, Alric," she said as he sought to in 
 terrupt her, "even now are you false to 
 Olga, but beware her vengeance ! Trai 
 tress I may be, false to king, queen and 
 country, yet have I been true to you, Alric; 
 be you true to me or else I swear by the 
 great Odin to drag you through the dust to 
 shame and death ! " 
 
 Alric, startled by this sudden change of 
 front, sought to make light of it, asking 
 banteringly, "What demon possesseth 
 sweet Olga that she speak thus savagely ? " 
 at the same time seeking to embrace her.
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 187 
 
 She repulsed him as she answered, "A 
 demon, Alric, of so frightful mien that, 
 beholding him, mine eyes see naught save 
 blood ; my trembling hands in nervous 
 frenzy seek to grasp the knife that floats 
 before my gaze, a knife for your false heart, 
 Alric. That demon is jealousy; know you 
 his bloody countenance ? " 
 
 "Nay, sweet one, I like not such rude 
 companions ; Alric has no doubt of Olga's 
 love nor seeth reason why she should ques 
 tion his." 
 
 " Alric were fool to doubt Olga." 
 
 "Wherefore then," he asked, "doubt 
 you Alric ? " 
 
 " They who know do say that Alric loves 
 the maiden Hilda," was her reply. 
 
 At this he burst out laughing, " Verily, 
 Olga, your fancies amuse me the while I 
 chafe at this delay. Know you not that 
 the great Olaf seeketh Hilda? Did he not 
 even demand her of our king but a few 
 hours since?" 
 
 " Yea, but received her not ; it is said 
 that our queen favors Alric's suit." 
 
 " I tell you, girl, Alric hath no suit save
 
 1 88 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 for you. I weary of this folly." He rose 
 to go but, womanlike, she detained him. 
 
 " If Alric loves not Hilda why his fierce 
 looks when Olaf held her in his arms ? " 
 
 "Why? Because Alric hateth Olaf, nor 
 can he brook happiness for him who hath 
 pricked Alric with his sword. Olga," he 
 continued savagely, " Olaf must die ! " 
 
 "Nay, for Landsvag's sake must he 
 live." 
 
 " Not so. Is Olaf greater than Alric ? " 
 
 " Ah ! Alric, you speak to my heart 
 which answers 'Nay,' yet have you not told 
 me you love Olga." 
 
 He saw she was relenting and drawing 
 nearer said, " I have so often told you that 
 grow you not weary of hearing it? " 
 
 " Nay, Alric, I pray you grow not weary 
 of saying it. Once more, Alric, tell me." 
 
 "I love you, Olga," he whispered in 
 tones as soft as he could make them, then 
 added, " Now is Olga satisfied and ready to 
 do my bidding?" 
 
 " I am, Alric if you but tell me what 
 lieth before Olga, though it wounds my
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 189 
 
 heart that you are more ready to speak of 
 your affairs than of our love." 
 
 " Then listen, girl, a throne is Olga's re 
 ward." 
 
 " A throne ? What care I for that ? I 
 want but Alric." 
 
 " Alric will not live without a throne, 
 hence must you have a throne to have 
 Alric." 
 
 " Alric, I like not such words, my heart 
 seeketh not as doth yours the false glamour 
 of the court ; rather would I sit in quiet at 
 your feet and hear you forever whisper 
 sweet words of love. Besides, what throne 
 will Alric have and where shall he get it ?" 
 
 " Leave that to me nor disturb your 
 pretty head save to do that I say." 
 
 "Nay, Alric," she insisted, "if you love 
 me you will tell me, nor will I do your 
 bidding till I know." 
 
 The man hesitated He felt that he 
 needed her, but, playing as he was a 
 double game both in love and politics, 
 liked not too well the thought of making 
 of one of his victims a confidant as to the
 
 I go Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 other. After pondering he concluded that 
 any sign of distrust would make of the girl 
 a more dangerous possibility than frank 
 confidence; his mind was made up. "The 
 throne of Landsvag," was what he said. 
 
 " Landsvag ! " she exclaimed. " You 
 jest, Alric." 
 
 "No, I jest not, Olga. Hear me: This 
 Harold will win and Landsvag will be his ; 
 Halfjord and Olaf die but Alric lives." 
 
 " Yet can I not see how Alric may have 
 this throne if Harold wins." 
 
 He lowered his voice to a whisper : 
 "Alric will be with Harold, his reward 
 Landsvag." 
 
 The girl stared in frozen horror at the 
 self-confessed traitor. "Alric a traitor ? 
 Alric sell his native land ? Ah ! Alric, 
 even Olga's love may hardly bear with 
 such infamy!" 
 
 "Yes, traitor, if such it please you to 
 call me," he answered, with an effort at a 
 smile. "And yet" (here he essayed a 
 softer tone), " it is for Olga's sake." 
 
 "Nay, nay, Alric, let not Olga be the 
 cause of this foul disgrace ; what care I
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 191 
 
 for crowns ? I but wish your love, naught 
 in the world save that," and impulsively 
 she threw her arms around his neck ; but 
 he was in no mood for tenderness beyond 
 what seemed necessary to keep the peace, 
 and disengaging himself he said: 
 
 "Leave such things to me, Olga. Sit 
 you here and dream of love, if it please 
 your fond fancy, but keep your ears open 
 and let me know that which you hear ; 
 will you do that ?" 
 
 "Oh! Alric, ask me not to sell my own, 
 my native land !" she pleaded piteously. 
 
 "I ask naught of you, girl," he gruffly 
 answered, "save that you tell me what 
 I ask." There was a moment's silence, 
 broken by Alric as he continued: "Listen, 
 Olga, I seek not Halfjord's ruin, but 
 only Alric's safety, whatever be the end. 
 Do that I ask and when we return Olga 
 shall be Alric's sweet bride what say 
 you?" 
 
 Scarce half satisfied with his explana 
 tion, more than delighted with his promise, 
 she replied : "Alric's words are as music 
 unto mine ears."
 
 192 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 "And you will seek to question the 
 queen?" he asked. 
 
 " I will, Alric," she faltered. 
 
 " Then shall Alric see you yet again be 
 fore we go forth to battle." 
 
 He was about to leave her without an 
 other word, but she, springing forward, 
 clasped her arms about him and with a 
 voice choked with sobs begged him to tell 
 her over and over again that he loved her. 
 This he did with as good grace as possible 
 and when he finally escaped his sole com 
 ment on the whole scene was a half-smoth 
 ered objurgation with the mental note: 
 " Women are fools ! " 
 
 Not many hours after the scene just re 
 lated Olaf, alone in his chamber, saw the 
 curtains before the opening slightly move, 
 then part and in the gap was framed the 
 tear-stained, haggard, frightened face of 
 the girl Hilda. She stood trembling, hesi 
 tating on the threshold. Olaf rudely ac 
 costed her : 
 
 " You mistake, girl ; Alric's chamber 
 lieth beyond."
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 193 
 
 The unhappy girl, recoiling as from a 
 i could only gasp : "Ah ! Olaf ! " 
 
 "Begone, woman!" he cried. "Take 
 your lecherous soul to him who payeth 
 you in the hot kisses of unrighteous love. 
 Get you gone, I say ! " 
 
 "Olaf! Olaf!" she wailed, "you kill 
 Hilda!" 
 
 " Nay," quoth he, " if so foul a thing as 
 you did boast the frame of man my sword 
 would drink its fill of your treacherous 
 blood, but Olaf slayeth no woman even 
 though that woman be a fiend." 
 
 "Your words," she said mournfully, 
 "are sharper than your sword," then added 
 pleadingly: "Hear me, Olaf, oh! hear 
 me ! " 
 
 "Hear you?" he echoed with a laugh 
 of brutal harshness. "Nay, Olaf hath heard 
 you swear love and truth, and with those 
 selfsame lips, almost within the hour, for 
 swear these soft and melting oaths ! By 
 Odin! Mine ears do tingle even now with 
 sound of your perjured words; upon those 
 lips where once did play the soft alluring
 
 194 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 smile of love now lurks the covert sneer ; a 
 woman hath accomplished that which man 
 might never do, degraded Olaf, and you, 
 the woman, come now with hungry heart 
 and eager eyes to gloat over your too well 
 accomplished task. Hear you? I have 
 too often done that nor have I stomach 
 for further speech with you." 
 
 He had turned his back while speaking, 
 but when he finished she glided softly over 
 the threshold, and laying a tremulous 
 hand upon his arm, said, " Olaf, shame 
 were Hilda's portion should she be dis 
 covered here." 
 
 "Yea," he replied, "that were true if so 
 be shame might come to present degrada 
 tion." 
 
 Seeming not to heed the interruption 
 she continued, "Olaf saith Hilda hath a 
 wanton heart, but Olaf knoweth she would 
 not brave the ready chance of infamy save 
 for sweet love's sake." 
 
 " Love ! " he exclaimed. " You know not 
 what love means." 
 
 " Olaf ! I know but too well, seeing that 
 I love you."
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 195 
 
 A sardonic smile was his sole reply to 
 this avowal, while she in feverish haste 
 continued : " Yea, Olaf, I love you ; this 
 much shall you hear, though you close 
 your ears to all else which Hilda saith. I 
 love you, Olaf, and for that love have 
 braved the chance of shame, and even of 
 your scorn, in coming thus to you." The 
 girl's earnestness impressed Olaf, and 
 though by no means convinced, he suf 
 fered her to continue without interruption. 
 Reassured by his silence she said, " When 
 Grunhilde questioned Hilda she spoke but 
 one word in reply, and yet that one word 
 tore poor Hilda's heart more than all the 
 burning words of scornful abuse that Olaf 
 hurled at Hilda." 
 
 Here was a suggestion most pregnant in 
 its possibilities ; whatever Olaf's opinion 
 of the girl's honesty it might not pass un 
 challenged ; as yet he had given no sign 
 of relenting, simply letting her speak, as it 
 were, by sufferance, but her last words, 
 seeming to tell his dead heart of the possi 
 bility of resurrection, awoke his interest. 
 His eyes for the first time met hers ; there
 
 196 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 was no doubt that fidelity, truth, shone in 
 those eyes, now clouded with sorrow's soft 
 veil. He shivered, almost unconsciously 
 he moved as if to embrace her, then catch 
 ing himself, some of his old roughness 
 came back, though his tone was less rude 
 when he asked, "If this be so, then why 
 did Hilda answer Grunhilde thus?" 
 
 " Why, for your sake, Olaf. Could aught 
 else have drawn such a word from Hilda's 
 lips ? " 
 
 " For my sake ? Now methinks you 
 jest, and in most unseemly fashion. To 
 me there seemeth no wit in such pleas 
 antry. Leave me, woman ; go while yet 
 there is time else, being discovered, all 
 will think of you even as doth Olaf." 
 
 Again had he grown rude and stern, but 
 Hilda was not to be shaken off. With a 
 woman's wit she divined that he was un 
 aware of that which had been revealed to 
 her, and with a woman's love she sought 
 to tell him and in the telling save him. 
 "Olaf," she said, "though you kill me for 
 speaking, yet must I speak ! You are in 
 danger, and Hilda renounced your love
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 197 
 
 to save the life that unto Landsvag is 
 much, unto Hilda more." 
 
 Here was scent of a political plot. He 
 waited with every sense alert for what 
 should follow, but she, too, was waiting 
 and not until he asked, "What doth Hilda 
 mean ? " did she unburden her heavily 
 charged soul. 
 
 "Olaf, after the king's banquet the 
 queen sent for me and told me if I loved 
 you I would give you up. She said there 
 were those in this kingdom who loved not 
 Olaf, yet who had too ready access to the 
 king's ear ; that Halfjord had other plans 
 for you and your wedding Hilda, angering 
 him, would but give them the desired oppor 
 tunity of poisoning the king's mind against 
 you. The queen, Olaf, made it your life 
 against Hilda's happiness ; do you wonder 
 now that Hilda answered ' No' to the ques 
 tion if she would wed you ? Olaf, you 
 have doubted Hilda, and in your rude 
 anger have even cursed her with words 
 that did shrivel her very soul, whose fire 
 hath all but dried up the fountains of her 
 tears. Yet, oh ! Olaf, my heart hath ever
 
 198 Beyond the Palzeocrystic Sea 
 
 been true to you since first mine ears heard 
 your sweet words of love. I love you, 
 Olaf, nor may other than Olaf ever call 
 Hilda his, and yet for that very love have 
 I refused the sweet joy of lying in your 
 loving arms." 
 
 Olaf heard what she had to say, first with 
 incredulity, next with momentarily increas 
 ing anger. Hilda paused, waiting for some 
 answer, but he spoke not ; his face dis 
 torted with frightful passion, he stood 
 seeming unconscious of her presence ; her 
 hand dropped from his arm. Moving a 
 pace or two from him she looked closely at 
 him, then, extending her arms, she uttered 
 in a tone of appeal, almost a wail, the one 
 word, "Olaf!" 
 
 He raised his head, and, fixing upon the 
 girl a searching gaze, asked: "Will Hilda 
 swear to the truth of that she saith ?" 
 
 "Yea, Olaf, I swear," was the earnest 
 reply. 
 
 Advancing, he took her in his arms, say 
 ing as he did so : "It seemeth to me those 
 eyes are windows of a soul that knows no 
 guile ; I do believe you, sweet Hilda," add-
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 199 
 
 ing, as he looked fondly at her now radiant 
 face, " Had you not veiled those sweet 
 eyes when you did speak in answer to 
 Grunhilde's question, I should then have 
 seen that the word which turned my soul 
 into a seething pit of demonlike fury came 
 not from your heart." 
 
 Whispering soft nothings in her willing 
 ears, Olaf was, for a time, lost to all but the 
 sweet sense of renewed love ; but, with re 
 turning consciousness of the present, his 
 eye kindled and a harsher note rang in 
 his voice as he asked : "So Grunhilde told 
 you this ? " 
 
 "Yea, Olaf." 
 
 " What meant she by such lies ? " was 
 his almost unconscious query. 
 
 " Lies, Olaf ? " innocently inquired the 
 girl. 
 
 "Yes, Hilda, lies. Lies forged for the 
 single purpose of killing this, our love ; 
 lies spoken to you in hope your simple 
 heart would too readily believe them ; lies 
 she dared not utter before Olaf, who would 
 laugh even his queen to scorn did she seek 
 to tell him such things."
 
 200 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 "Nay, nay, Olaf," protested Hilda; 
 "surely you do wrong our good queen." 
 
 Smiling sarcastically, he said : " Olaf 
 had but just returned when Hilda said that 
 Grunhilde did love Olaf; hath Olaf been 
 less kind to Grunhilde than Hilda ? I 
 say she lies, and find good proof of that I 
 say. You say she is forsworn unto her 
 own liege lord. Which were the harsher 
 charge, good Hilda ? 
 
 " Chide me not, Olaf : I spoke in silly 
 fear," she said, blushing, meanwhile; "but it 
 was love bespoke the fear when I did say 
 Grunhilde loved you." 
 
 " Then you think Grunhilde loveth not 
 Olaf?" 
 
 " Nay, Olaf, nor yet that she hath lied to 
 me. She is too pure to love one and wed 
 another ; too good to give unnecessary 
 pain ; that which she said may be false, 
 yet do I believe she thought it true." 
 
 "There are you wrong, then, maiden," 
 said he, sternly. " Grunhilde is false." 
 
 " Olaf, Olaf, have a care what you say ! " 
 she cried in affright. 
 
 "Nay, Hilda, hear me out. Grunhilde
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 201 
 
 lieth when she telleth you that aught of 
 danger to Olaf lieth in our love. This she 
 telleth you, knowing you have no care nor 
 thought for the dark ways of politics, and 
 in your innocence blindly believe all that 
 is told you. When first you spoke of 
 Grunhilde's love for me I laughed the 
 thought to scorn, but now, by Odin ! I 
 half believe this silly fancy, since it giveth 
 ready clue to her most cruel lies to you." 
 
 Olaf was growing angry again. Raising 
 his hand aloft he exclaimed : " Grunhilde, 
 as a sister did I protect and nourish thee ; 
 as a queen will I lay down my life for thee, 
 but beware how thou triflest with the hap 
 piness of her who hath won Olaf's heart. 
 For every tear thou causeth her to shed 
 shall floods of brine pour from your eyes ; 
 where she weepeth for a lost love shalt 
 thou in ceaseless grief bemoan thy lost 
 kingdom, false queen." 
 
 Hilda, terror-stricken, sought in vain to 
 silence him. "Olaf," she gasped, "if any 
 should hear you your words were treason." 
 
 "Treason? If so be, then let it be. 
 Olaf is no traitor, but Olaf brooketh not
 
 202 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 that which causeth you to weep nay, not 
 even for Landsvag." After a brief pause, 
 he spoke with more composure. " Hear 
 me, Hilda; when Olaf returneth from 
 teaching this Harold that Landsvag may 
 not be lightly assailed, then shall you be 
 Olaf's bride, nor shall Halfjord dare refuse 
 me, even though his fair queen shall storm 
 and rave. Before Olaf in weak submission 
 standeth by and seeth sweet Hilda's eyes 
 aswim with tears drawn from her bleeding 
 heart, Olaf will himself destroy the throne 
 he made, hurl king and queen from their 
 too lofty seats, and bury beneath the frag 
 ments of their throne the false Grunhilde, 
 the weak and yielding Halfjord. Be you 
 ready, maiden, for my return ; meantime 
 hold your peace." 
 
 " Your return ? Ah ! Olaf, I fear me you 
 will not return. My heart sinketh with 
 terror at thought of this rude combat you 
 seek." 
 
 " Never fear, girl, we shall yet be united. 
 Go you now, sweet Hilda, lest being seen 
 your fair name should suffer." 
 
 " I shall see you, Olaf, before you go ?"
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 203 
 
 "Yea, a parting kiss from those sweet 
 lips shall be both my talisman and my guer 
 don," was his gallant reply as she slipped 
 out and sped silently down the long pas 
 sageway, he straining his eyes for the last 
 glimpse of her fleeting figure. 
 
 Olaf's mind was made up. He would 
 free Landsvag from Harold's clutches and 
 then demand Hilda, wed her in the face of 
 opposition and if necessary unseat his un 
 grateful monarch. Having decided on his 
 course he made no reference whatever to 
 the subject when, a short time after his in 
 terview with Hilda, he saw the king. Half 
 jord, deeming this silence evidence of sat 
 isfaction, felicitated himself upon so ready 
 a settlement of a question which, in view 
 of the queen's determined opposition, had 
 bid fair to become embarrassing. 
 
 The troops were already gathering, the 
 plain stretching beneath the castle pre 
 sented a stirring sight filled as it was with 
 moving bodies of hardy warriors, their 
 arms flashing in the sunlight while their 
 rude merriment, fierce oaths and war-cries 
 reached even the chamber where the king
 
 204 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 and Olaf stood watching them. The min 
 ister was thoughtful, the king confident, 
 elated. " See ! Olaf," exclaimed the lat 
 ter. " A most goodly array ; let Harold 
 look to himself when such as these are let 
 loose at him !" 
 
 "Yea, king," Olaf answered pensively. 
 " A brave body of valiant warriors, yet I 
 would they sought any other foe than Har 
 old." Something in the distance caught 
 his eye a solitary horseman speeding 
 over the level plain ; pointing to him he 
 said : " Methinks yon rider hath the look 
 of Alric ; whither goeth he alone ?" 
 
 Though the question was really ad 
 dressed to none the king answered it, "To 
 join Jorg and see that our defences are 
 ready before our coming. Svend leadeth 
 Aide's men till we come up with him." 
 
 Olaf frowned. " King," he said, "Jorg 
 needeth none to watch him, surely not one 
 such as Alric. Thou hast done wrong not 
 to keep Alric with thee he hath a trai 
 tor's heart though thou callest him friend." 
 
 "By Odin! Olaf," exclaimed the king 
 angrily, "methinks you have naught but
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 205 
 
 unkind words for any whom Halfjord call- 
 eth friend ! " 
 
 Olaf's sole reply to this was a reproach 
 ful glance before which Halfjord's eye fell, 
 and after a short discussion covering the 
 final arrangements for the march they sep 
 arated, nor did they again meet until they 
 were mounted and ready for the field. 
 
 Halfjord had readily consented when 
 Alric asked that he be allowed to ride ahead 
 for the purpose of cooperating with old 
 Jorg, and Alric no sooner secured the de 
 sired permission than he prepared for the 
 journey. 
 
 When all was ready he craved and was 
 granted an audience with the queen. 
 Grunhilde was alone when Alric entered 
 and saluting her he said, " Fair queen, I 
 ride in advance of our army that when we 
 arrive before this boasting Harold of the 
 south naught may be lacking." 
 
 "You do well, Alric; may Odin give 
 you a fair ride and a true sword." 
 
 Dropping on one knee before her he 
 drew his sword, and presenting it to her 
 said : "Will Landsvag's queen deign to
 
 206 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 touch with her lips this sword that, being 
 consecrated to her service, it may be in 
 vincible ? " 
 
 Grunhilde smilingly took the sword, 
 and kissing the blade returned it saying : 
 " Let no foe lower the sword which Grun- 
 hilde's lips have pressed." 
 
 Alric rose as he received his sword back, 
 hesitated a moment, then said : " Queen, 
 I go to face the foes of this land ; before I 
 leave I fain would ask of thee a vow." 
 
 "What would you, Alric?" she in 
 quired, seeing that he waited encourage 
 ment. 
 
 "The queen's promise that on my return 
 Hilda shall be mine." 
 
 "That have you, Alric; go, when you 
 return myself will give unto your keeping 
 the gentle maid for whom you so lustily 
 sigh." 
 
 "I am content. There remaineth now 
 naught for Alric to do save in the very 
 front of battle to wield this sword which 
 thou hast blessed. Queen, give Alric a 
 battle-cry." 
 
 " Let it be ' Death to Foes ! ' "
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 207 
 
 " ' Death to Foes ! ' be it a cry from 
 my queen's lips ! " 
 
 "A valiant man," murmured the queen 
 as he left her. " Ah ! I would I were a 
 man to handle so sharp a toy as Alric's 
 blade, to drive the foe as doth our doughty 
 Olaf ! " 
 
 As Alric passed rapidly from his inter 
 view with the queen he suddenly came face 
 to face with Olga. "Sweet Olga," he ex 
 claimed, "give Alric one kiss that he may 
 confound his foes, and returning crown 
 his life with the benediction of your love. 
 Have you aught to tell before I go ?" 
 Then seeing that she made no reply, he 
 looked for the first time closely at her, re 
 coiling as he did so before the stern judg 
 ment written in every line of her face. 
 Alric was both brave and ready-witted, but 
 found himself now at a loss to account for 
 this sudden change, hence at a loss to 
 know how to act. 
 
 " Doth Alric's leaving so distress fair 
 Olga ?" he asked tenderly. 
 
 The girl laughed harshly. " Go, Alric, 
 go," she said. " Be as false to Harold as
 
 208 Beyond the Palzeocrystic Sea 
 
 you have been to Olga and you will be 
 true to Landsvag ; but come not back 
 seeking for your bride Hilda." She moved 
 past him as she spoke, and turning but to 
 hiss the word "Traitor!" disappeared, 
 leaving Alric dumbfounded and not a lit 
 tle disturbed. But that worthy individual 
 soon regained his sang froid, and, mutter 
 ing his favorite sentence, "Women are 
 fools ! " betook himself to his waiting 
 horse, just as Olaf had entered the king's 
 apartments, and, when Olaf looked out on 
 the scene below, Alric was galloping like 
 the mad across the country.
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 Alric rode rapidly with the air of a man 
 burdened with a great mission ; neither 
 rider nor horse were allowed much rest as 
 he pressed on to the front. Halfjord, had 
 he seen him, would have commended his 
 zeal; Olaf, wondering, would have still 
 doubted. 
 
 It is not necessary for us to follow Alric 
 on his long and lonely ride ; suffice it 
 to say that on reaching the territory gov 
 erned by Jorg he made a wide detour and, 
 avoiding the castle as well as any roving 
 bands of watchers, bore his way steadily 
 to the frontier. 
 
 The same night that Alric crossed 
 Landsvag's boundary Harold, who had at 
 last struck camp and was now at the foot 
 of those rugged hills that frowningly sepa 
 rated him from the land of Olaf and Half 
 jord Harold, waiting for the sun that he 
 209
 
 2IO Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 might begin anew the march, was issu 
 ing final instructions when an officer ap 
 proached and announced that a man from 
 Landsvag would speak with him. Har 
 old's face brightened. " Ah ! hath our 
 good Olaf again sought us ? " he ex 
 claimed. 
 
 " Nay, king," said the man, " this is not 
 Olaf." 
 
 " Who then is he, Magnus ? " 
 
 " His name, king, know I not, but he 
 hath a strange and savage aspect ; even in 
 the night his hair seemeth to be of fire or 
 mayhap of blood, and so foul a presence 
 hath he that had I not touched him with 
 these arms I should fear me he was one of 
 those demons who ever seek to do evil 
 unto man." 
 
 Harold was a grade above the supersti 
 tions of his time that is, while believing 
 them, he dared to brave them, this fear 
 lessness being in large measure the basis 
 of his hold upon his men since they, see 
 ing him pass unscathed through many 
 tests, naturally believed that he was in 
 league with their gods. " Let him be
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 211 
 
 brought hither," was the king's animated 
 reply to Magnus, who, bowing, departed, 
 while the king addressed those around 
 him : " Ye shall see this demon whom 
 Magnus bringeth unto us." 
 
 When Alric was presented not even Har 
 old was able to conceal a slight shudder, 
 while Eric whispered to Hengis, "Verily, 
 Magnus saith true ; this man hath much 
 the look of an evil one." 
 
 " What seek you ? " asked the king as 
 Alric saluted the entire group. 
 
 "Harold whom they call 'The Fair- 
 haired;' he it is I seek," was the reply. 
 
 " Whence come you ? " 
 
 " From Landsvag." 
 
 " They who dwell there are Harold's 
 enemies ; why seek you him ? " 
 
 "It were better, king, thou didst hear 
 the man from Landsvag before thou callest 
 him a foe," responded Alric. 
 
 " Why call you me ' king ? ' " 
 
 " It needeth not an eye so quick as Al- 
 ric's to see that thou art every inch a king 
 without taking note of thy hair, which 
 hath the sheen of gold."
 
 212 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 "You have a sharp eye and a ready 
 tongue. Yea, I am king, what would you 
 with me ? " 
 
 "A word in thine ear, king." 
 
 Harold, doubting the sincerity of the 
 man, hesitated in placing himself virtually 
 at his mercy. " You ask a strange favor," 
 he said. " A warring king granteth not unto 
 those against whom he wars a private au 
 dience." 
 
 "Yet didst thou give this favor unto 
 Olaf, though he brought naught save 
 boastful words Alric bringeth sure means 
 of victory and peace." 
 
 "Perchance the peace of the grave," 
 muttered Eric. 
 
 Alric heard and, glancing at the speaker, 
 said : " If thou doubtest me, king, let him 
 who even now hath spoken, remain, the rest 
 retire." 
 
 Harold consenting to this the three 
 were soon left alone when the king asked : 
 "What would you with Harold ? Speak." 
 
 " King," said the man, " I come to offer 
 thee Landsvag." 
 
 " What ! " exclaimed Harold in sur-
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 213 
 
 prise. " Hath Halfjord then accepted our 
 terms ? " 
 
 " Nay, king, even now is Halfjord on 
 the road with a mighty host to dispute thy 
 way." 
 
 " How, then, say you that you come to 
 offer Harold that which he seeketh ? " 
 
 " King, Halfjord would keep but Alric 
 will deliver thee this Landsvag." 
 
 Harold made but little effort to conceal 
 his contempt of the self-avowed traitor 
 when he asked : " How will Alric do that 
 he sayeth ? " 
 
 " King, I do command the left wing of 
 the army, which shall meet thee at the 
 proper time Alric joineth his force with 
 thine thou canst see the result." 
 
 " Yea, the ruin of a brave army through 
 the treachery of one of its own leaders. 
 Alric, Harold would win by fairer means, 
 nor love I the sound of your words, yet 
 may I not lightly refuse this chance which 
 giveth with loss of fewer men that which I 
 wish. What doth Alric wish ? for surely 
 he turneth not his back upon his friends 
 without hope of reward."
 
 214 Beyond the Palasocrystic Sea 
 
 "That were easily answered, king 
 naught save the governorship of Landsvag 
 and fair Hilda for my bride." 
 
 " Who is Hilda ? " 
 
 " Maid to the Queen Grunhilde, king." 
 
 " Enough, Hilda shall be yours." 
 
 " And Landsvag, Harold ? " 
 
 "Also, if so you live." 
 
 Alric's eyes glistened ; throne and bride 
 were won at the same throw. " I shall 
 live, king ! " he exclaimed. 
 
 "Not if the sword of Harold cometh 
 near you," muttered the king to himself, 
 as, turning the man over to Eric, he left 
 the spot. 
 
 Eric was delighted ; himself half a 
 traitor he found congeniality in this 
 knave, who would sell his birthright for a 
 mess of pottage. These two worthies 
 spent an hour or more in close com 
 munion, parting only when Alric deemed 
 it prudent that he should return, fearing to 
 betray his plans by too great delay in 
 reaching Jorg. 
 
 After parting with Alric Eric made his 
 way at once to Harold, who greeted him
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 215 
 
 with : " Hath that bastard of Landsvag 
 gone ?" 
 
 "Yea, king, to fulfill his promise." 
 
 "Promise? Ah! yes, foul fiend that he 
 is, I would I had spurned him and trusted 
 but to this my good sword, these my 
 valiant men. I have no love for traitors 
 who suck the blood of those who feed 
 them. It were a kingly act to apprise 
 Halfjord of this Alric's plot, that he may 
 strangle him and squeeze out his poison 
 ous life. Then when we meet, man to 
 man, let the glory belong to him who 
 earneth it by the might of his arm, not by 
 robbery. By Thor ! I will do it, though 
 it cost me my kingdom ! Seek me, Eric, 
 a trusty messenger." 
 
 Eric returned shortly with a man, of 
 whom he said : " King, Saggi will do thy 
 bidding, though he die." 
 
 " It is well," said the king. " Mount the 
 fleetest horse in the camp, ride to Halfjord 
 and tell him Harold seeketh to conquer 
 but by force of arms or honorable capitu 
 lation. Tell him the leader of his left 
 wing, Alric, who hath a head even like his
 
 2l6 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 treacherous blood, seeketh to betray him. 
 Ride, Saggi, and seek no rest till you have 
 found Halfjord ; an hundred pounds of 
 silver if you do safe deliver this message. 
 By all the gods of our race, Eric ! Harold 
 spurneth this dastard plot, which seeketh 
 to steal a triumph that our arms are yet 
 strong enough to win ! Begone, Saggi." 
 The man, saluting, left at once, Eric with 
 him, but Halfjord never received the mes 
 sage, nor was the messenger ever again seen. 
 Early the next morning Alric presented 
 himself at Jorg's castle, with the news that 
 Halfjord was already on his way to meet 
 the invaders. The old warrior, though 
 liking not the seeming lack of confidence 
 implied by Alric's ostensible mission, and 
 still less pleased with the agent chosen by 
 the king, was too loyal to allow personal 
 umbrage to interfere with the duty before 
 him. Alric, zealous, watchful, sought in 
 every way to aid, and so earnest was he in 
 his work, so aggressive in the frequent 
 skirmishes now that Harold had crossed 
 the border, that Jorg began to trust him, 
 to fear he had misjudged him, and when
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 217 
 
 Halfjord finally arrived the old man took 
 the first favorable opportunity of telling 
 Olaf how well Alric had acquitted himself. 
 After the departure of Halfjord's army, 
 which left for the front the day after Alric 
 rode away, the great castle of the king 
 seemed deserted. Grunhilde, who had 
 chosen to ride some distance with her lord, 
 turning back only when he insisted, and 
 even then watching with longing eyes the 
 brave cavalcade as it swept grandly across 
 the broken plain toward the hills, whose 
 soft blue outlines were scarce discernible in 
 the distance; Grunhilde, with her thoughts 
 on the field, her heart rebellious over the 
 restrictions of her sex, found life in the 
 castle very dull, and after a few days 
 sought the change of a visit to her child 
 hood's home, where she and Olaf had 
 spent together so many sweet and happy 
 hours in peace and innocence. She took 
 of her ladies Hilda and Olga alone, seem 
 ing to seek solitude and quiet rather than 
 diversion, though her expressed reason for 
 the change was the dreariness of the royal 
 castle.
 
 2l8 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 Since her last interview with Olaf Hilda 
 had been distrait, lost, as it were, in 
 troubled dreams, starting guiltily when 
 spoken to ; the sad resignation following 
 that conference with the queen in which 
 she had renounced Olaf had given place 
 to this frightened restlessness, the semi- 
 consciousness of a dream, but Grunhilde 
 gave no sign of noticing the change. 
 
 However heedless of Hilda's distress 
 Grunhilde was quick to detect evidence of 
 Olga's disturbed mind, as the girl had 
 changed almost in a moment from a merry, 
 rollicking maiden, whose wit often enliv 
 ened tedious hours, to a woman upon 
 whose shoulders seemed to rest the weight 
 of the universe ; dreading to be alone, yet 
 shunning company, never speaking now 
 save when addressed, and then in few 
 words, in tones full of unshed tears ; at 
 times with staring eyes, seeming to gaze 
 upon frightful phantoms hovering in the 
 air, forgetful of her lightest duties, sobbing 
 when reminded of them, she was not even 
 a memory of her former self. On the day 
 that the troops left, Grunhilde, who was
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 219 
 
 really quite fond of both of these girls, 
 had kindly asked her the trouble which 
 seemed to have overwhelmed her so sud 
 denly, but the question had brought forth 
 such a torrent of tears she refrained from 
 pressing it. 
 
 These maids might be allowed to mope 
 when others were around, but now that 
 they were her sole companions, save the 
 menials who came and went, it was asking 
 too much to expect the queen to be longer 
 patient. The cause of Hilda's sorrow 
 Grunhilde knew only too well, nor did she 
 have the heart to chide her for grieving 
 over the iron that she herself had driven 
 into the poor girl's soul, but she might re 
 prove her by indirection, as it were, and 
 so choosing a time when the two were with 
 her she began on Olga, casting from time 
 to time meaning glances at the trembling 
 Hilda. 
 
 "Olga," she said, "we would have your 
 thoughts with us, and, though you sigh at 
 absence of your plighted swain who now 
 draweth sword in defense of Lands- 
 vag, yet might you smile before your
 
 22O Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 queen. You have but a lover in the field, 
 Grunhilde both husband, king and king 
 dom, yet Grunhilde sigheth not save at 
 this dullness. Weep if you will, but weep 
 alone ; I would have my merry Olga 
 back." 
 
 Twice Olga essayed to speak and, chok 
 ing, stopped. At last she murmured faint 
 ly: "Ah! queen, thy merry Olga return - 
 eth never." 
 
 " Are you fool, girl ? Your lover return- 
 eth, or if it be so he return not, yet will he 
 find a glorious death. Be not so heavy of 
 heart; let your thoughts for a time run 
 on pleasanter themes. Come, smile, Olga, 
 smile." 
 
 "Nay, queen, the lips smile not save 
 when the heart laugheth with glee. Oh ! 
 queen, my heart is over-heavy, yet not with 
 truant thoughts of absent lover Olga 
 hath no lover." 
 
 " If it be not love, then what may so 
 bruise a maiden's heart? Your queen, 
 Olga, hath much love for you, nor doth it 
 please her that your sweet face wears such 
 dark frowns."
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 221 
 
 The girl's lips quivered, tears slowly 
 trickled down her cheeks. Hilda, for the 
 nonce forgetful of her own sorrow, looked 
 on compassionately. Grunhilde was deeply 
 touched by the girl's suffering, for Grun 
 hilde had a warm woman's heart, a heart that 
 knew no cruelty save when ambition jarred 
 its sweet strings or love denied, sang in 
 soft nocturnes another's joy, her sorrow. 
 Full of that melting kindness which, in 
 minor chord, sings its sweet song through 
 woman's softened tones, the queen reached 
 over and, laying upon Olga's head a hand 
 in whose every fibre tingled the electric 
 sympathy of sex, said kindly : "Olga, what 
 driveth the smile from your lips and bring- 
 eth into your eyes these hot tears that do 
 heat themselves in the raging fires of your 
 tempestuous soul ? " 
 
 Olga broke down completely. " Queen, 
 have mercy on me! have mercy on me! I 
 have sinned ! " she wailed between con 
 vulsive sobs. 
 
 "Sinned? What mean you, Olga?" 
 asked the astonished queen, to whom the 
 whole scene was an enigma.
 
 222 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 "Oh! queen! my heavy thoughts are 
 with none who draw the sword for Lands- 
 vag, but with Landsvag itself." 
 
 "Verily, Olga, you do speak strange 
 words which have no meaning to mine 
 ears; speak, girl, and have done with 
 mystery." 
 
 The unhappy maiden threw herself on 
 her face before Grunhilde and almost 
 shrieked: "Pardon! pardon, oh ! queen, 
 before I speak, else I fear I find not voice 
 for that I would say ! " 
 
 " It is granted, Olga ; methinks your sin 
 cannot be as grievous as you would make it." 
 
 " Hear, then, oh ! queen," said Olga, 
 groveling in the dust before her mistress. 
 " Treason reareth its bloody head in Half- 
 jord's army." 
 
 " Treason ! " exclaimed the now thor 
 oughly aroused queen. 
 
 "Yea, Grunhilde, foul treason. Alric 
 of the bloody head would sell Landsvag 
 unto Harold." 
 
 "Alric a traitor ? Why told you not this 
 before, miserable creature? Is Olga privy 
 to this pretty plot?"
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 223 
 
 "Ah ! queen, spare me, I implore thee ; 
 my heart upbraideth me enough without 
 the sting of thy sharp words ! Listen, 
 queen: Olga loved Alric, even so did 
 Alric say he loved Olga, but Alric was 
 false. When I did think him true I played 
 the spy upon thee, bearing unto him all 
 that thou didst do and say ; then it was he 
 told me of his evil intent, but then I 
 thought he loved me and, queen, though 
 it be treason, then would I rather Landsvag 
 had been lost than Alric. But the day 
 when Alric set out to make his bloody bar 
 gain, Olga, even when spying upon thee, 
 did hear him ask of thee the hand of this 
 maid, Hilda, whom thou didst promise, 
 and then did I know he was as false to me 
 as to Landsvag." 
 
 Grunhilde could brook almost anything 
 but that which jeopardized her crown. 
 Springing up she grasped the terrified 
 woman by the hair as she hissed : "Trai 
 tress! Why made you not this known be 
 fore the knave escaped ? " 
 
 "Ah! queen, I feared," gasped the girl; 
 " my heart commanded but my tongue re-
 
 224 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 fused its office and the weight of Alric's 
 crime has rested on my soul." 
 
 " Wretched woman ! Even now hath 
 Halfjord doubtless met with Harold and if 
 that you say be true then is Landsvag lost 
 for your too slothful speech. Hear me, if 
 Alric betrayeth Halfjord you die!" 
 
 Olga heard not the last words merciful 
 nature coming to her rescue, she had 
 swooned and lay an inert mass before the 
 enraged queen. Hilda, who had been an 
 amazed spectator of this tragedy, timidly 
 approached Grunhilde. 
 
 " Queen," she said, " mayhap there yet 
 remaineth time to warn Halfjord." 
 
 " How, girl ? There be none here I 
 may trust with such message unto him un 
 less perchance you should take the form 
 of man and on the wings of the wind ride 
 you to his camp." 
 
 " I would I were a man, queen," was the 
 gentle Hilda's reply, met with a harsh 
 laugh as her mistress said : 
 
 "Were you a man, Hilda, the very birds 
 would flap their wings in your face, nor 
 betake themselves to flight when you should
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 225 
 
 draw your gleaming blade. Call hither 
 our men, Hilda, that they may remove this 
 false and perjured wench ; her fate doth 
 hang upon what news there cometh from 
 Halfjord." 
 
 Hilda hesitated a moment, her heart full 
 of gentle sympathy, but a glance at the 
 queen's stern face showed her this was no 
 time to intercede and, summoning the 
 men, she silently watched them lift and 
 bear away the inanimate form of her com 
 panion. The people had scarcely left with 
 their burden when the queen dismissed 
 Hilda, who retired to her apartment ; Hil 
 da's chamber looked to the east, where 
 Olaf now was, and for hours she sat look 
 ing vacantly toward the eastern horizon. 
 Perhaps Olaf was in danger ; nay, surely 
 he was if danger had assailed Landsvag, 
 for Olaf and Landsvag were one. Oh! if 
 she had but the wings of a bird how 
 swiftly she would fly to him; could she but 
 save him and with him the land he so 
 dearly loved she could die content. 
 
 Night had set in before Hilda, rousing, 
 summoned Arne, an old woman formerly
 
 226 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 her nurse, one whom she could trust im 
 plicitly. "Arne," she said, when the woman 
 appeared, "I have need of you. Can you 
 get me a fleet horse, one which tireth 
 not?" 
 
 "Yea, Hilda," answered the old woman ; 
 "but what need have you of a horse at this 
 hour?" 
 
 "Ask me naught, Arne, but do my bid 
 ding." The woman, grumbling a little, 
 went out, returning shortly to announce 
 that the steed was ready. "Now help me, 
 Arne," and Hilda began hastily to prepare 
 herself for a journey. The woman obeyed 
 with a poor grace. It was evident she did 
 not approve ot the hidden project, proba 
 bly because it was hidden. 
 
 "Now, Arne," said Hilda, when she was 
 equipped to her satisfaction, " I go on a 
 long journey. On the morrow, should the 
 queen ask for me, you have but to say to 
 her that I go to deliver her message she 
 will understand." 
 
 "Mayhap," grunted the old woman; 
 "but Arne understandeth not; I have no 
 love for a maiden's night rides."
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 227 
 
 "Peace, Arne, and do as I bid you. Now 
 lead the way. Nay, stay ; I charge you to 
 deliver this message unto the queen nay, 
 more, I would have you swear to give it her." 
 
 "What shall I swear, seeing that I know 
 not the message?" 
 
 "Say unto her that Hilda hath great 
 hope that naught may befall Olga. Swear 
 that you will do my will." 
 
 "Yea, I swear, though it seemeth unto 
 me a silly speech and a sillier oath. Why 
 should aught befall Olga?" 
 
 " Peace, Arne. Do you as I have told 
 you, and leave the rest to me. Now, I go 
 lead the way." 
 
 At midnight the queen, turning drowsily 
 on her couch, heard a confused murmur, 
 the clatter of hoofs in the courtyard, then 
 all was silent and she fell asleep, dreamily 
 uttering the one word, " Olaf," as a horse, 
 urged on by its strange rider, dashed 
 through the sombre night toward the home 
 of the rising sun.
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 Harold's inactivity was the occasion of 
 much surprise to both Halfjord and Olaf, 
 and various were the conjectures by which 
 they sought to account for the unusual quiet 
 which, according to Jorg's regular reports, 
 reigned on the border. 
 
 "Methinks this mighty Harold feareth 
 Landsvag," was the king's comment on one 
 occasion, to which Olaf, who, himself of 
 heroic mold, had, or thought he had, di 
 vined the nature of his foe, replied : " King, 
 it seemeth unto me that Harold waiteth 
 for us that he may take no undue advan- 
 tage." 
 
 " But that were not, Olaf, the deed of a 
 great general." 
 
 "True, king, it were not war; but me- 
 thinks it were like Harold." 
 
 "This Harold seemeth to have enchanted 
 you," was the king's almost angry response. 
 
 "Halfjord," said Olaf, "if seeing a noble 
 228
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 229 
 
 soul and doing it homage, if wishing that 
 one who is great were your brother rather 
 than your enemy, be enchantment, then 
 hath Harold enchanted Olaf; yet shall I 
 seek to cut his throat when we shall meet ; 
 yea, with all my strength seek to slay him, 
 and then, when it is done, sit me down and 
 grieve over the noble life which hath taken 
 flight through the gaping rent my own true 
 weapon shall make." 
 
 "I warrant you will fight valiantly, Olaf, 
 but it seemeth unto me you ha\e for this 
 Harold a feeling most akin to love." 
 
 Olaf pondered for a moment, then an 
 swered so seriously that Halfjord could not 
 mistake his sincerity : " King, I do love 
 Harold." 
 
 This honest reply nettled Halfjord. 
 "And your own king ?" he asked hotly. 
 
 "Knoweth that he hath Olaf's heart and 
 faith, nor feareth aught from this selfsame 
 love of a generous foe." 
 
 The question had no sooner been asked 
 than the king's own generosity of soul re 
 proved him, himself a man whose soul, 
 dwarfed in its greatness by the weakness
 
 230 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 of the physical man, was yet capable of 
 grand deeds. He felt the instinctive rev 
 erence inspired by the virtuous in the 
 hearts both of truth and vice, and, molli 
 fied, answered at once : "Yea, Olaf, Half- 
 jord feareth naught from you." 
 
 Still, despite his words, Olaf's evident 
 admiration for Harold disturbed the king, 
 since it suggested the thought that Olaf, 
 though everlastingly true to his present 
 king, would have been better pleased had 
 he been born to follow the fortunes of 
 Harold. Perhaps Halfjord's half-formed 
 conviction was correct. 
 
 Human nature is strangely complex, and 
 human judgment, corrupted by the con 
 tamination of its fleshly tabernacle, strangely 
 deficient. The great army of unmarked 
 heroes is lost to our sight the while we 
 offer the incense of praise before the shrines 
 of the favored few ; the shadow of a mouse 
 obscures a mountain. Ridiculous ? Yes, 
 ridiculous, and yet, in good sooth, it does. 
 Were the three hundred at Thermopylae 
 less valiant than Leonidas ? You answer 
 "No." Yet history gives but the one
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 231 
 
 name. Had Cambronne a more gigantic 
 soul than each one of that remnant of the 
 Old Guard which, unconquerable, held the 
 field of Waterloo after the star of France 
 had set ? Again you say" No." Yet name 
 me even one of them. You cannot. It is 
 ever so. How many Miltons have gone 
 down to the cheerless grave, bearing in 
 their overcharged souls deathless songs 
 which, let us hope, a more generous world 
 beyond will hear ? Yon street gamin may, 
 with fair chance, distance in the race of 
 life the man who now grudgingly buys his 
 paper. 
 
 The hackneyed phrase of greatness a 
 birthright, greatness won and compulsory 
 greatness is on every tongue, but what of 
 opportunity yes, what of opportunity? 
 Man is judged chiefly by his successes a 
 brutal, barbaric basis for damnation or ele 
 vation. 
 
 In climbing the Alps of Switzerland, 
 men go bound with one common rope for 
 common protection. One slips, the rest, 
 bracing themselves, support the fallen one 
 until, regaining his feet, he moves once
 
 232 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 more upward to the crowning summit that 
 pierces the sky above him. But in climb 
 ing the treacherous, glacier-covered, mo 
 raine-broken, crevasse-pierced Alps of life 
 how is it, brother ? Seek not to tie your 
 self to my rope I have all that I can do 
 to drag myself up and if you get above 
 me and, with eyes fixed on the towering 
 crest above, in your eagerness slip and fall, 
 I, coming up with you, have no helping 
 hand to lend you. No, no, I will give you 
 ever so gentle a kick, sending you bound 
 ing back down the steep slope, and, in my 
 self-satisfaction will call lustily to those 
 around and below me to do the same. 
 Each foot spurns the quivering mass until, 
 at last, the bleeding, bruised and mangled 
 soul lands in the only resting-place hell 
 which opens its greedy jaws to receive 
 the morsel we have thrown it. 
 
 Sometimes one who is not entirely dead 
 to sympathy heeds the cry of the weaker 
 soul, essays the task of lifting his brother, 
 but woe to him if he whom he succors 
 should fall, dragging him down in the 
 fall, for in such a case but one word knows
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 233 
 
 this world: "Fool! " and that fool the man 
 who put a double strain upon the rope 
 that anchored his own soul. 
 
 Your pardon, good reader, for this 
 digression (which, by the way, you will 
 probably skip as of no personal interest to 
 you). Of course you would not refuse a 
 helping hand, but then your neighbor 
 would and are you not just a bit grateful 
 to me for exposing to you his meanness ? 
 Now this entire homily means but one 
 thing that Olaf was as great a man as 
 Harold, but the world knows nothing to 
 day of Olaf because Harold was victor. 
 
 Early in the morning of the third day's 
 march a messenger from Jorg arrived 
 bringing news that Harold had crossed the 
 boundary, and that on the day he left 
 Alric had repulsed the advance guard of 
 the invaders. Halfjord was delighted. 
 
 "See, Olaf! " he exclaimed, "Alric with 
 his few horsemen hath discomfited their 
 vanguard ; verily, they will melt like the 
 snow beneath the sun when this our mighty 
 array confronteth them." 
 
 Olaf knew better, but contented him-
 
 234 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 self with shaking his head silently and, 
 dropping behind he beckoned to Jorg's 
 courier, questioning him closely as they 
 rode, but the man could give him no in 
 formation on the subject he most wished 
 to know regarding Alric as the fellow 
 left shortly after Alric's arrival and knew 
 nothing save that he was there and had led 
 the troops in the skirmish. 
 
 As they drew near the border, about a 
 day's ride from Jorg's castle, Halfjord and 
 Olaf left the army and rode ahead, discuss 
 ing as they rode the plans for the im 
 pending battle. Olaf was filled with dis 
 may when he learned that the command 
 of the left wing, which he proposed to 
 give Erling, had already been promised 
 Alric. 
 
 " Halfjord ! " he cried warningly, " thou 
 dost rush blindly into thine own snare ; 
 beware, king, beware ; it were better that 
 Alric and all his men should leave us than 
 that he should lead that day. I tell thee 
 the man hath a traitor's heart and will sell 
 thee and thy land for a bauble ! " 
 
 Fate had decreed that Alric should be-
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 235 
 
 tray his king and fate shut the king's 
 eyes, closed his ears. What Olaf said 
 only served to make him indignant and, 
 after a hot dispute in which the king 
 bitterly reproached Olaf for his enmity to 
 his (the king's) favorites, the young man 
 made no further reference to the subject, 
 nor did Alric's name again pass his lips 
 except when speaking to Jorg and Erling, 
 just before the battle, he said : "Let your 
 eyes be ever upon Alric and slay him if he 
 seems to be either traitorous or luke 
 warm." 
 
 The king and Olaf when they entered 
 Jorg's castle were received with acclama 
 tions and found the men in high spirits 
 over their recent successes. No time was 
 lost in getting to the front. Halfjord put 
 himself at the head of the troops in the 
 castle and, the morning after his arrival, 
 started with them toward the distant plain 
 where Harold's busy camp could but just 
 be discerned. Olaf, with a small escort of 
 picked men, rode some distance in ad 
 vance and, coming suddenly upon a roving 
 band of foragers, he routed them, captur-
 
 236 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 ing one whom he released with the injunc 
 tion, " Go tell Harold Olaf is here." 
 
 Halting a few miles from the enemy's 
 camp Halfjord now waited the arrival of 
 his main army. This came up during 
 the night, and in the early morning 
 Harold saw deploy into position before 
 him the legions of his doughty foe. He 
 watched them with interest, commenting 
 freely on their soldierly appearance and 
 gallant bearing ; but let it not be thought 
 that while he watched them he was himself 
 idle ; his own troops were taking position 
 at the same time, and now were facing 
 each other two mighty, composite engines 
 of destruction waiting but a word for 
 the beginning of their dreadful work. 
 
 As the two lines of sentient clay stood 
 watching with hungry eyes each the other, 
 Harold rode alone slowly to the front and, 
 reaching a point about midway between 
 the opposing forces, drew rein and, raising 
 his hand, waved it toward Halfjord's line, 
 at the same time calling, "Olaf ! Olaf ! " 
 
 The young man, who had been closely 
 watching this move, heard his name called
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 237 
 
 and rode forward rapidly to meet, as he 
 thought, his challenger, but when he drew 
 near Harold said : " Olaf, I love you ; 
 you are a man ; it pleaseth me not to 
 think I shall kill you, yet so shall it be. 
 I fain would clasp in friendliness your 
 sword-hand before we seek to kill." 
 
 Olaf's manly heart was deeply touched. 
 "Verily," he said, "thou hast a lofty soul, 
 great Harold. I love thee even as thou 
 sayest thou dost love Olaf, but I shall kill 
 thee though thy death will greatly grieve 
 me. My heart leapeth at chance of once 
 more in honorable friendship taking thy 
 hand here is mine ! " And now was 
 witnessed the most remarkable sight that 
 ever yet was seen there, before two vast 
 armies eager to get at one another's throats, 
 the leaders of these hosts one a king, 
 the other kingly two grand souls in 
 stinctively rendering homage unto one 
 another paid graceful tribute each to the 
 other, sealing a compact of friendship to 
 be broken in one short hour by the death 
 of one at the other's hand. Raising aloft 
 their left hands they clasped with iron grip
 
 238 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 the hand of fellowship. Not a word more 
 was spoken ; silently, almost mournfully, 
 they gazed into one another's eyes, then, 
 releasing their grasp, turned and, before 
 the astonished gaze of the assembled thou 
 sands, rode slowly back to their respective 
 posts. 
 
 At the very moment that Harold and 
 Olaf clasped hands a haggard, breathless 
 woman dashed into the court-yard of 
 Jorg's castle, leaping from the saddle just 
 as her noble steed sank lifeless to the 
 ground. A hurried question, an answer, 
 and, without pausing for rest or refresh 
 ment, securing a new mount, the strange 
 woman swept out and was soon seen rid 
 ing in a mad gallop in the wake of Half- 
 jord's army. 
 
 The armies were marshalled in a com 
 paratively narrow valley ; behind Halfjord 
 were broken, ragged hills, in Harold's 
 rear a stream fordable in but few places. 
 The invader had no advantage in position; 
 defeat meant to him destruction, and still, 
 though his generals muttered words of angry 
 doubt, he with strange prescience fore-
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 239 
 
 saw the inevitable result and, guadium 
 eertaminis, the victor's aureole upon his 
 brow, calmly awaited the arrival of destiny. 
 The left wing of Halfjord's army under 
 Alric was brought by the encroaching 
 hills quite near to Harold's right, where 
 Eric led. Thus Nature herself seemed to 
 favor the conspirators against the integrity 
 of Landsvag. Olaf commanded the cen 
 ter, directly opposite Harold, who per 
 sonally led his men ; Jorg had charge of 
 Landsvag's extreme right ; Erling, at 
 Olaf's request, had placed his men at the 
 left of the center and sought to keep a 
 watchful eye on Alric as well as on the 
 field ; the king himself, while assuming 
 general charge of operations, was too eager 
 for the combat to tie himself to any one 
 part of the line and had stationed himself, 
 with some two hundred of his most valiant 
 warriors, a short distance in front of the 
 main column, intending at the signal to 
 hurl himself against the compact line, a 
 living wedge driven by that mighty force 
 behind, hoping also to engage Harold in 
 personal combat.
 
 240 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 The last friendly word spoken Harold 
 and Olaf had returned to their lines ; the 
 two great columns stood for a brief mo 
 ment quivering with excitement, and dur 
 ing the respite Alric galloped over to 
 where Svend, rigid as a rock, sat his horse ; 
 neither spoke as the rider neared his im 
 perturbable lieutenant ; a glance of inquiry 
 from one, of assurance from the other, 
 was sufficient ; Alric's mind was easy, if 
 the mind of a traitor may ever be easy, and 
 he rode back to his station and prepared 
 for the charge. 
 
 The trumpets sounded, and with a 
 mighty shout that seemed to split the very 
 heavens the living masses swept forward, 
 looking as they rushed over the undulating 
 ground like the unwinding coils of two 
 Titan serpents. Like the sweeping rush of 
 the wind-swept storm Halfjord and his 
 picked band, a mere warning of that be 
 hind, threw themselves against the wall 
 that now advanced to meet them. Lands- 
 vag's king was easily distinguished. Har 
 old divined his purpose as to himself, but 
 his word was given to Olaf, and muttering,
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 241 
 
 "When I have done with Olaf, Halfjord," 
 he rode along his line beyond the reach of 
 the first shock, then, turning, galloped 
 across the field to a point where he antici 
 pated the rapidly advancing Olaf would 
 meet him. 
 
 The first fortunes of the day were clearly 
 with Landsvag. Halfjord, cutting his way 
 through quivering flesh, had opened the 
 way for those who followed in his wake, 
 and, turning to ride back, his men mingled 
 with Olaf's rushing through the breach. 
 Jorg, old war-dog that he was, at the first 
 onset rolled Harold's left up like a scroll, 
 and already a part of his force was be 
 tween Harold and the river, while on the 
 left Alric was pressing the enemy hard. 
 Such was the situation when Olaf met 
 Harold and cried : " Yield thee, Harold ! 
 Yield while yet there is time ! See ! Thy 
 men fly like birds before the storm ; the 
 day is ours. Yield thee, king ! " 
 
 Harold only smiled, though to the on 
 looker disaster seemed about to overwhelm 
 him. "Olaf," he said, "for defeat look 
 to your own men. As for yielding, Harold
 
 242 Beyond the Palseocrystic Sea 
 
 bendeth knee to no man. Come, this is 
 our last meeting." Olaf needed no second 
 bidding, and with calmness born of cour 
 age, coupled with the elation of antici 
 pated success, he entered upon the strug 
 gle which should end only when one was 
 victor, the other victim. And now were 
 savage thrusts, while the hands that but a 
 fleeting breath before had been clasped in 
 good fellowship held now within their 
 grasp the blood-stained keys to the house 
 of death ; back and forth, thrust and 
 parry, feint, recover, fought these men of 
 giant souls. Heedless of the fortunes of 
 the day they flashed steel against steel, but 
 neither prevailed ; each had drawn blood, 
 each had found his antagonist as lusty in 
 action as he had been bold in speech ; the 
 issue was still doubtful, yet neither thought 
 of suggesting rest it was a duel to the 
 death, agreed beforehand, therefore must 
 end with death, death alone. 
 
 Meantime Harold seemed to have for 
 gotten the danger of his men, who, broken, 
 huddled in spiritless groups, seeking 
 simply to protect themselves from the mur-
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 243 
 
 derous assaults of Halfjord's victorious 
 troops. 
 
 " The day is won ! " in ecstasy exclaimed 
 Landsvag's king to Erling as they rested a 
 moment from the slaughter, but just then, 
 as if in answer to his boast, there arose a 
 cry that froze the marrow of their bones. 
 
 "Treason ! Treason ! " was the cry that, 
 taken up by Erling's men, rolled a resist 
 less wave of frenzied sound until the silent 
 hills, roused from their sleepy dreams, in 
 scornful screams shriek back in the ring 
 ing ears of the combatants : "Treason ! 
 Treason ! " 
 
 Ah ! would that man were less a crea 
 ture of sordid interests, then would the 
 world's vocabulary know no such word as 
 this ; a word so foul that uttered leaves 
 within the mouth of him who uses it the 
 nauseous taste of earth's sewers. 
 
 Yes, " Treason ! " was the cry and 
 rightly, too, for at the moment when it 
 seemed that Landsvag must prevail Alric 
 led his entire force into the enemy's lines 
 and now Erling, his flank unprotected, 
 found himself beset by both friend and foe.
 
 244 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 The two whom we left struggling to 
 gether had not heard the awful cry whose 
 despairing notes yet quivered in the air, 
 and still they fought. But now, from dif 
 ferent quarters of the field, came rushing 
 to the scene of this most equal combat 
 Alric, with glaring, vengeful eyes, and 
 Erling, who, seeing the speeding traitor, 
 sought to bury his own trusty blade within 
 that venomous heart ; nor were they all, for 
 over the uneven plain dashed a maddened 
 horse whose rider, a woman, seemed not 
 of this life ; rushing on in wild fury she 
 tore her way through the now disordered 
 ranks shrieking as she flew: "Olaf! oh! 
 where is Olaf ? " A strange race across a 
 bloody battlefield. The girl was now 
 ahead, her quick eye had spied out her 
 lover and on she rushed like a demon, 
 heedless of the dead and dying spurned, 
 crushed beneath her horse's hoofs ; behind 
 her with eyes set and glazed in frightful 
 murderous fury came Alric and after him 
 with steady purpose and unfaltering gait, 
 his Nemesis Erling. 
 
 On, on, the girl urged her frantic steed,
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 245 
 
 shrieking as she rode: " Olaf ! Olaf !" but 
 he heard not ; nearer, still nearer she 
 drew and at last his ear caught the frenzied 
 words : "Olaf ! beware of the traitor Alric !" 
 He heard and recognizing the voice that 
 spoke, turned with a start of surprise just 
 as Harold attacked him afresh. Like a 
 thunderbolt the frightened horse with its 
 crazy burden dashed between the two com 
 batants, the devoted Hilda received in 
 her soft bosom the steel meant for Olaf 
 and reeling fell beneath the grinding 
 hoofs ; before Harold or Olaf recovered 
 themselves Alric from behind ran Olaf 
 through, exclaiming : "This for thy 
 thrust ! " and almost at the same moment 
 Erling coming up impaled Alric, hissing : 
 " Traitor ! " 
 
 Weltering in their blood the three lay 
 beneath the horses' hoofs before Harold 
 was fully aware what had transpired ; the 
 first sight which met the king's eyes was 
 Erling with bloody blade confronting him. 
 "What is this?" cried Harold. "Hath 
 Halfjord foul assassins who do murder 
 those engaged in equal combat?"
 
 246 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 "Nay, King Harold," replied Erling. 
 "Alric, the traitor, hath killed Olaf ; 
 Erling did the same for Alric and now 
 holdeth himself ready for thine own pur 
 poses. Let Erling,! pray thee, take Olaf's 
 place before thee." 
 
 Harold, apparently oblivious of the bat 
 tle raging around him, exclaimed : " Olaf 
 dead ? " as though he had not witnessed 
 the tragedy, then, resting his eyes upon 
 the three bleeding bodies he continued: 
 " Yes, dead, and not by Harold's hand. 
 Pierced through foul treachery from be 
 hind, with not a chance to save his noble 
 life, he died even as the dog who slew him." 
 
 Clenching his fist he turned again to 
 Erling and fiercely asked : "Why let you 
 not yon venomous serpent live that Harold 
 might wreak upon him fitting vengeance 
 for his most dastardly act?" Erling mak 
 ing no reply the king continued as if speak 
 ing to himself : "Through that ghastly rent 
 escaped the knightliest soul which Harold 
 hath yet seen. Olaf ! Olaf ! foe though 
 you were mine eyes do weep at your un 
 timely end." Then seeing apparently for
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 247 
 
 the first time Hilda's corpse he asked : 
 " The girl ? who is she ? " 
 
 "A gentle maiden whom Olaf loved!" 
 
 "What did she here?" 
 
 "I know not, king, whence came the 
 gentle Hilda nor yet where she had 
 gathered news of Alric's foul intent, but 
 as you fought with Olaf, the maiden riding 
 hotly sought her lover, crying : ' Beware, 
 Olaf, of Alric, the traitor!' King, she 
 hath found her lover and her grave." 
 
 " Yea," was the passionate reply, " and 
 Harold's blade freed her pure soul. Ah ! 
 Harold, Harold, put up thy blade, which, 
 seeking flesh of man, hath nothing found 
 save the warm, pulsing breast of a gentle 
 woman ! Would to Thor before I sheathed 
 this sword it had drank deep of the life- 
 blood of the dastard Alric, then might his 
 blood in part atone for that which now too 
 deeply dyes this blade ! " 
 
 Through the entire action Harold had 
 borne himself as one to whom Fate's de 
 crees had been already revealed ; seeking 
 but to keep his troth with Olaf he had 
 given no attention to the details of the
 
 248 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 battle, and during the colloquy between 
 Harold and Erling neither had heeded the 
 changing scenes around them, but when 
 Erling, eager to be doing, repeated his 
 request that he might take Olafs place, 
 the king first glanced approvingly at the 
 brave fellow, then for the first time swept 
 his eye over the field. After a brief survey 
 he rode close to Erling, and, laying a 
 hand kindly upon his shoulder, said, 
 " Nay, noble knight, another time. Half- 
 jord needeth you now. See ! " 
 
 Erling, looking, saw the troops of 
 Landsvag, demoralized by Alric's defec 
 tion, flying in disorder from the field, 
 Halfjord himself, with the remnant of his 
 band of picked men, closely pressed by the 
 victorious enemy. Speechless with sur 
 prise and admiration at Harold's magna 
 nimity Erling bowed, then wheeled and 
 dashed away to Halfjord's succor, while 
 Harold rode slowly back to camp away 
 from the scene of combat. 
 
 The day was lost to Landsvag, and 
 nothing remained but to save from the 
 wreck as much as possible, and to this end
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 249 
 
 Halfjord, Jorg and Erling bent all their 
 efforts. At first the pursuit was sharp, but 
 as the routed army entered the hills they 
 were less closely followed, and by night 
 fall had reached a place of comparative 
 security, where the weary, disheartened, 
 broken ranks threw themselves upon the 
 dew-bathed grass to seek in friendly sleep 
 forgetfulness of their disgrace. 
 
 Halfjord, Jorg and Erling were together, 
 the latter telling of Olaf s death, when the 
 faithful old general, with tears in his eyes, 
 exclaimed, " Ah ! would I might have 
 found that blessed sleep which now closeth 
 Olaf's eyes ! Would I had not lived to 
 see Landsvag's humiliation !" 
 
 "Even so feel I, good Jorg," was the 
 king's answer, "but there remaineth much 
 for us." 
 
 "What would you, king?" 
 
 "Save Landsvag." 
 
 "Halfjord," gloomily replied the old 
 man, "Jorg's sword is thine, and I do even 
 hope to lay down my life since, seeing 
 that we have lost Olaf and half our army, 
 Landsvag is doomed."
 
 250 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 "Not so, Jorg, we will even yet over 
 come this Harold." 
 
 "King, Jorg is old enough to be thy 
 father. Jorg telleth thee no son of thine 
 shall ever sit upon the throne of Landsvag, 
 nor shall thou die its king." 
 
 " Methinks, good Jorg, the day's disasters 
 have overcome your sense. Yea, we have 
 greatly suffered, but Landsvag yet re- 
 maineth true to her king, and will fight 
 for him, even though Harold brought 
 legions upon legions. Halfjord feareth 
 not Harold, but if that you say be true 
 what then, Jorg ? What should Halfjord 
 do?" 
 
 " Make peace, oh ! king, with this thy 
 enemy, before it were too late." 
 
 " He is a most generous foe, king, and 
 now would exact no terms dishonorable to 
 thyself or thy people," broke in Erling 
 eagerly. 
 
 "What!" exclaimed Halfjord, "do Jorg 
 and Erling ask the King of Landsvag to 
 go on bended knee in suit for peace unto 
 this knave, who cometh from the south 
 seeking that which is not his own ? Nay,
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 251 
 
 my gorge rises at the thought. Let Harold 
 have that he taketh, even though it be all 
 Landsvag, but that which he taketh not 
 Halfjord will keep, and every step he taketh 
 on this our land shall be marked with blood 
 of his slain ! " This defiant declaration of 
 their defeated king, the death-knell not of 
 themselves alone that were of small mo 
 ment but of the land of their birth as 
 well, was received with dismay ; but before 
 either could speak an officer approached, 
 escorting a party of mounted men. These 
 proved to be messengers from Harold, 
 bearing with them the corpses of Olaf and 
 Hilda, together with a message of con 
 dolence and regret from Halfjord's knightly 
 foe. The king, dismissing the messengers 
 with a suitable reply, ordered the bodies 
 borne to his own castle for interment, and, 
 left alone, murmured: "Olaf said true, 
 this Harold hath a great and noble heart, 
 and yet that maketh him but a more 
 dangerous foe."
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 Though this is called the legend of Half- 
 jord the death of the gallant Olaf leaves 
 but little to tell. 
 
 Grunhilde, apprised of the arrival of the 
 messengers bearing the two bodies, re 
 turned at once to Halfjord's castle. Olaf's 
 tragic death overwhelmed her with sorrow, 
 but in the rush of events, her consternation 
 at Landsvag's defeat and the daily reports 
 of continued successes on Harold's part, she 
 had no time to indulge her grief. The 
 full story of the tragedy in which the two 
 young lovers had died almost in each 
 other's arms had not been told her and 
 the part that Alric had played was known 
 to neither herself nor Olga. 
 
 Grunhilde had, for the sake of Hilda 
 
 and her message just before she went on 
 
 her ride of death, pardoned and restored 
 
 to a semblance of old-time favor the maid 
 
 252
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 253 
 
 Olga, while the latter, though feeling a 
 twinge of conscience whenever she thought 
 of sweet Hilda's rude death, did not yet 
 know the cost to Landsvag of her silence, 
 and felt rather a sense of relief that she 
 had spoken even so late. 
 
 Thoroughly aroused, Grunhilde sought in 
 every way to aid her king, scouring the coun 
 try for recruits and even arming and send 
 ing to the front the menials of her house 
 hold, but it was of no avail. It had been 
 written in the Book of Fate that Landsvag 
 should fall and daily, almost hourly, Harold 
 drove the devoted remnant which still clung 
 to the declining fortunes of their king fur 
 ther and further into the interior. Halfjord, 
 upon whom Olaf's mantle seemed to have 
 fallen, was now a king, a kingly king, most 
 worthy of that crown fast slipping from his 
 head. Halfjord ! Halfjord ! it is now too 
 late ; those squandered hours when Pleas 
 ure's wanton smile lured you from the 
 rugged path of duty, and servile sycophants 
 dulled your ears to Olaf's warnings those 
 hours, marshalled now before your retro 
 spective gaze, seem as the hosts of dead
 
 254 Beyond the Palzeocrystic Sea 
 
 which lie putrefying on a score of fields, 
 hosts you might have saved had you but 
 saved the hours. A king now, Halfjord, 
 but what were you before ? Hardly the 
 lowest serf in your kingdom gave less 
 thought to life's grave responsibilities than 
 did you. This your retribution and in pro 
 portion to your discarded duties shall its 
 terrors accumulate ! 
 
 At last the torn and tattered ravelings 
 of the army that had so proudly gone 
 forth limped wearily, woefully, through 
 the gate of the king's own castle Lands- 
 vag's last stronghold and there prepared 
 themselves for the siege whose end was in 
 evitable. Harold came and like a mighty 
 serpent his army wound its crushing folds 
 around the frowning walls. 
 
 Jorg and Erling were still among the 
 living, though each had most frantically 
 sought death's sweet release from impend 
 ing humiliation. The queen, hearing that 
 Erling was present at Olaf's death, ques 
 tioned him and then heard for the first 
 time the full story of Alric's treachery and 
 murder. The story was told before Olga
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 255 
 
 Olga, whose one word spoken in season 
 might have changed the course of history 
 
 and when Erling had gone, the queen, 
 with a withering smile, said to the girl who 
 with cheeks as pale as death's phantom 
 steed sat like a piece of stone : " You are 
 both murderess and traitress! " Olga rose 
 and left the chamber. That night the 
 sleeping inmates of the castle were aroused 
 by an agonized shriek, followed quickly by 
 a heavy fall, and in the morning the man 
 gled remains of the unhappy Olga were 
 found beneath her window. 
 
 My story draws to a close ; already I have, 
 in seeking to drive away the ennui of these 
 tedious hours, spun it out to a length dis 
 couraging to the possible reader. Reader ? 
 An odd conceit, that these pages will ever 
 find their way to my fellow-men, and yet I 
 hope even against hope. 
 
 What need to recount the privations, the 
 sufferings, of the beleaguered garrison, the 
 sorties of the desperate, starving men, the 
 repulsed assaults of the besiegers, who, 
 like a great flock of buzzards watching the 
 dying throes of a helpless lion, not content
 
 256 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 with the slow approach of dissolution, 
 sought to hasten death with their sharp, 
 tearing talons? The history of one pro 
 longed siege is, barring details, the history 
 of them all Halfjord capitulated. How 
 could it be otherwise? Harold, filled with 
 admiration of his brave foe, with his usual 
 magnanimity accepted the surrender, leav 
 ing the terms open to be settled afterward 
 as between kings. 
 
 On the day when the gates were to be 
 opened Jorg, emaciated, starving, hardly 
 able to stand erect, weeping like a baby, 
 said to Halfjord: "Fate hath been kind 
 to many the princely Olaf, mine own 
 gallant Jegge, last of our race, and count 
 less thousands of others have, through the 
 friendly shafts of our foes, pillowed their 
 noble heads upon the soft bosom of this 
 their native land, but Jorg, who for a life 
 time hath borne weapons for Landsvag 
 nor ever yet before hath bended knee to 
 foe Jorg, who should have died before, 
 must needs behold an alien in the seat of 
 Landsvag's king. Ah! Halfjord! Halfjord! 
 why died we not at birth ? Great Odin !
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 257 
 
 Let the kindly curtain of eternal blindness 
 roll its grateful clouds before old Jorg's 
 despairing eyes, that I may not behold the 
 desecration of this day ! " 
 
 Halfjord made no reply with tortured 
 soul whose festering wounds had poisoned 
 all the springs of life, with a heroism born 
 of a kingly heart he sought to bear himself 
 with a most kingly mien through the ordeal 
 before him and in such a mood it is not 
 safe for man, however colossal his soul, to 
 trust himself to words treacherous words, 
 in their very forming a tremor of the lip, a 
 quaver of the voice, betrays the grinding 
 agony which the giant soul may, through 
 a silent smile, hide from the prying world. 
 
 The hour arrived. Halfjord, Jorg and 
 Erling, with a handful of trusty followers, 
 stood, almost tottering in their weakness, 
 awaiting the signal that, sounding triumph 
 to those without, meant desolation to those 
 within. Harold's great army, full of lusty 
 pride, was marshaled in grand array upon 
 the surrounding plains; the trumpet sound 
 ed, trembling, gray-haired veterans threw 
 open those gates that had so faithfully re-
 
 258 Beyond the Palasocrystic Sea 
 
 sisted armed foes without but to yield to 
 that most insidious foe within starvation 
 and through the open portal rode, not 
 a great host to gloat over the dying strug 
 gles of the once mighty Landsvag, but a 
 single horseman, the knightly Harold him 
 self alone. 
 
 Dismounting in the court-yard Harold 
 advanced to the king who was now his 
 prisoner, saying : " Halfjord, thou hast 
 nobly defended thyself, and while we do 
 rejoice at this our great success yet do we 
 grieve with thee over thy downfall and 
 even more over the death of the gallant 
 Olaf, whom we did love as brother while 
 we battled with him as a foe." 
 
 Halfjord was not prepared for such 
 kindness ; despite himself his eyes filled 
 with tears as he replied : " Harold, thou 
 art kind unto one who now yields himself 
 thy prisoner." 
 
 " Not so, good Halfjord," was the re 
 sponse. " Pluck up thy spirits, thou art 
 neither foe nor prisoner now, but Harold's 
 friend and vassal. We would have thee gov 
 ern for us this thy goodly land and Harold
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 259 
 
 can sleep easy on his couch with Landsvag 
 beneath thy true eye." 
 
 Harold had extended his hand as he 
 spoke Halfjord took the proffered hand 
 and these two kings, the victor and the 
 vanquished, gazed into each other's eyes ; 
 at last, in tones whose determination left 
 no room for argument, while through them 
 ran a note of sadness, Halfjord spoke : "I 
 thank thee, king, but it may not be ; Half 
 jord will not rule as vassal where once he 
 was king." 
 
 Disappointment and admiration were 
 blended in the look which Harold bent 
 upon him as he said : " Thine was a 
 king's answer, and its spirit pleases us. 
 We would fain have thee with us, yet will 
 we not force thee ; thou shalt have thy 
 wish, brave Halfjord. What wilt thou ?" 
 
 "Oh ! king, thou art generous unto thy 
 fallen foe. Halfjord would take ship and 
 go far from hence, for his eyes weep tears 
 of blood at sight of the desolation of his 
 land." 
 
 " It shall be as thou desirest, Halfjord," 
 was the quiet reply, at which the unfor-
 
 260 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 tunate king, clasping Harold about the 
 neck, exclaimed : " Verily, thou art a 
 king ! " 
 
 "And you, noble Jorg?" asked Harold, 
 as, disengaging himself from Halfjord, he 
 extended a hand to the old man. 
 
 " King," answered the faithful follower, 
 " see, Jorg's hair is white with the snows of 
 many winters ; I am too old to learn how 
 to serve a new master; I go with my 
 king." 
 
 " You have a true and loyal heart. With 
 such men as these I marvel not, Halfjord, 
 that thou hast so long withstood Harold, 
 And you, brave knight, who would have 
 taken Olaf's place against Harold himself, 
 what say you?" 
 
 "Harold, Erling also goeth with his 
 king." 
 
 "Harold is now your king." 
 
 " Not so, Harold, thou hast conquered, 
 but Halfjord is still Landsvag's king, even 
 though thou hast wrested from him his fair 
 crown." 
 
 "Well said, brave Erling. Halfjord, I 
 would I had an hundred such men, men
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 261 
 
 who desert not when fortune frowns. And 
 these thy brave followers?" waving his 
 hand at the men who had stood silently at 
 arms behind their king. A cry arose as if 
 from one throat : "We cast our lot with 
 Halfjord ! " 
 
 Harold, deeply impressed with the in 
 flexible loyalty of the entire garrison, said : 
 ' It is well. Thou mayest depart with thy 
 followers, Halfjord. I leave thee in pos 
 session here until thou art prepared, nor 
 shall the presence of aliens in this, thy 
 home, disturb thy last hours here." Then 
 saluting in turn each of the three men he 
 said to the dethroned king: "Halfjord, 
 thou art a king and deservest a better 
 fate." To Jorg andErling: "My heart 
 yearneth for such followers as ye men of 
 Landsvag." Then mounted and rode 
 away. 
 
 Not long after his departure a train of 
 provisions sent by Harold to the famishing 
 garrison entered the castle. 
 
 Some two days were consumed in prepa 
 rations, and on the third day the little 
 troop filed out, taking their way toward the
 
 262 Beyond the Palaeocrystic Sea 
 
 distant seashore. True to his promise, 
 Harold not only refrained from taking 
 possession of the castle during Halfjord's 
 occupancy, but, with refined consideration, 
 so disposed his force that when the mourn 
 ful train of self-expatriated exiles passed 
 with tear-dimmed eyes they were spared 
 the humiliation of maiching under the 
 eyes of the victors. 
 
 We see no more of noble Harold and 
 but little more of Halfjord, since it were a 
 weary task to follow these wanderers 
 through the trials, sufferings, privations of 
 their journey. Taking ship the followers 
 of Halfjord, some two hundred souls, set 
 sail for far-away Iceland, but adverse winds 
 drove them from their course ; they were 
 lost on the pathless ocean. During the 
 time that they sought in vain to recover 
 their course the queen, Grunhilde, after 
 giving birth to a son, whom she named 
 Olaf, yielded up her life, and her body 
 was consigned to the soft caresses of the 
 rolling waves. 
 
 At last they sighted land, but, owing to 
 the ice, were unable to approach it close
 
 The Legend of Halfjord 263 
 
 enough to determine if it was inhabited or 
 habitable. (I have every reason to assume 
 that this land was Greenland.) For days they 
 skirted this frowning, ice-locked coast, 
 until finally they again entered open water, 
 and there found a current that bore them 
 resistlessly northward. Death in a thou 
 sand ways now staring them in the face, 
 they lost heart, but the noble Halfjord 
 sought in every possible way to revive 
 their drooping spirits, succeeding in rous 
 ing them to one last effort. Finally land 
 was again sighted, and this time without 
 the menacing fringe of ice. The current 
 bore them close in shore ; they anchored, 
 landing, I should judge, not far from the 
 spot where my ship of ice stranded, and 
 there the good King Halfjord founded the 
 city of Nikiva. 
 
 Halfjord reigned many years, claiming 
 toward the end of his life to have the gift 
 of prophecy, and telling his people that 
 he should return hereafter and lead them 
 to recover the kingdom Harold had 
 wrested from them. They believed him, 
 and to this day have looked for his return,
 
 264 Beyond the Palzeocrystic Sea 
 
 hence their welcome to me, though since 
 the ships in which they came have long 
 since rotted, and they have neither material 
 nor practical knowledge for fashioning or 
 handling others, it is to me a matter of 
 much speculation how they expect me to 
 lead them from this place a matter of 
 much concern to me, though apparently of 
 none to them. 
 
 This, then, is the legend of Halfjord as 
 told in Nikiva, and to the minds of this 
 people their legend suggests but two 
 ideas the ultimate return of their be 
 loved King Halfjord and the treachery of 
 Alric the Bloody-haired treachery so foul 
 that after a lapse of ten centuries the taint 
 of its curse still hangs around, working 
 frightful death to the unfortunate babe 
 who enters the world with locks that sug 
 gest the "Bloody Hair."
 
 PRINTED BY R. R. DONNELLEY 
 
 AND SONS COMPANY AT THE 
 
 LAKESIDE PRESS, CHICAGO, ILL 
 
 MDCCCXCV
 
 University of California 
 
 SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388 
 
 Return this material to the library 
 
 from which it was borrowed. 
 
 
 Uliivur
 
 Beyond 
 The Palceocrrstic Sea 
 
 V 
 
 by 
 
 - 
 
 A. S. Morton