The Norsemen in the West Part 38

"Never mind, Bert'a, oos be a tome soon."

There was a general laugh at this consolatory remark; even Bertha smiled faintly as she patted Snorro's head, while Astrid and Thora--not to mention Gudrid--agreed between themselves that he was the dearest, sweetest, and in every way the most delightful Vinlander that had ever been born.

"Of that there can be no doubt," said Leif, with a laugh, "since he is the only white Vinlander that ever _was_ born."

But although the party a.s.sembled on the p.o.o.p indulged at first in a few humorous remarks, they soon became silent and sad, for they were fast leaving behind them a spot which, with all its drawbacks, had been a pleasant and happy home for upwards of three years.

As they stood leaning on the rails that guarded the p.o.o.p, and gazed regretfully on the lessening hills, each recalled many pleasant or stirring incidents which had occurred there, incidents which would remain--however far or long that land might be left behind--for ever engraven on their memories. And, long after twilight and distance had concealed the coast from view, the Nors.e.m.e.n continued to strain their vision towards the horizon, mentally bidding a long and last farewell to Vinland.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

CHANGES IN BRATTALID--THE SCOTS CONTINUE TO PLOT AND PLAN.

Greenland again! Flatface standing on the wharf at Brattalid; Anders beside him; groups of Norse men, women, and children, and Skraelingers, around and scattered along the bay.

What a commotion there was in the colony, to be sure, when it was discovered that two large ships were sailing up the fiord; and what a commotion it created in the b.r.e.a.s.t.s of those on board these ships when it was discovered that two other large ships were already at anchor in the harbour!

It is not necessary to detain the reader with the details of question and reply, by which the truth was at last elicited on both sides.

Suffice it to say that the two ships were found to be merchant-vessels from Iceland, and that, among other colonists, they had brought out several men whose purpose was to teach and plant the new religion.

Already a small building had been set up, with a short tower on the roof, which the Nors.e.m.e.n were told was a church, and in which some of the services of the Christian religion were performed. Elsewhere several new houses had been built, and everywhere there were signs of increasing population and prosperity.

Leif was half pleased, half disappointed at all this. It was gratifying to find things prospering so well, but it was not pleasant to see the old place so greatly changed, and to have much of the old home-feeling done away.

However, little was said on the subject. The Vinland colonists were too busy at first, meeting with relations and old companions, and being introduced to new friends, to say or think much about the matter. After a few days they became reconciled to the change, and settled down into a regular busy life.

One evening Heika went to the house of his friend Edwinsson, who owned the boat that he wished to become possessed of. He found that the man was not at home, but there was a serving-woman in the house.

"Edwinsson no longer lives here," said the girl. "He has gone to live with old Haraldson and manage his boats, for the old man is not able for that work now."

"Do you mean Bertha's father?" asked Heika.

"Yes; Haraldson is Bertha's father."

Heika went at once to search for his friend. By the way he chanced to meet with his brother.

"Come, Hake," said he, "I want you to go with me to find Edwinsson."

"With all my heart," said Hake.

They soon came to old Haraldson's house, which lay at the extreme west of Brattalid; and when Heika opened the door, there he saw the old man seated in a large chair, propped up with eider-down pillows. Bertha was seated on a stool at his feet holding one of his hands.

"Come in, Heika," she cried, springing up and hasting forward with pleasure. "I have been trying to tell dear father about the whale you killed in Vinland."

She stopped abruptly on observing that Hake was behind his brother.

Recovering herself quickly, however, she welcomed him also with a slight blush.

"I want you, Heika," she continued, "to tell the story to my father."

"Ay, sit down here, young man, and tell it me," said Haraldson, in a tremulous voice. "I love to hear anything about Vinland, especially what pleases Bertha. Dear Bertha! I have become very frail since she went away--very frail; and it has been a weary time--a weary time. But come, tell me about the whale."

"Gladly would I do that," said Heika; "but I have business with your man Edwinsson--business which I want to put out of hands at once. But Hake will tell the story of the whale. He is a better sagaman than I."

"Let Hake tell it, then," returned the old man. "You will find Edwinsson somewhere about among my boats."

Hake gladly sat down beside Bertha, and began the story of the whale, while his brother went down to the beach, where he found his friend.

"Edwinsson," said Heika, after some conversation had pa.s.sed between them, "you have a good boat near Leif's wharf. Will you lend it to me?"

"Right willingly," replied his friend.

"But I am bound on an excursion that may chance to end in the wreck of the boat," said Heika. "Will you hold me responsible if I lose it?"

"'Twill be difficult to hold thee responsible," returned Edwinsson, laughing, "if ye lose your life along with it. But that matters not. I gift thee the boat if thou wilt have it. I count it a small gift to the man who saved my life."

"Thanks, Edwinsson--thanks. I accept the gift, and, if my venture is successful, I shall try to let you share the benefit in some way or other."

"Hast discovered a new fishing-ground, Heika? What venture do ye intend?" asked the other.

"That I will keep secret just now," said Heika, laughing carelessly. "I don't want to be followed at first. Ye shall know all about it soon.

But hearken, friend, make no mention of it. One does not like to be laughed at if one fails, you know."

So saying, Heika went off to Leif's wharf, loosed the boat which he found there, hoisted the sail, and dropped down with the tide to the mouth of the fiord. Here a light breeze was blowing, under the influence of which he soon ran round the point of land that divided Ericsfiord from Heriulfness. In the course of another hour he reached the western skerries.

The skerries or islets in question were little better than bare rocks, which lay about fifty yards from the mainland, along which they formed a sort of breakwater for a distance of nearly a quarter of a mile. Within this breakwater there were several narrow and well-sheltered inlets.

Into one of these Heika ran his boat, and made it fast in a place which was so well overshadowed by rocks, that the boat could neither be seen from the land nor from the sea.

On the landward side this inlet could be reached by a path, which, though it appeared somewhat rugged, was nevertheless easy to traverse.

Up this path Heika hastened after making the boat fast, intending to return to Brattalid by land. The distance over land was much shorter than by water, so that he could soon reach Leif's house, and his brief absence would attract no attention.

Just as the Scot issued from behind the rocks which concealed the path to the inlet, he was suddenly bereft almost of the power to move by the unexpected sight of Leif himself advancing towards him!

Poor Heika's heart died within him. He felt that all his long-cherished and deeply-laid plans were crushed, just as they were about to be carried into effect, and a feeling of fierce despair prompted him, for a moment, to commit some wild deed of violence, but he observed that Leif's head was bent forward and his eyes rested on the ground, as he advanced slowly, like one who meditates. Heika drew swiftly back behind the rock, from the shelter of which he had barely pa.s.sed, and breathed freely again when Leif pa.s.sed by, without showing any symptom of having observed him. Waiting till he had sauntered beyond the next turn in the path, he started at his utmost speed, and was soon beyond the reach of Leif's eyes, and back in Brattalid with a relieved mind.

Had the Scot waited to observe the motions of his master after pa.s.sing the turn in the path above mentioned, he would not have experienced so much mental relief; for no sooner had Leif got behind a small but thick bush than he turned abruptly, raised his head with an intelligent smile, lay down behind the bush, and looked quietly through its foliage. He saw Heika issue from behind the rock, observed his cautious glances from side to side, and, with something like a chuckle, witnessed his rapid flight in the direction of the settlement.

"Hem! something i' the wind," muttered Leif, rising and walking towards the spot whence his thrall had issued.

He found the rugged path, descended to the inlet, discovered the boat, and stood looking at it with a perplexed air for full ten minutes.

Thereafter he shook his head once or twice, smiled in a grave manner, and slowly sauntered home absorbed in meditation.

"Hake," whispered Heika to his brother that night, as they sat down together in the little sleeping-closet off Leif's hall, that had been allotted to their use, "all my hopes and plans were on the point of being ruined to-day."

"Ruined! brother. How was that?"

Heika related to him all that had occurred at the inlet near the western skerries.

"Art thou sure he saw thee not?" asked Hake earnestly.