Adventure Magazine, April 10, 1924 — page 161: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Howden Smith Author of ‘Porto Belle Gold,” ““Swain Jarl-Maker,”’ etc. RIK BITLING—Little Bit— whom some men called “Crook- ed Legs” and who was forecastle . man to Swain Olaf’s son, was noted’ far and wide in the North countries for his wise saws and it was he who made the saying, ‘‘A little word brings a Jarl’s death.”” But between the word and the death many things happened, and the man- ner of their occurrence was in this wise: In the time when Jarl Rognvald and Jarl Harald’s son ruled jointly in the Ork- neyar and Caithness their two principal chiefs were Swain Olaf’s son and one Thorbiorn Klerk, who had his name from his wisdom in council. Of these two, Swain was the best known and the most powerful, for it was said of him that he was the great- est man in the Norse lands of those who held no title. And indeed, many scalds have sung that had it not been for his lifelong preoccupation in a feud with Olvir Rosta, grandson to Frakork the Witch—the tale of which has been told otherwhere—he would have become another such ruler as Magnus Barelegs or Harald Fairhair; but whether that is true or not we can not say, for he was content with the respect and honor his prowess won and preferred to exercise his influence through others rather than be acclaimed Jarl or King. Thorbiorn was so famous that he suffered by comparison only with Swain, and of this fact there is reason to suppose him to have been jealous. Nevertheless they were close friends for long years, and Thorbiorn wed- ded Swain’s sister, Ingrid. He was exceed- ingly popular, and being kin to Jarl Harald, was highly regarded by the young Jarl, who was accustomed to lean upon his counsel. Swain was a famous viking leader, and it chanced one year that Thorbiorn proposed sailing in company with him upon a cruise to the Sudreyar * and the Syllingart and the west coast of Bretland {. They took with them five ships: Swain’s big dragon Death-Bringer, of thirty oars a side, two other longships of his, each of twenty oars a side, and two of Thorbiorn’s, also of twenty oars each. As it chanced, the luck was with them on this undertaking, and they ac- quired much booty, so that the long-ships were crammed with goods and gear until the rowers were hampered at the oars. They turned their prows northward in mid- Summer, and with fair weather came to the coast of Caithness where Thorbiorn held lands by Thorsa. And here Thorbiorn made signal that he desired a council. So the ships were drawn together, prow to prow, and the chiefs took station on the forecastles whence they could speak with one another. “‘As Iam near to my estate, Swain, I pro- pose to leave you here,” began Thorbiorn. “T have no objection to that,’’ answered Swain. “In that case, we had best divide the plunder now,” said Thorbiorn. * Hebrides. {Scyllies. t Britain. 159 Go DOOLK (© 5}