Adventure Magazine, April 10, 1924 — page 162: what you’re looking at

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

160 “So far as I am concerned, the division we have made is fair enough,” rejoined Swain. “My ships are full and so are yours.” Thorbiorn scowled. “You may think so, but I do not,’ he barked. ‘When two chiefs sail in com- pany they divide equally.” Swain’s answer to this was a short laugh. “He who sails with me takes what I allow him,” he said. “Not if his name be Thorbiorn!” “Tf his name be Thorbiorn or aught else.”’ “You will earn yourself a new reputation —for being overbearing and inequitable,” fumed Thorbiorn. “My men did most of the fighting in Uladstir.*” “That may be true,” assented Swain, “‘but it is equally true that they had the pick of the plundering there. And it is also true that I had almost twice as many . men on the expedition as you.” “‘And for that reason you would over-ride el?? Swain considered this deliberately. “No, no,” he said finally. “You are a friend of long standing, Thorbiorn, and eke my sister’s husband. I will take from you what I would not from another, and agree to submit our case to the Jarls for judg- ment.” Now, at this there were outcries from the different ships, and the truth is that several of Thorbiorn’s men spoke up in Swain’s favor, for Swain was known for a rough- tongued, straightforward man, who ordi- narily seized whatever he desired and paid for it if he wished, and not otherwise. “Let be, Thorbiorn,” they counseled. “This is more than Swain ever before offered any man who challenged him.” “YT cannot help myself,’ retorted Thor- biorn ill-temperedly. ‘‘As you say, Swain, you have nigh twice as many men as I, and a dragon and two longships to my two. I must accept the slight you put upon me.” “Slight?” repeated Swain. ‘What slight have I——” “You cannot dismiss it in that fashion,” exclaimed Thorbiorn. “TI laid claim to my just share of our spoils, and you refused it to me.” Swain stroked his long, ruddy beard. “Ves,” he answered slowly, ‘‘you laid claim to your Just share—and your just * fies Adventure share shall you have. But I never heard before that a chief with two ships must share equally with a chief with three ships.” “That 1s to be seen,” replied Thorbiorn, and he climbed down from the prow of his longship, and strode aft along the gangway between the rowing-benches, bidding _ his men pull on after Swain’s ships to Orphir, where the two Jarls had their steadings. “Here is a fellow whose hands have swollen from the oar-bite until they think to clasp more than human hands ever held,’ commented Enik Bitling as Swain frowned astern at Thorbiorn’s longships. “We will prick his blisters,” growled Swain. ‘He may be my sister’s man and Jarl Harald’s kin, but he shall not possess what is not his.” II JARL ROGNVALD and Jarl Harald were sitting at the high table in the skal at Orphir when Swain and Thorbiorn tramped in at the head of their friends, and the two Jarls rose from their chairs and went forward to embrace the chieftains. ‘““You are welcome,” cried Jarl Rognvald. “‘Was your cruise successful that you are returned home so early?” asked Jar! Harald. “We have fetched home much plunder and a quarrel,” replied Swain before Thor- biorn could speak. But Thorbiorn was quick to catch the advantage. “T am come to appeal for justice, Lord Jarls,”’ he declared. “For justice?’ repeated Jarl Rognvald. “Against whom, Thorbiorn?”’ And Jarl Harald stared from one to the other of the two viking chiefs, a frown of bewilderment upon his face, for he loved both of them beyond any of the rest of his friends; Swain for that he had fostered him, aye, and secured him his share ‘in the Jarl- dom, and Thorbiorn because the Caithness man was his cousin and had been his close adviser since youth. “Against Swain,” returned Thorbiorn to Jarl Rognvald’s question. “But Swain is your wife’s brother,” pro- tested Jarl Rognvald. “What? Must vik- ing-farers of such renown, who have fought and cruised together all these years, fall out upon some trivial question?” “Tt is no trivial question, Lord Jarl,” asserted Thorbiorn. “Swain defrauds me COMICLOOCKKS. CGO 5}