Adventure Magazine, April 10, 1924 — page 163: what you’re looking at

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

Swain’s Justice of my just share of the booty our expedition has taken.” Jarl Rognvald looked askance at the two of them. | “Tt is well-known that Swain has a heavy hand, and is given to taking what he wishes,” he said, “but I have never known him to be ungenerous with his fellows.” And Jarl Harald spoke up. “This quarrel had best be composed here,” he urged nervously. ‘We cannot afford to have men like Swain and Thor- biorn falling out. It is unthinkable that they should be separated by a dispute over plunder.” “Yet over plunder have they disagreed,” observed Swain grimly. Jarl Rognvald turned to him. “What have you to say to this?’ he de- manded. ‘“Thorbiorn has made a charge against you? Do you deny it?” “How else should I be here, Lord Jarl?” “I appeal for justice, Lord Jarls,” de- manded Thorbiorn again. “I am put to the inconvenience of coming all the way hither to Hrossey when I have not seen my lands in Caithness since the Spring, and I ask a swift justice.” “Tf justice is asked, justice shall be done,” Jarl Rognvald assured him. ‘Come, Har- ald, we will go back to our seats, and hear what Swain and Thorbiorn have to say.” But Jarl Harald shook his head. “In this case I may not dispense justice,” he answered, “for, as all men know, I am connected by blood with Thorbiorn, while Swain fostered me In my youth. I love them both beyond other men, and I would not have either consider that he had grounds for nourishing a grudge against me by reason of an unfavorable judgment.” Thorbiorn’s face fell at this, for he had counted much upon Jarl Harald’s friend- ship to aid him in his suit. “Why, there is nothing to choose from as regards your relationship with Swain and me,” he argued. “We are on an even foot- ing with you.” “T will not give judgment in this case,” returned Jarl Harald stubbornly. ‘More- over, it is always best to let one man judge a suit, when reliance can be placed upon that man’s fairness.” There was a murmur of approval from the hall. mS yes,” called the boendr and the 161 house-carls. ‘‘Rognvald is fair. Let the old Jarl judge.” “What say you, Thorbiorn?” asked Jarl Rognvald. “T will accept what I must,” he replied gruffly. “And you, Swain?” “Tt is all one to me, Lord Jarl,” said Swain. ‘The case is simple enough.” Jarl Rognvald sighed. “Two and twenty years have I been Jarl in these islands,” he said unhappily, “and never have I been called upon to decide a more unwelcome suit, since either way I must offend a man [ hold in much affection and respect. However, if chiefs disagree it is better that they should adjust their differences by law than by weapon clashings. “You are the complainant, Thorbiorn. State your case.” So Thorbiorn Klerk came up to the dais, and Swain beside him, and he set forth his claim that he and his men had sustained most of the fighting during the expedition and had suffered the greater man-scathe, and that therefore he held they were entitled at least to a fair half of the booty. Jarl Rognvald heard him out in silence. “You say that you lost twelve men by weapon-scathe, whereas Swain lost but eight men,” said the Jarl when Thorbiorn had finished. “Now, I ask you this: Was Swain backward in the fighting? Did he delay to come to your aid whenever there was an on-fall?” “No, that is not my contention,” admit- ted Thorbiorn reluctantly. “Tt was by chance, then, that you suf- fered more than he?”’ “No, no, Lord Jarl,’ objected Thorbiorn. “Tf I had not harried the enemy when I did they would have had time to muster their strength and might have beaten us off.” . “And if Swain had chanced upon them first, he must have done the same?” Thorbiorn wiggled uncomfortably. “Ves,” he answered at last. “So that it was the hazard of battle, and not s “But, Lord Jarl,” shouted Thorbiorn angrily, ‘of eight score men I lost twelve, and Swain only eight out of nigh fourteen score.” There was a rustle of movement in the hall, a chuckle here and there. Jarl Rognvald caressed his beard thoughtfully. COmMICLOOCKKS. EGO 5}