Adventure Magazine, April 10, 1924 — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

Swain’s Justice “May Christ desert me if it be otherwise.”’ Jarl Rognvald leveled an accusing fore- arm at Thorbiorn. “You have heard,” he snapped. ‘What do you say?” Thorbiorn shrugged his shoulders. “Naught, for that it would do me little good tosay anything. ‘This case is of a kind with that you decided within doors. The men I charge are your men, and you will decide for them.” What Jarl Rognvald would have said to this no man knows, for Jarl Harald took the words from his mouth. “Get you gone, Thorbiorn,”’ he ordered hurriedly. ‘I think some troll has muddled your wits. Man, you yourself are the worst enemy you ever had. Go quickly, I say, or you will wear out my patience also.” “Yes, yes,” echoed Jarl Rognvald then. “Go, before my temper stiffens, Thorbiorn. You are a troublemaker we can spare. Do you bide upon your property in Caithness until you hear from me that you may ven- ture afield. And walk warily, or I will out- law you and all who consort with you.” Thorbiorn glared at the circle of men who surrounded him and the man whose sanc- tuary he would have violated. His own followers discreetly had disappeared. “‘Wo the day ever I had friendship for Swain Olaf’s son,” he cried. ‘Little has it brought me save humiliation and disgrace. And I call all to witness that I charge him here with the trouble that has befallen me.” “Not so,” denied Jarl Rognvald. “You yourself, as Jarl Harald has just told you, are your worst enemy. Swain speaks kind- ly of you in all things, but in justice to his men, he must have insisted upon a fair share of the spoils of your expedition, even though he was disposed to yield to you on his own. account.” Thorbiorn tossed his ax over his shoulder. “There is at least this truth in what you say, Lord Jarl,” he answered. “Without your backing, Swain could do me little harm. I shall not forget that when the right time comes.” And he strode fearlessly through their ranks and made his way down to where his longships lay off the strand. “We must not be too severe with Thor- biorn,” said Jarl Harald. “He has been twice wrong, and that irks the pride of a strong man.” 3 “Tt is no matter whether we are severe 165 or not,” rejoined Swain. “TI suspect this is the beginning of a coil the Norns will spin for many a day.” “That is well spoken,” endorsed Erik Bitling. “For the ice-berg did not know when the water made it.” Jarl Rognvald tugged at his beard. “God willing, we have acted for the best,” he said. ‘“Thorarinn, I have no fault to find with what you have done, but I expect that you will be careful in future to give no fresh offense to Thorbiorn or his people.” Thorarinn promised that he would obey the Jarl’s command, and as Thorbiorn shoved off his keels for Caithness on that tide, men soon dismissed the quarrel from their minds. It was a good Summer, with a rich harvest in view. IV SWAIN sailed the next day for his estates on Gairsey, which is off the mouth of the Aurrida Firth on the north coast of Hrossey, and busied himself there in checking over the accounts of his steward and overseeing the preparations for the harvest. He also divided up his booty amongst the followers who had accompanied him on his cruise, paid manbote to the families of those who had been slain and shedded over his ships. In some years it was his custom to go Autumn viking after the harvest had been reaped, but he had gained so much plunder on the cruise with Thorbiorn that he de- cided to bide at home and administer his property and oversee the education of his sons, Olaf and Andreas. Wife he had none, for she who had borne his children was — locked fast in a nunnery where she might not plague him with her vanity and false heart. He dwelt thus quietly upon Gairsey until the Summer was all but passed, when on a certain afternoon a messenger, named Asolf, came to him from Jarl Rognvald. “Here is foul news, Swain,” he called as he entered the yard. ‘““‘What mischief has been done?” an- swered Swain. “Thorbiorn Klerk has slain Thorarinn Kaillinef, who killed Thorbiorn’s man, Thor- kell, in the brawling at Orphir the day you returned from your last cruise,’ replied Asolf. “This is a bad business,” he added. “I COMmMiICLOOCkKS. GO S|