Adventure Magazine, April 10, 1924 — page 175: what you’re looking at

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

Swain’s Justice : to Swain and the rest of the Orkney men running toward them along the bank of the moss-hag. “T see not what I can do for you, Thor- biorn,’ he replied. “My people are very wroth with you for what you have done.” “But kinsman, I lay my head on your knees,” pleaded Thorbiorn. ‘You will not permit Swain to take it from you!” Certain of Jarl Harald’s friends spoke up in Thorbiorn’s favor and begged the Jarl to cast his cloak over the outlaw; but the Jarl shook his head. “Well I know Swain,” he said, “‘and when his mind is set upon a course he can not be diverted from it. If I strove to guard Thorbiorn now Swain would turn his sword against me, and the outcome of that I should not care to estimate.” “Then do you yourself slay me,” said Thorbiorn, “for I would rather my punish- ment came at your hands than from Swain, who is my enemy.” “T can not, Thorbiorn,”’ denied Jarl Harald. “TI have not the heart to kill you or to order your death. Flee, and you may get off safe.” Thorbiorn rose slowly to his feet. “You have as good as ordered my doom, kinsman,” he said, “for the spear thrust that Jomar gave me found its way to my entrails and I can not run far.” All Jarl Harald could say to this was: “Save yourself if you can. My hands are bound.” By now Swain was near enough for the shouts of his people to be heard, so Thor- biorn and the eight men with him made off as best they could. Presently they came to a deserted shieling on the hillside, and here Thorbiorn stopped. “T can run no farther,” he said, ‘‘and this is as good a place to die as any other. I absolve all of you from your duty to me, and shall not hold it against any man who attempts to escape.” But none of the eight would leave him, and they all went inside the shieling, which was very flimsy in its construction, and did what little they could to make it defensible. When Swain came up he strung a circle of men around the building and ordered Erik Bitling to prepare torches. These torches he flung upon the thatch of the shieling, and the whole place was instantly ablaze. Then he drew in his circle closer, with him- self, Erik, Jomar and the _ best-armed 173 warriors opposite the door through which he expected Thorbiorn to escape. But Thorbiorn instead broke down a section of the wall, and attacked the opposite side of the circle where it was weakest, and he and his house-carls slew four men before Swain reached them. There was such a rush of battle at this moment that five of Thorbiorn’s followers were slain at once, dragging down two more of the Orkney folk with them, and Swain’s people drew back for a moment. “Will you fight me, man to man, Swain?” called Thorbiorn. “That will I,” replied Swain, “although your side is plastered with blood, and there is no glory to be found in slaying a wounded man.” Thorbiorn ran at him without another word, and Swain’s folk, so soon as they had finished the three surviving house-carls who had been with Thorbiorn, made a shield-ring and watched the struggle, mar- veling at the desperation with which the outlaw warded Swain’s stoutest blows, al- though his intestines bulged from the spear- hole in the skirt of his mailed shirt. Seeing how he panted from his efforts and the blood spurted from his wound, Swain asked him if he would rest himself a while, but Thorbiorn only gritted his teeth and answered: “No! Slay or be slain.” ‘“‘That is an excellent spirit, Thorbiorn,”’ approved Swain. ‘‘And what I should have expected from a man of your fame and ability. Do you desire to leave any mes- sage for your family?” “Only that I have no sorrow for aught that I have done,’ croaked Thorbiorn, “and I am glad I put away that slut, In- grid.” ‘“Humph,” grunted Swain. case, we will make an end.” He heaved up his sword with an energy that could not be matched, beat down the outlaw’s blade and struck off his head in one quick slash from left to right. “Take up the head, Erik,” he said, “and carry it to Jarl Harald.” Enik gripped Thorbiorn’s head by the hair and placed it on a spear. “What shall I say to the Jarl?” he asked, grinning. “Tell him that is Swain’s justice.” But when Jarl Harald saw Erik coming from afar he went swiftly back across the “In that COMICLOOC|KKS. EGO S|