Adventure Magazine, April 10, 1924 — page 176: what you’re looking at

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

174 moss-hag, sought his horses and rode at speed to Thorsa, where he took ship for Orphir, saying nothing on the way. Swain and the rest of the company followed his route through Caithness, bearing Thor- biorn’s head with them. And at every stead, borg and village Swain exhibited his horrid trophy saying: “This is the head of Thorbiorn Klerk, who was kinsman to Jarl Harald and as great a man in the Orkneyar as any who held no title. He resisted Jarl Rognvald’s justice, and foully slew the Jarl without I have executed justice And the Caithness folk, who knew how Jarl Harald had felt in this matter—for gossip traveled fast across the countryside— grinned as they heard, saying one to an- other— “Tt is Swain’s justice to hew off a man’s head.” The saying became common in that country, and any man who had lost his head was remarked to have suffered “Swain’s Justice.” But Jarl Harald said no word, direct or indirect, of praise or blame for what: Swain had done. He did not even send for Swain when he summoned the chiefs and boendr of the Islands to notify them that he had succeeded to Jarl’s Rognvald’s share of the Jarldom. Some of Swain’s friends held that this was ominous, and advised him to beware lest Jarl Harald plotted his ruin; but Swain only laughed. “T shall never suffer by what any Jarl does,” he said. ‘They know me _ too well.”’ He bided at home in Gairsey and attend- ed to his own affairs, seldom going abroad and advising all who came to him with news or complaints of what Jarl Harald did that they should go slowly and remem- ber that any sudden change in rulers created misunderstandings which time would remedy. “Let the Jarl be,” he wouldsay. “He is a young man, but he means to deal honestly by us. If he makes mistakes, we shall have opportunity to correct them.” One evening in the Autumn he was sitting alone in his skallz when Erik Bitling came to him. “A longship is pulling into the cove,” said the littlke man, with a queer look. “And Jarl Harald is standing in the prow.” Adventure “Tell them in the kitchen that we shall have company, and broach a new barrel of ale,’’ answered Swain. “T had better bid the folk seek their arms, too,”’ suggested Erik. “Not if you value my friendship,” joined Swain. “The Jarl has never forgiven you for——” “Peace, Erik. I know Jarl Harald better than you.” So when Jarl Harald entered the skalli door in the candle-light, with a score of house-carls following him, he found Swain still sitting alone at the high table and the benches empty. “T have heard that you keep eighty men at your own charges, Swain,” remarked the Jarl after they had exchanged greetings. “That is true.” ‘Where are they?” ‘“‘They are all weary from their work at the harvest.’ - “And you bide here by night without. house-carls to protect you?” “Protect me against whom, Lord Jarl?” Jarl Harald was silent so long as he re-, quired to empty an ale-cup. “T can see that the trouble-makers have. been unsuccessful,” he said then. “Swain, I have come here to tell you that I have been wrong in holding a grudge against you for Thorbiorn’s death. Not a man has op- posed me seriously since I became sole Jarl, and I know now that it is because you shielded me from suspicion of being a party to the slaying of Jarl Rognvald.” “That is not to be denied,” admitted Swain bluntly. “T was used to relying upon you and Thorbiorn for advice,” continued the Jarl. “T hope that you will be willing to assist me as formerly. My task is a great one.” “What I can do for you, Lord Jarl, that will I,” replied Swain; “but I shall always say what I think ” Jarl Harald smiled for the first time in months. “You would not be Swain if you did not,” he returned. ‘What was it Jarl Rognvald was wont to say?, ‘What is a Jarl or a common man to Swain?’ ” And it is to be said that from that day forth Jarl Harald leaned always upon Swain’s counsel, and they were friends between whom never came so much as the width of a sword-blade to separate their intercourse. COMmMiCcoookkS.CG©