Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 12, 1927 — page 144: what you’re looking at

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

618 about a broken man:~if he’s lost the love of life, and doesn’t care a fig for anything, then Danes and demons need have no ter- rors for him. A Danish spear makes as sure an end of trouble as anything.” “You are right!’’ cried Conrad in hearty agreement, “ We'll go through Cornwall, and I ask nothing better than to meet my old enemy Hasting, and let him be clothed in solid steel and armed like Hercules! I'll embrace him like a brother!” Two days later, however, the distraught youth claimed the right to change his tune. They rode in mellow country that was bursting into spring, and when they came upon an ancient Roman road, hard as pave- ment, they turned their weary horses that way and followed it toward the sea. Loris was the first to hear the beat of other hoofs, and the first to see the glint of sun- light on helmets and spears, and he warned Conrad that Danish soldiers were approach- ing. “Tt “ll be Hasting himself and all his pirates, marching to join King Guthrum in the hills,” he predicted; but did not check his pony. ‘We cannot give battle to an army, you and I,” said Conrad. ‘“‘ We'll hide in the forest and let them pass.”’ “As you please, master,’ agreed the clown with a twinkle in his eye, and led the way into cover on a hillside. When they were securely hidden, it was Loris who skillfully bound thongs about the horses’ noses and held them firmly while the enemy was passing on the road, lest they salute the marching horses with neighs ~ and snorts. Watching from the forest, they saw five hundred Danes pass on that Wessex road, with the sinister Hasting riding at their head. They were fully equipped for war, and stout and hearty from a winter of plundering and feasting. ‘“ Eadgar and his Saxons are not with them,” remarked Conrad. “Is the treaty broken, or is Eadgar bottled up in his own castle?”’ “ More likely Eadgar’s dead,” said Loris in a flash of pessimism. “ It’s the way of Hasting and his like, to live and fatten on a host like Eadgar while the good cheer ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. lasts, and then slaughter all hands when there’s no more use for them.” The two lay quiet until the Danes were moving specks upon the skyline, then took the road again. Once more, toward evening, Loris gave warning of an approaching armed force, and from another covert they saw a band of Saxon soldiers riding with Eadgar, the thane, in the lead. Loris was thrilled at the sight of old friends and comrades, and the curiosity of Conrad overmastered his sober judgment. They rode from cover and hailed the marching column. The thane greeted them warmly and urged them to ride with him. “We have escaped our prison,” he said, without much spirit, “‘and I ride to the rallying place in Somerset to offer my men to the king. Waldher is gone from us, we know not where, and Herwin is reported with the new army. I am fast getting old, and the winter of oppression has worn me down, but now that the tyrant and his savages have quit our castle, I must ride again, and perhaps strike one more blow for our king and Britain. We need young men like you, Conrad. Will you ride with us?” ‘“ My way lies across the sea,” was the answer, ‘and I shall ride no more in Brit- ain.” ‘* But Edith?” queried the thane. ‘“ We learned that she was with you in Athel- ney.” “The Lady Edith is safe in Athelney with her majesty the queen,” said Conrad gruffily. “Ihave no ties to bind me to your land, and I am going home.” Eadgar was too cowed, too languid, to show a lively interest in anything, but Con- rad explained to him briefly the circum- stances of his recall to the Eastern capital. “You are wise to go back, young man,” said Eadgar. “ There’s no more peace or happiness in Britain. We are a conquered, dying race, and the Danes will soon over- whelm us and blot us out.” “You have not the spirit of your king,” observed Conrad. “Go on to Athelney, and you will see a new Britain growing up . under your eyes. The king is blithe and Gomichboo cS (E)