The Story of Rolf and the Viking's Bow

by Allen French

  CHAPTER XIII

  OF THAT ROBBER

  Rolf followed that man who had stolen the ewe, and the way led firstdown into the dales, and then upward to the fells. There had been rainand the paths were soft, so that the tracks of man and sheep wereclear. It was strange to Rolf that the robber showed such boldness asto go on beaten ways. But when at last he reached the region where allthe paths were grassy and tracks could no longer be seen, then Rolfknew not what to do until he met a wayfarer.

  "Hast thou seen," asked Rolf, "one who goes driving a ewe?"

  "He is not far before thee," answered the man. "But what seekest thouwith him?"

  "The ewe is mine," said Rolf. "I will have it again."

  "Thou art foolhardy," cried the man. "A life is more than a sheep.Turn back!"

  "Not I," quoth Rolf, and he went on. Then in a little while he saw theman before him, going without haste behind the ewe. And Rolf marvelledat his confidence, for the man did not even look back to see if hewere followed. So Rolf strung his bow and went faster, going quietlyuntil he was but fifty feet behind the man. And then he called to therobber.

  That man turned at once, drawing his sword. Grim and harsh was he inface when he found he was followed, but when he saw a lad, alone, thenhe smiled.

  "Seekest thou me?" he asked. And his voice was harsh, like his face,so that he was a man to terrify many.

  "That sheep is mine," said Rolf. "Leave it and go thy way."

  "Go home, boy!" said the man. "I would not hurt thee."

  "Once more," cried Rolf, "I bid thee leave the ewe, else will I strivewith thee for it."

  "What," sneered the man, "wilt thou set thyself against me? Draw thysword, then!"

  But the robber's sword was long and heavy, while Rolf's was short andlight. "Nay," he responded, "but I will hurt thee with my arrows. Takethy shield and defend thyself."

  "No shield do I need," sneered the man again, "against such as thou.Shoot, and see if thou canst touch me!"

  So great was his contempt that he stung Rolf to the quick. "Let ussee, then!" the lad cried. And in great heat of anger, at short range,Rolf drove a shaft at the middle of the man's body. But behold! theman swung his heavy sword as lightly as a wand, and brushed the arrowaside!

  "Once more!" quoth he.

  And then Rolf shot again, and yet again, but each time the arrow wasswept aside. And the robber called with jeers to shoot faster. So Rolfsent his shafts as swiftly as he could, and it was astonishing to seehow fast they followed each other; but though he shot half a score oftimes, each arrow, just as it reached its mark, was brushed aside. Ofthem all, one touched the clothing on the robber's breast, so that ittore the cloth; and one, sent at the face, scratched the skin ere itwas turned. When that was done, the man jeered no more, for he sawthat Rolf was closing in.

  And what might have happened is not known. But to Rolf, even in hisanger to be so foiled, there came admiration of the stranger's skill."Now," he thought, "such a thing is a marvel, for it is related of themen of old time, but not of the men of to-day. I had not deemed anyoneso quick or so strong." Then his own words told him who the man mustbe; he stopped advancing, and lowered his bow.

  But in a twinkle the man dropped his sword and strung his own bow, andhe laid an arrow on the string. "Now," cried he, "we have changedabout, and can play the game the other way. Perhaps thou also canstguard thyself." He drew the bow. "Art thou minded to try?"

  Rolf made no movement to ward himself. "Thou art Grettir the Strong,"he said.

  "Grettir Asmund's son am I," answered the man, "whom men call Grettirthe Strong. Perhaps thou art now the more minded to slay me, even asfools whom I meet from time to time. For nine hundreds in silver isthe price set upon my head."

  "Nay," answered Rolf, "I would not slay thee."

  The man laughed mightily. "I owe my life to thee!" he cried. Then hechanged his manner suddenly. "Go, leave me, boy, for my temper isshort, and I might do thee a mischief!"

  And then he went on his way, still driving the ewe before him; butRolf remained in that place. After a time the lad gathered those ofhis arrows which were not broken, and turned back toward his home. Butwhen he looked behind, and saw that a roll of land hid him fromGrettir, then he turned again, and followed after the outlaw.

  A long time Rolf followed, warily at first, for Grettir looked backonce or twice; then the lad might go more boldly. And the outlaw ledhim up into the hills, where were rocks and crags and much barrenness,a region where men might lurk long and not be found. And Grettir madea halt at a strong place, a shelf on the crags, protected from aboveby a sheer cliff, and reached only from one side. It seemed as if hehad often been there before. While he made a fire, Rolf lay at adistance, and wondered how he might steal nigher. Only one vantage didhe see which commanded the outlaw's lair: a great spur of rock whichstood out from the cliff, but which it would be hard to reach.

  Then Grettir laid himself to sleep while it was yet day, and Rolfcrept forward till he was under the spur. From above no man mightreach it; yet there were crevices here and there in the rock by whichRolf could climb. So he slung his bow on his back and tried theascent. But so slow must he climb, for fear of noise, that it was darkwhen he reached the flat top; and though Grettir was scarce forty feetaway, Rolf could not see him at all. So he watched there through thenight.

  Ever at that little distance he heard Grettir labor in his sleep, andoft the outlaw moaned and groaned. At times he started up and lookedabroad, but he could see nothing by the light of the stars. But whendawn came, then Grettir slept peacefully; and when it was broad day hestill lay sleeping. His face in sleep was sad and noble, with signs ofa hasty temper; his frame was great indeed. He lay so long that Rolfat last strung his bow and shot an arrow into the ground by him.Grettir started from his sleep, grasping his weapons and looking aboutfor his foes. Never in his life Rolf forgot that sight, which few menhad seen without ruing it, of Grettir angry and ready for the fray.

  But Grettir saw no one, for he looked about on the hillside below him.Then Rolf spoke: "Here am I, Grettir."

  Then the outlaw saw him, and put up his shield against a second arrow.Rolf said: "Had I wished, I could have slain thee in thy sleep."

  "Rather will I believe," answered Grettir, "that thou hast shot thylast arrow, and missed."

  Rolf showed him his full quiver, and Grettir lowered his shield. "Howcamest thou here?" he asked. "I made sure that thou wert gone."

  "Not very sure," answered Rolf.

  "And how," asked Grettir, "didst thou reach that place? I had weenedno man could mount that rock."

  "I am but a boy," answered Rolf, "yet men call me Cragsman."

  "Now I am well shamed," cried Grettir, "that a boy hath so outwittedme! And this I believe, that thou mightest have slain me; for a goodarcher I found thee yesterday. Still more will I say, that yesterday Ihad near suffered a hurt at thy hands, so that I was consideringwhether to retreat before thee, or to take my shield, and neither haveI yet done before a single archer. Now let me ask thee, why didst thoustop shooting then; and why didst thou not slay me here as I lay?"

  "Because," answered Rolf, "thou, or no man in Iceland, canst give methe help I need."

  "Come down," said Grettir, "and we will eat together."

  So they breakfasted together, of dried meat and the milk of the ewe."How was thy sleep there on the crag?" asked Grettir.

  "No worse," answered Rolf, "than thine here on the ledge. Why didstthou sleep so ill?"

  Then Grettir answered soberly: "One of my few good deeds is so repaidthat I see shapes in the dark, and my sleep is broken. For I slew Glamthe ghost who wasted Thorhallstead, but ere I cut off his head he laidon me that spell. So I am a fearsome man in the dark, though in theday no man may daunt me. But what can I do for thee?"

  "Let me see," answered Rolf, "if with the bow thou canst shoot fartherthan I."

  "Thou art a vain lad," said Grettir, somewhat displeased. "For thatalone earnest thou hither?"

  "Be
not wroth," begged Rolf, "for I have the best of reasons." And hetold the story of his father's death and of the need for a goodarcher. Grettir smiled.

  "And couldst thou find no man," asked he, "who is within the law, todo this for thee?"

  Then Rolf told of the trial with those Southfirthers at Tongue, andGrettir looked upon him with surprise. "So skilled art thou then?" heasked. "Now string thy bow, and show me how far thou canst shoot."

  So Rolf strung his bow, and shot along the hillside, and the arrowfell far away. "Now do I wonder," said Grettir. "Let me see thy bow."And when he had looked on it he said: "That any one could shoot so farwith such light gear I had not thought possible. Thou art a goodbowman. But what thinkest thou of my bow?"

  Rolf took the bow of Grettir in his hand, and a strange weapon it was.For it was shorter than his own bow, and scarcely shaped at all, butwas heavy and thick, so that it had seemed not to be a bow, save forthe string and the notched ends.

  "Such a bow," said Rolf, "saw I never."

  "Canst thou string it?" asked Grettir.

  Then Rolf tried, but he could scarce bend it a little way. Yet Grettirtook it and strung it with ease. Then he showed Rolf his arrows, whichwere heavy, short, and thick, like the bow. He laid one on the string,and drew it to the head, and behold! it rushed forth with a greatwhir, and with such force that it might pierce a man behind hisshield. And it flew far beyond the arrow of Rolf, full five roodfurther.

  "What thou dost with skill," said Grettir, "I do with strength." ButRolf cried with great joy:

  "Thou art the man I have been seeking!" Then he asked: "Wilt thou gowith me and shoot an arrow before witnesses, to prove that my fatherwas unlawfully slain?"

  "That I will," quoth Grettir, "and joyfully too, for I see little ofmen. Only one thing I require, that safe conduct be promised me to goand come, for I have enemies in thy dales."

  "How shall I get thee safe conduct?" asked Rolf.

  "It must be granted," answered Grettir, "by the Quarter Court at theAlthing."

  Then they talked the matter over, and Grettir advised Rolf once moreto seek Snorri the Priest, to find what steps should be taken. Then itwas bespoken where Rolf should meet Grettir again, and the outlawoffered to lay out in the hills north of the Thingvalla, in the valleyof the geysirs, and await tidings of the outcome of the suit.

  "Now," said Rolf, when he was ready to go, "keep the ewe for thykindness's sake."

  "Do thou take her," answered Grettir. "For had I known that thy motherwas a widow, I would never have taken the sheep. And the first bootyis this, which ever I rendered again."

  So Rolf returned toward home driving the ewe; and when he reached thehighway which led to the South Firths, there came riding a company,Kari and Flosi and their followers, and Snorri the Priest was withthem. They asked tidings. Then he told them of Grettir, and thosethree chiefs left their horses, and sat down with Rolf on the fell alittle way from their company; they had talk what was to be done. ForSnorri declared he saw a flaw in the case, since Grettir was anoutlaw, and no outlaw had ever yet come into a suit at law. But atlast he said:

  "Now go thy way, and summon Einar with a formal summons. [And hetaught Rolf the form.] But be thou sure that no mention is made ofGrettir. And I believe that, since no such case has ever yet beentried, it can lawfully be brought about that Grettir may shoot."

  Then those chiefs went their way, and Rolf went his, and he came backto Cragness.