The Story of Rolf and the Viking's Bow

by Allen French

  CHAPTER XXX

  OF THE SAYING OF THOSE TWO WORDS

  Now the tale turns to speak of Einar and his two children: how theywent away from their home with but the clothes on their backs, andwith purses nigh empty, and but little jewelry. They came to the hut,to make a home where there was no room for a fourth to sleep, andwhere there was but a rack of dried meat, and a gray cloak hanging bythe door, and little else for comfort.

  Grani looks about the farm, and sees how it has a good spring, and asmall garden well tended, and a pen for the ewe. Beyond the gardenwere the other crops; yet the hay had not been cut, nor the grainreaped, and there was nothing stored against the winter.

  Said Grani: "Rolf awaited this turn of fortune, and why should he layup food for us?"

  Then he turned about, and looked off from the hillside. There he sawCragness, and the folk feasting; and he saw Fellstead and many otherfarms. There lay Broadfirth, and the sea beyond; fishing vessels werethereon. And he saw the ferry to Hvamm, with all the four roads whichled to it, where people travelled; but the little farm was far awayfrom all these things. Now it was a bright warm day, and the ewebleated in the pasture, and the birds called each other above hishead.

  Then Grani's heart fainted within him, and he cried to Einar: "Betterhadst thou chosen exile for us all, rather than condemn us to die inthis place!"

  Einar sought to excuse himself to his son, but appeased him not. ThenHelga said: "Is this all thou didst learn in the Orkneys, thus to meetthe fate which thou hast brought upon thyself?"

  Then Grani was quiet, and went and fetched water, and wood which wasthere for the cooking (but there was no great store). After a while hesaid to his sister, "No more will I complain, though worse things comeupon us."

  So in the following days he sets himself to work, and cuts the hay,and stacks it in ricks; and cuts and stacks the grain likewise,working hastily lest the snow should come. Einar was of no account insuch work, for his body was not used to it; but he watches the eweupon the mead, and fetches water; and Helga works at the house, andwhen the grain is reaped she begins to grind it in a handmill; a slowlabor that was, to make flour each day for their bread. Now when Granihad finished harvesting he began to cut peat and stack it near thehouse. It was hard work, for the cold was severe and the groundfreezing.

  Einar began to complain as the cold came on; he was not warm enoughunder the gray cloak, but sat much of the day by the fire. He dislikedhis food and wanted better, although naught better was to be had. Itwas not easy to bear his complainings; but Helga was patient, andGrani sought to lighten her labors, doing woman's work. Yet he wastroubled for the shame of his life, and slept badly, and lost flesh.Now hard frost and bitter winds came, but still no snow. Grani'sclothes were thin, and he was not used to the rough life; his handscracked with the cold, all his joints ached, his feet were sore fromhis thin shoes, and it seemed as if he would perish with the wind. Yetstill he cut peat, hewing it from the frozen ground in a little boggyplace; and he brought it home with fingers all bleeding. Then Helgabewailed the weather, how without snow the ground froze ever deeper:but though at first Grani was minded to complain with her, hebethought himself and spoke cheerily.

  Helga asked: "Why dost thou conceal thy thoughts?"

  "The worst of my thoughts," said Grani, "are so bad that I dare notdwell on them. But the better is that I must be manly; and I have amemory to help me."

  "What is that memory?" asked Helga.

  So Grani told of that time when he and his thralls were lost in thesnow in Orkney, and those two Icelanders bore the cold, but hecomplained of it. "And they gave me the cloak and the warmth of theirown bodies, yet I could not be brave. So now when I shiver in the coldI call to mind their hardiness, and strive to copy it."

  "That is well said," quoth Helga, "and I will show courage, even asthou."

  So those two fortified each other; but Einar's mind dwelt always onhis misfortunes: the great state he had lost, and the trick that hadbetrayed him, and all those servants who had deserted him. "Yearslong," said Einar, "I fed many of those men, yet they all turned fromme at the end. Not one had the gratitude to follow me hither."

  "There is luck in that," answered Grani, "for how could we feed them?"

  "Most I hate Hallvard and Hallmund," said Einar, "for I favored themin everything, but now they cling to Rolf."

  "He will get small profit from them," says Helga.

  Now at the farm they took much comfort in their ewe, which neverwandered far, and came home at night, sleeping always in the pen. Butone morning she was gone and the pen broken down, and no trace of herwas to be seen. Then Einar lamented greatly, since her milk wasneeded: he declared that she was stolen. But in the forenoon camethose two, Hallvard and Hallmund, leading the ewe.

  "This beast," said Hallvard, "was found eating from our mastersricks."

  "Wherefore," asked Grani, "ate she not from our ricks, which werenearer?"

  "I know not," said Hallvard, "but she hath been at our ricks; and Rolfhas said: Twenty in silver must you pay."

  Grani took his purse; and though his father scolded he gave silver,all that he had, and Hallvard and Hallmund went away.

  Now this happened again, and to redeem the ewe Grani gave a gold ring.Then he built up the pen again of double strength, so that a bullockcould not have broken out; but on another morning the ewe was gone,and unless she were a goat she might not have jumped out. Einar wasterribly enraged with an old mans anger, and swore those two ruffianshad killed the ewe; yet after a while they were seen coming, leadingthe beast.

  Einar said to Grani, "Take now thy sword and slay them when theycome."

  But Grani held his tongue and heard those two quietly when theyclaimed trespass money; he gave them all the jewels that he had, andthe twain went away. Then Einar cried, "I have no son at all, but twodaughters; and no one will defend me from this shameful persecution."

  Grani grew red as blood; but he said naught in answer, and tied theewe in the pen. When he was alone Helga came to him.

  Asks she: "Thinkest thou that the ewe broke out those two times, andleaped out the third?"

  He answers: "Those two stole her, yet I cannot prove it, for there isno snow to show their tracks."

  "I blame not thy mildness at all," says Helga, "rather do I praise it.But why art thou so quiet under injustice?"

  "I call to mind," says Grani, "that when I enthralled Rolf he nevercomplained, but took what fortune brought him, seeing that he couldnot help himself. He bided his time and avenged his father; and Isuffer in silence, to keep my father alive. That lesson which Rolf setme, now I follow; I cannot resist him, save to my death, and what thenwould become of my father and of thee?"

  Now there came another night, and in the morning the ewe was gone;that day Grani yielded her to Rolf, as already told, while Einarupbraided him that he was so unmanly. And in the next days the old manwas miserable, missing his milk, and not eating the broth Helga made,though the broth was very good. He made himself sick with his angerand his selfishness, and went to bed in the middle of the day, andscolded from where he lay. "Men tell," said he, "of Gisli the Outlaw,who entered his enemy's house and slew him for the slaying of hisblood-brother. But nowadays no man will do such a deed--no, not tosave his father."

  Then Grani started from his place, and said: "Violence enough has beendone in this feud, nor will I ever have hand in such." He went out ofthe house, and Helga after him.

  She said to him: "Be comforted, my brother."

  Grani answered: "It is true that I might take Rolf unawares, and slayhim. But I remember when he was my thrall in the Orkneys, going withme everywhere, and my life was daily in his hands. For when we were onthe cliffs he might have cast me down, and no man would have known hedid it. Or when we were fishing he might have drowned me, and havesailed away in the boat. But he never did evil for evil, and Iremember it now."

  Then Grani planned to sell his fodder, and the money would be welcome.But on another morning they woke in the hu
t with the crackle and glareof fire, and there were the ricks burning, all of them; Grani couldsave little from the flames. Now that was a great loss, and Einarbewailed it, saying that since the wheat was gone they would all threestarve. Then by day they saw Hallvard coming.

  "He comes to insult us," said Einar, and egged Grani on to meet himwith his sword, and wound him for punishment. But Grani receivedHallvard mildly, and said he had no need of help, and sent him away.

  "Now," said Einar, "we might have had help of Rolf, and thou hastrefused it."

  Grani answered naught to his father, but afterward when Helga askedwhy he sent Hallvard away, Grani said, "What help gave we to Rolf whenhe was shipwrecked at our door? Thou savedst his life, else he hadbeen slain in our hall. For very shame we can take no help of him."

  Now some days passed, and Einar grumbled ceaselessly, so that lifewith him was well nigh unbearable; yet he was the cause of all theirmisfortune. In nothing that she did might Helga please him; and thoughGrani had grown thin with labor, his father did not spare the lash ofhis tongue. It was plain that they had not enough food to keep themthrough the winter, now that so much grain was gone, and their fatewas much on Grani's mind; yet he was cheerful.

  Helga came to him at last, and said, "Brother, give me of thy courage,for with my fathers harshness and our hard work I feel my heartfailing me. On what thought dost thou sustain thyself?"

  "Dost thou remember," asked Grani, "that when we first came here Icomplained, and thou didst ask: Had I learned no more in the Orkneysthan to bewail my fate?"

  "Forgive me that saying," begged Helga.

  "Why not forgive?" Grani said. "For I was reminded of a boast I madeto Rolf there on the cliff by Hawksness, saying that I feared nomisfortune. And he answered: Then I was fitted to be an Icelander.Then, though I had dwelt so long in the Orkneys, my heart warmed to myown land whose children love her so; and I resolved to show myself anIcelander, for the sake of winning Rolf's praise. Therefore I strive,my sister, to be a true son of this dear Iceland, and to bear mymisfortunes even as Rolf sends them."

  "Mayhap," says Helga, "Rolf remembers also that boast of thine."

  "Aye," says Grani.

  "And mayhap," Helga says, "he sends these trials only to test thee,for it is clear that they are of design."

  "So I have thought," Grani answers. "Either it is that, or it isrevenge; yet Rolf has no spite in him."

  "Greatly dost thou praise him," Helga says.

  "Not overmuch," quoth Grani. "And now I will say I repent my pridewhen I refused his friendship: first at Hawksness, when he had done methat slight hurt, and then on the ship. But I have most shame that Ioffered him no atonement when I was prosperous here in Iceland, and hewas in hiding."

  "Go to him now," cries Helga. "Ask forgiveness!"

  Grani answers: "I asked it not when I might with honor; it werecowardice to do so when I am under his feet."

  Now Helga wished to argue against that; but their father called them,complaining, and there was no more of their talk. But Grani, whileHelga tended on Einar, ground corn in the handmill (but there waslittle of the grain left) and sang this song:

  "Once I, most fortunate, Met swords in fight. Now, sin to expiate, I show this plight: Grind corn to make my bread.-- Evil pursues my head."

  And it seemed to him that scarce ever had a warrior, not in thraldom,come to such fortune. Then when he had ground enough meal for anotherday he stacked the grain carefully against the weather, and went aboutother tasks, and that night slept soundly.

  But in the morning, waking with the first light, he heard as it were ascuffling of feet close outside the door; when he opened he saw sheepthere, a small flock, eating eagerly at the grain, which was almostall gone. In despair he rushed out upon them, and drove them away;they all fled before him but one lean old ram, who stood his groundand still would eat. Then Grani took a club and smote the ram, andwounded it, so that it ran away. Next he saw how at a little distancewere Hallvard and Hallmund, who came and excused them of the doings ofthe sheep, which had strayed while the men slept. Grani answerednothing, though his sister wept; but Einar was nigh out of his mindfor anger and despair, and cursed those twain, and Rolf their master,until Grani took him and led him into the house, when those two drovethe sheep away. Einar was so spent with rage that he fell at last in astupor; and Grani went and gathered all that remained of the grain.There were but two measures of it left.

  Then as he gleaned those few stalks from the ground, where the sheephad trodden them, and as he cleansed them of dust and saved everysmall particle: bitterness grew in him, and then wrath, and he nursedhis wrath all that day. Now Helga was busy with her father, and sawnot how Grani brooded; there was not much food for him, but he fed onhis despair. And he slept ill that night, and rose early, and wentwithout food to dig in the garden for roots. There those twain foundhim, Hallvard and Hallmund, when they came into the yard that day forhis sword.

  Now his back was toward them, and they asked each other: "Shall werush on him and wound him, or slay him, and so search the place at ourwill for his sword?" That seemed to them the best counsel, and theystole upon him. He was so busy that he heard them not; and but forHelga he had been slain. But she saw the men, and cried "Beware!" SoGrani turned with his spade uplifted, and they rushed at him. Then hedashed the sword from the hand of Hallmund, and struck fiercely atHallvard. Hallvard he wounded with the spade, but Hallmund with hisown weapon, and with their wounds they limped away.

  Then all of Grani's anger left him, and he sat in the house by thehearth, and his father waked and looked at him. Said Grani, "Muchdidst thou do to Hiarandi for my sake, and harshly has Hiarandi's sonrepaid me for thy sake. But let us forgive each other, father, beforethe end of life comes to us."

  Asked Einar: "How comes the end of life now?"

  Helga says from the doorway: "I see Rolf coming across the valley, andhe is armed."

  "Thus comes the end," says Grani, and they embraced and kissed eachother all three, and Grani made ready for death, and he went out tomeet Rolf. Rolf came into the yard, and he had his sword and shield.

  Says Rolf: "What hast thou to say to me for the wounding of myhouse-carles?"

  Grani looked on Rolf, and remembered how he had loved him once, andloved him still, yet never might they be friends. "This offer will Imake," said Grani. "I will fare abroad, and never come back to troublethee, if so be thou wilt give my father, while he lives, his winter'sfood."

  "Hast thou nothing better to say?" asked Rolf.

  "I will make this offer," said Grani. "I will be thy thrall, and laborfor thee, if only thou wilt maintain my father out of thineabundance."

  "Canst thou say no better?" asked Rolf again.

  Grani remembered how he might have been friends with Rolf, and wouldnot; and how he should have asked forgiveness, and could not. "Nothingbetter to offer have I," said he. "Nothing worth offering." For hedespised himself, and thought his life ended.

  "Grani took his sword and his shield, and they stood upto fight by the spring"]

  "Take then thy weapons," said Rolf, "and fight me here on the levelspace by the spring."

  So Grani took his sword and his shield, and they stood up to fight bythe spring and those in the hut heard the clash of steel. The twolooked strangely fighting, Grani gaunt and ragged, and Rolf well fedand in holiday clothes. Now Grani thought to be slain quickly; butRolf seemed to have no power at first; yet he warmed to the strife,and began to strike manfully, and at last he smote away a part ofGrani's shield. Then Grani by a great stroke shore away the half ofRolf's shield.

  "Well smitten!" cried Rolf, and they fought on; but Grani foundhimself growing weak, and marvelled much that Rolf smote no faster."But if he means to tire me out," thought Grani, "he can win meeasily."

  Then Rolf drew away, and said: "My shoestrings are loose, I will tiethem." So he laid aside his shield and sword, and knelt before Granito tie his shoes; Grani might have slain him there, but he waited. Andnot t
o be tempted to that treachery, Grani looked about; he saw thehut where were his father and sister, and looked off on the firth andthe wide land, and waited for Rolf to rise. Then they fought again.

  But Grani grew weary and desperate, and his thoughts grew hard. Forthere were his sister and father close at hand, and the world wasbeautiful. And while they fought slowly he thought that cruel, so toprolong death, since for Rolf he was no match at all. He wished fordeath, and exposed his breast to Rolf's strokes, and cared not whathappened.

  But Rolf drew away again, and said, "I am thirsty," and knelt down bythe spring to drink. Then in his great weariness Grani gave way to anevil thought, and cried, "I will free my father, even if the deed befoul." And he heaved up his sword to slay Rolf.

  But Rolf rose upon his knees, looking fair in Grani's face; and thoughRolf made no defence, Grani stayed the sword in midair, and cast itfar away. Then he sat down on a stone and covered his face with hishands.

  Rolf rose, and came to him, and said: "Wherefore didst thou not slayme?"

  Grani answered: "Because once I loved thee."

  "Grani, Grani," cried Rolf, "has thy pride at last come to its end?Now once more I ask: What hast thou to say to me?

  "For the wounding of thy henchmen, and for all I ever did to theesince first we met," said Grani, "only this I beg: Forgive me!"

  "I forgive thee!" Rolf cried, and there they embraced and made peace.

  This is the end of the tale, that Frodi slept yet other nights atCragness than that one, and lived with Rolf his life long. But Granitook his father home to Fellstead, and dwelt there, he and Einar andHelga. Grani was ever the greatest friend of Rolf, but Einar nevercame into Rolf's sight so long as he lived; and that was not long, forthe old man was broken with his shame. Then after that Rolf took towife Helga the sister of Grani, and the curse of the Soursops nevertroubled their children. Between the households of Cragness andFellstead was ever the closest bond, and famous men are come of bothRolf and Grani.

  So here we end the Story of Rolf.