ll did he remember Sidroc's frequent visits to his father's English home, and that the warrior had more than once t

his reverie by th

your com

oh! you will see that no wrong is done to h

ng that your father would sooner you had exp

nly; "he is doomed,

earnestly that one might have thought he would

hat pangs the kid may suffer which writhes beneath its talo

had been selecting some light and s

t two," cried Sidroc, "and s

ing at once that the death by which Saint Edmund of East Anglia, and many a

m was bound, as if he would save him or perish in the attempt, but

, "and detain him where he may see all, and

e lips moved in earnest, fervent prayer. Once he glanced with a look of affection, almost of pity, upon Alfgar, and when the latter made the vain at

oung, touched his captors, as nothing else wou

ayst save thy life on one cond

nds, of his mother, awoke in

sake of thos

ayst live if thou wilt join our nation and renounce thy Christia

t deny m

n, the sharp arrows with wh

fear eternal death

over and over again, as if

," said

as, Domine,'" he breathed out

in, "and let the obstinate y

s in their living target. The frame of the sufferer quivered with agony, while the lip seemed striving to form the holy name, which has given strength to t

once or twice the latter gave audible vent to his emotions, but the look which Bertric turned upon him spoke volumes, and he restrained himself lest he should add to the pain of the victim. He knew not then that the example before him would nerve him in moments of severest trial, then fast approaching, that the one accusation urge

not whether He who gave this elaborate framework of flesh and blood, nerve and sinew, miraculously suspended the full operation of His laws, as is elsewhere recorded of other

s compatriots, seized a bow and sent an arrow straight to the heart. One nervous shudder passed t

lly passed; the light of the fire, mingling strangely with that of the rising full moon, illumined them in thi

nt of wonder, joy, and awe thereon; and Alfgar instinctively turned from them to the blue depths of heaven above, where a few stars were visible, although dimmed by the moonlight; and

kings, to avoid the feeling that Christianity was not the religion of the brave; now the difficulty was over, and who shall

Cross, he was also content to be an Englishman, if not i

and the hour approached when, under ordinary circumstances, people retired to rest,

ed, and that they would give warning in time for either defence or escape; their strength at A

ied his thoughts fully, and he began to expect the arrival of Anlaf each moment. He learned from the co

coadjutor, the cry of a raven was heard; it proved to be the sign

care of three of the youngest warriors, and there Alfgar was le

intended to hurt him, only to secure him, and he could see

ty! could he but have given one warning, he would willingly have died like Bertric; all wa

asing each minute in intensity, appeared through the trees-- th

ave two chief centres of its brilliancy, and Al

hundred women and children, and Alfgar hoped, oh, so earnestl

as hour after hour rolled by, and at length

th the spoil. Alfgar listened intently to gain information, and heard enough to show

ugh a hundred miles of the most desolate country we could find, and

d, from which Alfgar felt justified in believing in the escape of the th

alf left where they were, for the spot was conveniently situ

Alfgar heard his gua

say, Hinguar?--

plenty of

Odin and Thor will not know their chil

ed; Eric said that they had t

we not tr

my and fleet; we must return immediately, before the

ly; we may take some plunder, and send a few Englishmen to Niffelheim, bef

re was to get to

s the only victim, while our kinsfolk's bl

ed bra

Christian's ki

day they will learn

of an Alfred who defe

ough these English were sea kings before

think I h

ne of the guards, ch

af, you

of Alfgar appea

useless flesh about him. His hair was a deep grizzled red, as also his beard, and his eyes were of the same tinge, his nose somewhat aquiline, and his whole fea

ds to the guards, and

loose,"

did

ly on the youth, who himself t

aid, "do I ind

o, my

you are wounded

d with his father's assistance he could proceed. He knew where Anlaf led. At length they came upon

upon a dark charred mass of r

and son should meet again," sai