The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-25

tsvs between the abbey and the sea there
stood a town OF seven towers and four
Ysch churches. surrounded by q wall OF
twelve stones thickness. making IL, az
men reckoned then. a place of strength
and much import and the monks. gianr-
tnc their eyes downward from the abbey
garden on the hill. saw beneath then feet
is narrow streets. gay with the ever
uassing OF rich merchandise, saw fts
many wharves and waterways. ever
,,cssy with the babel OF strange tongues.
eaw It's many painted masts. wagging
their grave heads above the dorner roofs
and quaintly-caryed oak gables.
THUS the town prospered till there came
a night when it did evil in the sight of
God aud man. Those were troublous
times TO Saxon dwellers by the sea, for
NE Danish water rats swarmed round
each river mouth. seeming treasure from
afsr: and by none was the white fash
Of their sharp, strong teeth more often
seen than BY the men of Eastern Anglia
ard By none In Eastern Anglia more
often than by the watchers on the walls
o. tire town OF seven towers that once
stood upon the dry land. but which now
hes twenty fathoms deep below the
waters AIaay a blcody fight ragged now
without and now within its walls of
Twelve stones thickness Many a groan
OF dying man. many a shrek of murder
cd woman. many wall of mangled child.
knocked at the abbey door upon it's way
70 heaven, calling upon the trembling
monks from their beds to pray for the
sorls that were passing by
But at leFgth peace came to the long
troubled land: Dane and Saxon agreeing
TO dwell IN friendship side by side East
Anglia being wide. and there being room
for both And all men reioiced greatly.
Tor all of n strife In, Fcs,
little had been gained on either side be-
yond hard blows. and their thoughts were
OF the ingie-nook. So the iong-bearGed
Danes their thirsty axes harmless on
their backs. passed to and fro In strae-
Cling bands. seeking where undisturbed
and undisturbing they might build their
homes. and thus II came about that
naarfager and his company, as the sun
was going down. drew near 10 the town
Of seven towers, that in those days stood
on dry land between the abbey and the
sea.
And the men Of the town. seeing the
Danes opened wide their gates. saying:
We have fought, but now there is
peace. Enter. and make merry with u.s.
and tomorrow go your way"
But Haarfager made answer: "I am
an old man: ! pray you do not take my
words amiss There is peace between us.
as you say. and we thank you for your
courtesy, but the stains are stil fresh
upon our swords. Let us camp here with
out your walls; and little later, when
the grass has grown upon the fields
where we have striven. and our young
men have had time TO forget we will
make merry together. as men should who
dwell side by side in the same land"
But the men OF the town still urged
Haarfager, calling his people neiRhbors:
and the abbot. who had FASTENED down
searing there might he strife, added his
words to theirs. saving:
Pass In, my children. Let there, in
iced. be peace between you. that the
blessing OF God may be upon the land. and
upon both Dane and Saxon" for the alb
not saw that the townsmen were well
disposed towards the Danes. and inew
.hat men, when they had Toasted and
trunk together, think kinder OF one an
other
Then answered Haarfager. who knew
the abbot fer holy man: Hold up your
stan. my father that the shadow of the
cross your people worship may fall upon
our path. so We will pass into the town
and there shall be peace between us: for
though your gods are not our gods. faith
between man and man is OF all temples"
Ana the abbot held his STAFF aloft be-
,Neen HaarfaGer's people and the sun. IL
neine fashioned In the form OF a cross.
ana under its shadow the Danes passed
ny INTO the town OF seven towers there
nelng Or them. with the women and the
httie children. nearly 300 souls. and the
Fstes were made fast behind them
30 they who had fought face 10 face.
ieas'ed side by side pledging. one another
w the wine cup, as was the custom. and
haarfeger's men. knowing themselves
~ sFsHf- y.
ana when the feast was done. being
weary. they lay down to sleep
Then an evil voice arose in the town.
ana said Who are these that have come
among as 10 share our iand9 Are not the
stones OF our streets red with the blood
~ VIE and child that they have slain2
re men lei The wolf so free when they
rave trapped him with meat9 Let us fall
.pon them now that they are heavy with
,oed and wine. SO that not one among
'sem shall escape. Thus no further harm
IA. .aah come TO us from them nor from
their children"
ana the voice Of evil prevailed. and the
wen OF the town OF seven towers fell up
" me Danes with whom they had broken
meat. even 10 the women and the little
rniidren. and the blood Of the people or
HaarlaRcr cried with a loud voice NJ tho
snoty door, through the long night IL
cried. saving.
trusted la your spoken word I broke
wa with YOU. ! put my faith I'm you
a'0 your God I passed beneath the
sheaows OF Your cross 20 enter your doors.
- your God make answer Nor was
mere silence TIL the dawn
lhen the abbot rose from where be
Met and called - God saying. Thou
"@St heard, OH cod. Make answer"
ana there came n great sound from the
- As though tongue had been given -
we deep, SO that the monks fell upon
,hSlF knees in fear: but the ahhot an
sNefed' 1T IS the voice Of God. speaking
swer
ono that winter a mighty storm arose,
we IKE Of which no man had known he
,ofe. Tor the sea was piled upon the dry
40 until TIE highest tower ~ the town
. seven towers was not more high. ana
We waters moved forward over the dry
.'ho- And tho men 81 the town Of seven
.U~erS het from the oucoming or the
na'efs bur tho waters overlook them SO
ma not or~ az them escaped And the
.o"n OF tho seven towers. and Of the
uoof churches. ana 90 the many streets
SO QgaFs. WAS buried underneath the
Ha'efs. ans the feet o. tire waters stiiI
n,eFeo ull they same 10 the hill wherein
.Ne seoey stocd Then the abbot prayed
y 200 that the waters tight ~ stayed,
the ''N
a. so tHat this tale Is irus. and not a
1nS1e hy the weavers q words. ne
- DOUBTS nav know from tho Fisher
,siS. to3ay e;v their caiIlas, anouS
- reefs ai'5 saudhanks OF tnat lonely
- Roy ihere are those among them
Pee from the bows a. thcIr small
N.~ Rave Se~n FAR down beneath their
rs e.tV of strange streets a.3 many
atass- h-. aS 10 this J. Who rvpcaE