Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1896-02-14

ana running forward loosed the great
square sail that bellied from the yard
Twice the canvas tapped. then, sheeted
home, 1t stood taut and full, while the
good ship. heeling beneath it, plowed
steadily southwark.
The haze had cleared before the fresh
sea wind, and the ocean lay blue and
sparkling in the sunlight. Thorinda
stood alone, her grave eyes watching
the CLEAN of the sail until it sank from
sight, and the empty, peaceful ocean
gave no sign Of the storm which was to
drive that keel far into unknown waters
Noon lay heavy over II southern lanh
"a land shady with groves of palm and
fruit trees. scented with thick odors,
washed about its shores by cloudless
sea. Upon "A dazzling stretch Of sand
Gudmund sat silent, looking ont across
the ocean--an ocean such ms he had ney-
or known IN his northern home, for its
waters were Of deep and glowing pur-
pie, like the light upon mountain peaks
at sunset. and in place of the thunder
crash of Norwegian surf low ripples
curled murmuronslv along the shore
6udmund was no longer youth His
face was older and thinner than ON that
day when they had left the ford
He sat now with his chin upon his
hand slowly tracing with the tip Of his
seabbard woman's face upon the
sand Throughout his boyhood he had
looked up to his brother M Drawer and
stronger than himself. as always doing
the deeds he merely longed TO do. Yet
H.. Al, - Ia,
land, Thorolf had still delayed sailing.
and the vikings ship lay ON the beach
like stranded sea monster, her planks
gaping open in the fierce sun.
To Gudmund, gazing seaward with
empty eyes, there arose "A dream Of his
own northland The ford glimmored
gray between black walls Of rock tho
snowy land lay white and silent in the
winter twilight, dnkened with long
violet shadows upon the eastward hills,
Here and there IA breath of smoke rose
akyward from some half buried grange
Again he saw their fathers hall-the
hearth with great logs roaring III red
fame, the long tables where house
carles laughed and clattered tho mead
horns, and high mp on the das the rud
dy face and beard of The old viking
browning the feast. Thorlnda at his
side.
While he unused his brother came from
among the shades of the thckct seeking
him and threw an arm in kindly way
about his shoulders.
why, Gudmund, were the dark girls
shy. or are you unkind to themY' he
asked.
81 dreamed of home, " said the youn-
ger duly How soon do we sail?'
Thorolf pushed him roughly away
"That again? You are AN ungrateful
fool who would wander from good
land to worse. Yet, take the men and
go. l shall stay. j."
"How shall l greet the home folk
from you, an honorless man, and your
troth to Thorlinda?"
Thorolf scowled, and his hand flew 10
his swordless side. Nothing rouses the
wild beast so quickly in the mind OF II
weak man as when another steps in to
help his better angel in the losing fight
Anger famed hot in Thorolf face M he
sprang forward, but dudmund's sword
flashed bare, and for the first time the
elder man gave back and shrank from
leaping with clinched hands against d
leveled blade. His glance. which had
ever been stead and as keen az steel
when swords were drawn. changed to
heavy look, and he lowered his eyes be-
fore the scurn of his brothers. gaze
Then M the brute within him rose In
final triumph over his better self he
turned away with IA laugh.
900 to the cold northern land. Go
yourself and shiver between Thorlinda's
arms, " he cried out and strobe back into
the musky shade.
Once again the long dragon ship lay
ready to sail OF her crew some had
been lost at sea, some had died. and
some had wandered away with savage
madens far into the inland valleys Yet
still remnant were eager 10 follow
Gudmund bomeward. They were rich
with the gold of that land. They could
buy fields and farms in their own coun-
try and pass their old ago in peace. For
five days they had been working hard
Gudmund hardest of all-calking the
seams Of the old warAhip, filling the
water casks and victualing her with sun
dried fish and fruit and such meat as
they could get.
Thorolf, with his dark mistress, had
kept apart. Once the gray helmsman
had talked with Gudmund, proposing
that they should bind his brother IN
sleep and carry him aboard, since IL was
a shame that "A hero should thus be lost,
and if they left him the black people
would surely kill him when alone
among them. Gudmund struggled with
the Thought. A wild and anxious hope
had filled his mind. Against this his
duty to ThOrolf rose clear and strong.
Yet after all why should he drag his
brother from his happiness? Surely he
could not love Thorlinda, nor would she
love him if she knew Aud he lifted his
head and answered, My brother has
chosen his own way.
Now all things about the ship were
ready for sailing The crew pushed her
out through the low wash Of the sea,
and clambering over the sides settled
themselves at their tbwarts Even az
they did 80 Thorolf came through the
| tHiCkeJ anu "hlhtu Hlu"IJ uDNu tne
beach. The men lay on their oars watch
ing him. Seeing that they paused, he,
too. stood still, and with his heel crush
cd a delicate seashell into the sand.
Pull. men - said Gudmund and coy
cred his eyes with his hand.
The oars rumbled in the rowlocks
but with the first stroke Thorolf threw
his arms above his head, strobe forward
and shouted:
"Stop"
As he ran down the beach darl
skinned girl burst wildly from tn
thicket, shrieked and plunged back int
the shade, then leaped forth again
graspiDR bow, with a brightly feath
cred arrow drawn 10 the head. The sea
men stood upright and shouted. Gud
mund waved his arms, and Thorol
paused and turned. only to zee hi