The Chipley banner. (Chipley, Washington County, Fla.) 1893-1943, 1897-09-25
CHAPTER nv.

CHAPTER Nv.
We crept out by the green island OF
hymnoes, where the white sheep were
eeding to the waters edge, and past
Hoddo on our right, and the long, black
hore OF Bommels on the left, and 80 BY
hany green ICELAND and dark rock out
INTO the spray and fresh salt wind wen.
oyfully lurohing the old Sea Wolf. The
fothY pillow OF the foam glltterlnp
Under her PROV, and behind the greer
Fall Of the Norway pines, and tho gray
ocks. and the sweet sea surge that
umbled forever at their feet and threw
Is white arms up as though, lover-like,
would enlace its silver fingers with
he green hair Of the nodding braches
overhead. Down went our gallant shore,
own peak, and pine, and point, and as
he great black bosom OF our mother
lea opened to us, her frstling sons,
Proudly we turned. our faces west.
Fard and each eye grew bright a,
bought OF the plumber TO come, and
ach heart beat high as we smelt the
license OF fight In the strong breath OF
be sea. Oh! but I was proud as, my
land on the pulsing tiller that throbbed
nder the racing surges not less loudly
ban my heart, stood by the high stern
nd led the wild, free song to Odin
Herewith my gallant company Knocked
pc waves-proudl Oh, the salt spray
ses again In these old eyes Of mine
put to remember the fierce wine of life
bat usurped my blood and flew here
nd there In my young veins that day;
his cold mind Of mine burns again but
recall the ecstasy OF the unfettereG
assions that then beset me; but to
blink for an ungodly minute on those
plendid vistas OF unbridled lust and
Fuelty and rapine which dazed my
bul.
WE'LL 1t Is over, and do wrong even
remember. No more the salt wind
ekes the war song Of Ulla, like a her.
d OF death, to the land OF the stranger;
more for him Is the joyful rattle OF
he ranged shields gathering on his
essel's side as she stoops to the steer
ue valleys OF the midland sea; nc
ore the old vikings plough shall turn
lat frothy furrow he did once delight
no more the lovely smoke OF burn
ID thorps shall rise from Ulla's torch
Odin's footstool; no more his stern
art ehall melt to pleasure as his ves-
staggers homeward through the
last and .spume, and every swirl OF
70 cold dark water spinning envlously
ainst her laboring side tell Of rich
Under hid within. 1t Is over for me,
twas a noble frenzy while 1t lasted
that noon OF our setting out we
hinged before favoring wind across
salt water, and by the second even
the wave began to wear another color
the sea shealed up to the British
pre-. At the same time the breeze
ve out with the sun and We took TO
sweeps, and all night long under
starlight the Sea Wolf cfept silently
secretly into the land. In the gray
the morning that followed haze
Nv up and under the curtain OF the
te sea mist that lay soft and heavy
wool on the gently rocking sea we
the dim North Umbrian shore. We
reached as close as we dared, and
waited for the sun, rolling an idle
or two on the smooth, long heave
be swell, and, in the dead silence,
pninR to the chatter Of the wild fowl
the laugh Of the kittiwake on the
Yen cliffs; or the chafe and creak Of
Or now and then In the rowlocks
the hiss Of the water swirling gen.
gainst our sides. So still lay the
Wolf In the shadow OF the morning
that the shy grebes and speckled
came padding all about her
Stared with eyes bead black with
Or to see the silver mist turn on a
~ into painted hulk with ranked
aud great damp sail afap against
addy mast, and golden dragon head
b the chill morning air aloft, and
Farrlors leaning on battle-ax and
providing her deck. And strange
am tapping Ioand, and the swift
e white plnions stirred Hafdan's
nag as she swept unheeding by
the milky haze. No man among
until on q sudden the curling
In the east sparkled with liquid
hanging shroud OF Wilderness
with o yellow radiance, q
bright light shone through the
pstod waves, and as the free,
bath OF the morning drifted
us, and each man drank OF It
silently, the curtain Of the
lifted, and the yellow feet Of
me striding over the black
the restless northern sea.
>end deep we laughed with
and my grim, stout fellows
- mist-beads from their tawny
n-muttering prayer to Odin
inc Wnlte Water Iretted unueT
- Of our ship and the long, slow
the oars fell with pleasant
on the calm Of the morning.
under the rugged knees Of great
crept the Wolf, 80 secret and
that the speckled looms stood
In rows to watch the golden
head 60 dipping by their lonely
and the blue pigeon on her cav
helf astride. OF her white eggs
wonderstruck and forgot 10 fly
bhe went across the mouth OF love-
10 and under grassy heailands and
lights fringed with endless lonely
cws and past fair estuaries where
fields OF wcstral crops were all
10 between neglected woodlands
bouthward constantly for many an
but nothing could we see to sack
krn. Noon came and went, and the
sweat glazed the sinewy fore
Of my gallant rowers until at
I saw them begin 70 turn their
ze faces oyer their hitler