The Grit-advocate., 1904-07-15

rattle of crossing spears, without. Ma
told her that her way aas bark
Then she whirled back with a ID
cry.
Let me 90. ! hate you! Lei ne
go"
He did not bid his guards kill Ter
as she half expected. Instead. he
said patiently, Il forcsaw that yen
would take it i'll: there is the great
est excuse for you. In your place |
should be equally unruly. will grant
vou boon in time to come; SO sure q
live, will. And until tn n, since
all your stock hss been cut on, | will
be your guardian and you shall be
my ward, as though you were my own
brother. Come, sit here, and | will
tell YOU
She repulsed him sharply. No.
no, you shall do nothing for me,
am going back. l ask you to let me
go"
Leaning at his ease in the great
chair, the young King regarded his
ward thoughtfully.
1T is not possible that the son Of
Erode the Fearless should be COW
ard" he said at last; but You are
over-peevish. boy. Listen now to the
truth of the matter. If you We're a
maiden. it would be easy for me to
Are you listening?' He paused. for
the slim figure had suddenly become
so statne-like that he suspected it of
plotting another attack on the door.
The boy answered very low, Yes,
Lord King. am listening"
Canute went on again: 81 say that
if you were a maiden-if you were
your sister. to tell it shortly could
easily dispose of you in marriage.
would wed you to my foster brother.
Rothgar Lodbroksson, and thus bring
good to both of-Are you finding
fault with that also?'
But the lad stood before him like
stone. If faint cry had come from
him, it was not repeated; and there
was nothing offensive about hidden
face and shaking limbs.
The King continued more gently:
But since you were SO simple as to
be born boy. such good luck is not
to be expected. 1t is the best that
can do to offer you to become my
ward and follow me as my page, un-
til the swords game has decided be-
tween me and Edmund of England.
What say you, Fridtjof the Bold?"
For a time it looked as If "Fridt-
jof the Bold did not know what to
say. Silence filed the tent, while
from outside leaked in the noise ci
the revel. Then, through that noise
or above it there became audible the
notes Of far-away horns. Edric Jarl
was fulfilling his pledge. An ex-
clamation broke from the Kings lips,
and he leaped up. At that moment.
"Fridtjof the Bold" fell at his feet
with clasped hands and supplicating
eyes.
Let me go, Lord King" he be-
sought passionately. Let me go, and
l will ask nothing further of yor I
| will never trouble you again. Let me
| go!-only let me go."
Canute of Denmark is not to be
blamed that he stamped with ex-
hausted patience.
BY the head of Odin, it would
serve you well did take you at your
word! 1t would serve you right did
l turn you out to starve. Were it not
| for your fathers sake, and for the
| sake of my own honor, vow | would!
| Now hearken to this" Bending, he
! picked the boy up by his collar and
shook him. shall not let you go, and
you shall be my ward, whether you
will or no. And if you answer me
now or anger me further-but | will
not say that, for it is your misfor-
tune that makes you unruly. and you
are weak-spirted from hunger Take
this bread now for your meal, and
that bench yonder for your bed. and
trouble me no more tonight. l must
meet with the Jarl! Go! Do you
heed my orders?'
Only one answer was possible. AZ
ter a moment the page gave it in a
low voice.
Yes, Lord King" he whispered,
and crept away to his corner.
(To be continued)