The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-18

work. Power became the boys god, and
when the regency of Uncle Guttorm was
at an end Harold was well prepares to
set al the task which should ,hol de- enable able MN I'm
own father hate him-"that he should be
greater than any of the kings who had pre-
coded him. as the soothsayers said. !,
With a brave heart Harold started
forth, first with Uncle Guttorm, to learn the
trade of war, and later to put what he had
learned in practise, by conquering, one
bringing all the dukedoms and fiefdoms
under one head, making himself ruler over
all Norway. And he succeeded. Harold
the Fairhaired was the first king of Nor
One day King Harold's ships were in
harbor not far from some high mountains,
some almost perpendicular cliffs,
Kari, the son of the great champion,
Thain, challenged Herr, son OF one of Jarl
Sigard's champions, to climb TO the TOP
Of the cliff. Kari bet a ring OF gold;
Herr, more rash, bet his head, which was
very silly Of him indeed, for his head
would not alone be of use to bis oppo-
nent. and Herr himself would cut a sorry
enough figure going around without n
head ON his shoulders.
King Harold not alone encouraged the
contest. but he consented to umpire the
game should there be any dispute az the
end as to who had won. The king did not
say he would be willing to cut Herbs head
off should the rash youth lose his wager;
Az both of the boys were made OF good
StUI. 1t Is likely the hlilS WuuAQ AAdN
suggested a compromise.
Kari started up the cliff first, but before
he got TO the middle of H. feehng that ne
would surely fall and be killed II ne Went
any farther, concluded 70 struggle through
life the best he could without his gold
ring, so he came down. When he reached
the bottom he declared he had had great
difficulty in saving his life, even in the
distance he went.
Then Herr started up the steep side or
the cliff, determined to go higher. than
Kari had gone, if he had to die in the at
tempt. Up went Herr, up, up, whlle an
below watched with breathless anxiety;
He achieved his ambition, for he passed
the place at which Kari had been forced
to give up. Herr reached the middle, put
still it would seem to be a question
whether or not he had saved his head, for
there he was, in q place where ne could
neither go any farther nor yet come down;
If he moved hand or foot he would fali
and be dashed to pieces on the Jagged,
rocky ground at the foot Of the cliff;
The poor boy was truly in a pitiable
condition. Now truly frightened, he shout
ed to King Harold to send some one 10
save him,
Turning toward his young vikings the
king called for volunteers, saying that the
feat would be one Of unsurpassed bravery
and would be sung by all the "scalds' OF
his reign. "a "scald' was the ~progenitor
Of the present war correspondent, with
the difference that f'scald" invariably eu-
loglzed the deeds Of valor of the king ana
his great chieftains; while the war cor
respondent can roast anybody he hap
pens to take a dislike to; Inc fuisome
ever, somewhat compulsory, fol-. the King
could, and frequently did, cut off the head
of the ''scald'' whose verse did not please
We'll, king Harold called for volunteers
to go to the relief of the foolish Herr, but
aside from a low murmur of dissent there
was not a sound. 1t was evidently the
consensus of opinion that both of the a
had been Justly Inundated for their bragg
gadocio. Again poor Herr called for help.
1t was d moment of intense anxiety, for
not alone were the boys showing fear, but
they were ~disregarding the wishes of their
king. However, it was but for a moment
Olaf turned to Harold and said that he had
not hesitated because he was afraid, but
to give the others a chance.
Then Olaf threw off his coat and started
up the cliff. When he had reached the
spot at which Kari turned back, and still
passed along up without pause, there was
a murmur of appreciation.
Blu on and on and up and up climbed
Olaf, and every, eye was fastened upon
clinging to the rocky side of the cliff like
a fly tc the wall. q
Scarce did those below breathe as they
saw Olaf pick Herr off and tuck the limp
and almost fainting youth under one of
But what was this? Olaf kept on going
scend. On he went; up and up and up,
half-hlled feather bolster.
GLORY TO Odin! Olaf has reached the
top of the cliff in safety" gasped those
below. True enough. and for a moment he
stood on the very brink overlooking the
great, cruel sea. He was noticed to say
something to Herr, and a moment after,
taking firm hold OF the lads middle-girth,
Olaf held the bragger out at arms length
over the sea! Mercy of mercies! did he
intend to drop the half-dead boy into the
sea and then jump in after him because he
was afraid to come down the cliff?
No, evidently not; for Olaf tucked Herr
again under one arm and began the peril
GUS descent of the well-nigh perpendicular
panion under his arm, the brave boy came.
At last he reached the bottom and had
carried Herr, unframed, to King Harold's
feet.
silence was restored-which was not for
many minutes-King Harold began to rem
der his decision.
Kari, thou must give thy gold ring to
Herr, for he went farther up the cliff than
thou didst." From looks and low muir
general fate of umpires, their decisions
often being displeasing to both sides. But
there is no appeal from a kings word;
SO Kari walked up to Herr and gave his
rival a gold ring.
king will permit 1t, I want to offer this
gold ring to Olaf, who has saved my
fife"
A shout of approval went up at this. and
the king was by no means the least re-
ioiced of those assembled, for he said to
Olaf:
IT also will give thee a ring of gold.
Should any ill-fate in any land overtake
thee, serd that ring to King Harold, and
all the ships and all the men Of my king
dom shall come to thy relief Ruth
Evaraft in NaV York Mail