CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

TREATS OF ANCIENT DIPLOMACY AMONG THE NORSEMEN, AND SHOWS HOW OUR HERO TURNS THE TABLES ON A WOULD-BE ASSASSIN.

When King Harald heard the news of the defeat of Hake and the slaughter of his men by Erling and Glumm, great was his wrath at first, and Jarl Rongvold had much ado to appease him and prevent him from going at once to Horlingdal to ravage it with fire and sword. But when he had cooled a little, and heard the details of the fight from Hake himself, his anger against the young warriors changed into admiration of their dauntless courage.

Harald Fairhair was a kingly man in spirit as well as in appearance, and was above encouraging a mean or vengeful mood. He was indeed fierce and violent in his rage, and often did things which, when read of in the calm of a comparatively peaceful time, make one shudder; but it must not be forgotten that the age in which he lived was a cruel and bloody one, and, in Norway, without one touch of the gentle religion of Christ to soften its asperities. He could never have retained his power and rule over the stern warriors of his day, had he not possessed much of their own callous indifference to the horrors and cruelties of war.

"Thou hadst tougher work than thou countedst on, it would seem," he said to Hake; then, turning to Jarl Rongvold, with a laugh, "Methinks I would fain have this Erling the Bold and his friend Glumm the Gruff among my men-at-arms."

Answer this series of questions:

1. how is Harald Fairhair described?
2. what was the age he lived in like?
3. who was defeated?
4. who killed his men?
5. where did Harald Fairhair live?
6. how did he feel about war?
7. how did he react to the news of the defeat?
8. who calmed him?
9. what did the king want to go do?
10. and do what there?
11. with what/
12. what did his rage change to?
13. why did his feelings change?
14. who told him the details?
15. were the warriors young or old?

Numbered answers:
1. a kingly man
2. a cruel and bloody
3. Hake
4. Erling and Glumm,
5. Norway
6. indifference
7. wrathful
8. Jarl Rongvold
9. going to Horlingda
10. ravage it
11. fire and sword
12. admiration
13. their dauntless courage.
14. Hake
15. young