第38章

In the castle of Sir Biorn of the Fiery Eyes, Christmas-eve had not passed so brightly and happily; but yet, there too all had gone visibly according to God's will.

Folko, at the entreaty of the lord of the castle, had allowed Gabrielle to support him into the hall; and the three now sat at the round stone table, whereon a sumptuous meal was laid.On either side there were long tables, at which sat the retainers of both knights in full armour, according to the custom of the North.Torches and lamps lighted the lofty hall with an almost dazzling brightness.

Midnight had now begun its solemn reign, and Gabrielle softly reminded her wounded knight to withdraw.Biorn heard her, and said:

"You are right, fair lady; our knight needs rest.Only let us first keep up one more old honourable custom."And at his sign four attendants brought in with pomp a great boar's head, which looked as if cut out of solid gold, and placed it in the middle of the stone table.Biorn's retainers rose with reverence, and took off their helmets; Biorn himself did the same.

"What means this?" asked Folko very gravely.

"What thy forefathers and mine have done on every Yule feast,"answered Biorn."We are going to make vows on the boar's head, and then pass the goblet round to their fulfilment.""We no longer keep what our ancestors called the Yule feast," said Folko; "we are good Christians, and we keep holy Christmas-tide.""To do the one, and not to leave the other undone," answered Biorn.

"I hold my ancestors too dear to forget their knightly customs.

Those who think otherwise may act according to their wisdom, but that shall not hinder me.I swear by the golden boar's head--" And he stretched out his hand, to lay it solemnly upon it.

But Folko called out, "In the name of our holy Saviour, forbear.

Where I am, and still have breath and will, none shall celebrate undisturbed the rites of the wild heathens."Biorn of the Fiery Eyes glared angrily at him.The men of the two barons separated from each other, with a hollow sound of rattling armour, and ranged themselves in two bodies on either side of the hall, each behind its leader.Already here and there helmets were fastened and visors closed.

"Bethink thee yet what thou art doing," said Biorn."I was about to vow an eternal union with the house of Montfaucon, nay, even to bind myself to do it grateful homage; but if thou disturb me in the customs which have come to me from my forefathers, look to thy safety and the safety of all that is dear to thee.My wrath no longer knows any bounds."Folko made a sign to the pale Gabrielle to retire behind his followers, saying to her, "Be of good cheer, my noble wife, weaker Christians have braved, for the sake of God and of His holy Church, greater dangers than now seem to threaten us.Believe me, the Lord of Montfaucon is not so easily ensnared."Gabrielle obeyed, something comforted by Folko's fearless smile, but this smile inflamed yet more the fury of Biorn.He again stretched out his hand towards the boar's head, as if about to make some dreadful vow, when Folko snatched a gauntlet of Biorn's off the table, with which he, with his unwounded left arm, struck so powerful a blow on the gilt idol, that it fell crashing to the ground, shivered to pieces.Biorn and his followers stood as if turned to stone.But soon swords were grasped by armed hands, shields were taken down from the walls, and an angry, threatening murmur sounded through the hall.

At a sign from Folko, a battle-axe was brought him by one of his faithful retainers; he swung it high in air with his powerful left hand, and stood looking like an avenging angel as he spoke these words through the tumult with awful calmness: "What seek ye, 0deluded Northman? What wouldst thou, sinful lord? Ye are indeed become heathens; and I hope to show you, by my readiness for battle, that it is not in my right arm alone that God has put strength for victory.But if ye can yet hear, listen to my words.Biorn, on this same accursed, and now, by God's help, shivered boar's head, thou didst lay thy hand when thou didst swear to sacrifice any inhabitants of the German towns that should fall into thy power.And Gotthard Lenz came, and Rudlieb came, driven on these shores by the storm.

What didst thou then do, 0 savage Biorn? What did ye do at his bidding, ye who were keeping the Yule feast with him? Try your fortune on me.The Lord will be with me, as He was with those holy men.To arms, and--" (he turned to his warriors) "let our battle-cry be Gotthard and Rudlieb!"Then Biorn let drop his drawn sword, then his followers paused, and none among the Norwegians dared lift his eyes from the ground.By degrees, they one by one began to disappear from the hall; and at last Biorn stood quite alone opposite to the baron and his followers.

He seemed hardly aware that he had been deserted, but he fell on his knees, stretched out his shining sword, pointed to the broken boar's head, and said, "Do with me as you have done with that; I deserve no better.I ask but one favour, only one; do not disgrace me, noble baron, by seeking shelter in another castle of Norway.""I fear you not," answered Folko, after some thought; "and, as far as may be, I freely forgive you." Then he drew the sign of the cross over the wild form of Biorn, and left the hall with Gabrielle.The retainers of the house of Montfaucon followed him proudly and silently.