But in scorn the heathen scoffer Thee and thy Gospel I defy!" Touched by fire, they forced to glide. Raud the Strong blaspheming died. Up the streams of Salten Fiord. In their temples Thor and Odin Preached the Gospel with his sword. Grasping, steered into the main. Southward sailed the sea-gulls o'er him, XII.-KING OLAF'S CHRISTMAS. AT Drontheim, Olaf the King Three days his Yule-tide feasts He held with Bishops and Priests, And his horn filled up to the brim; But the ale was never too strong, For him. O'er his drinking horn, the sign He made of the Cross divine, As he drank, and muttered his prayers; But the Berserks evermore Made the sign of the Hammer of Thor The gleams of the fire-light dance And laugh in the eyes of the King; 66 66 Sing me a song divine, With a sword in every line, And this shall be thy reward." And he loosened the belt at his waist, And in front of the singer placed 66 His sword. 'Quern-biter of Hakon the Good, Wherewith at a stroke he hewed The millstone through and through, And Foot-breadth of Thoralf the Strong, Were neither so broad nor so long, Nor so true." Then the Scald took his harp and sang, And loud through the music rang The sound of that shining word; And the Berserks round about That made the rafters ring; They smote with their fists on the board, And shouted, "Long live the Sword, And the King But the King said, "O my son, I miss the bright word in one Of thy measures and thy rhymes." And Halfred the Scald replied, Then King Olaf raised the hilt And said, "Do not refuse; And Halfred the Scald said, "This And a shout went round the board, Then over the waste of snows The noonday sun uprose, Through the driving mists revealed, Like the lifting of the Host, On the shining wall a vast And shadowy cross was cast From the hilt of the lifted sword, And in foaming cups of ale The Berserks drank "Was-hael XIII. THE BUILDING OF THE LONG SERPENT. THORBERG SKAFTING, master-builder, Near him lay the Dragon stranded, Built of old by Raud the Strong, Therefore whistled Thorberg Skafting, Twice the Dragon's size. Round him busily hewed and hammered Workmen laughed and sang and clamoured; All this tumult heard the master,- Fancy whispered all the faster, Workmen sweating at the forges Fashioned iron bolt and bar, Did the warlocks mingle in it, Thorberg Skafting, any curse? "Twas an ill wind that came wafting, After long delays returning Came the master back by night; "Come and see my ship, my darling!" In the ship-yard, idly talking, At the ship the workmen stared: Some one all their labour baulking, Down her sides had cut deep gashes, Not a plank was spared! "Death be to the evil-doer!" With an oath King Claf spoke; Straight the master-builder, smiling, "Cease blaspheming and reviling, Then he chipped and smoothed the planking, Till the King delighted, swore, With much lauding and much thanking, "Handsomer is now my Dragon Than she was before!" Seventy ells and four extended On the grass the vessel's kee!; High above it, gilt and splendid, Rose the figure-head ferocious With its crest of steel. Then they launched her from the trossels, The Long Serpent was she christened, XIV. THE CREW OF THE LONG SERPENT SAFE at anchor in Drontheim bay And, striped with white and blue, Her forecastle man was Ulf the Red; Near him Kolbiorn had his place, By the bulkhead, tall and dark, |