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The steps of the pilgrims were noiseless； but the sledges
creaked over the dry snow； and the panting of the horses
throbbed through the still air。 The pale…blue shadows on the
western side of the road grew longer。 The sun； declining
through its shallow arch； dropped behind the tree…tops。
Darkness followed swiftly； as if it had been a bird of prey
waiting for this sign to swoop down upon the world。
〃Father；〃 said Gregor to the leader； 〃surely this day's
march is done。 It is time to rest； and eat； and sleep。 If we
press onward now； we cannot see our steps； and will not that
be against the word of the psalmist David； who bids us not to
put confidence in the legs of a man？〃
Winfried laughed。 〃Nay； my son Gregor；〃 said he； 〃thou
hast tripped； even now； upon thy text。 For David said only；
'I take no pleasure in the legs of a man。' And so say I； for
I am not minded to spare thy legs or mine； until we come farther
on our way； and do what must be done this night。 Draw thy
belt tighter； my son； and hew me out this tree that is fallen
across the road； for our campground is not here。〃
The youth obeyed； two of the foresters sprang to help him；
and while the soft fir…wood yielded to the stroke of the axes；
and the snow flew from the bending branches； Winfried turned
and spoke to his followers in a cheerful voice； that refreshed
them like wine。
〃Courage； brothers； and forward yet a little！ The moon
will light us presently； and the path is plain。 Well know I
that the journey is weary； and my own heart wearies also for
the home in England； where those I love are keeping feast this
Christmas…eve。 But we have work to do before we feast
to…night。 For this is the Yuletide； and the heathen people of
the forest are gathered at the thunder…oak of Geismar to
worship their god； Thor。 Strange things will be seen there；
and deeds which make the soul black。 But we are sent to
lighten their darkness； and we will teach our kinsmen to keep
a Christmas with us such as the woodland has never known。
Forward； then； and stiffen up the feeble knees！〃
A murmur of assent came from the men。 Even the horses
seemed to take fresh heart。 They flattened their backs to
draw the heavy loads； and blew the frost from their nostrils
as they pushed ahead。
The night grew broader and less oppressive。 A gate of
brightness was opened secretly somewhere in the sky。 Higher
and higher swelled the clear moon…flood； until it poured over
the eastern wall of forest into the road。 A drove of wolves
howled faintly in the distance； but they were receding； and
the sound soon died away。 The stars sparkled merrily through
the stringent air； the small； round moon shone like silver；
little breaths of dreaming wind wandered across the pointed
fir…tops； as the pilgrims toiled bravely onward； following
their clew of light through a labyrinth of darkness。
After a while the road began to open out a little。 There
were spaces of meadow…land； fringed with alders； behind which
a boisterous river ran clashing through spears of ice。
Rude houses of hewn logs appeared in the openings； each one
casting a patch of inky shadow upon the snow。 Then the travellers
passed a larger group of dwellings； all silent and unlighted； and
beyond； they saw a great house； with many outbuildings and
inclosed courtyards； from which the hounds bayed furiously； and a
noise of stamping horses came from the stalls。 But there was no
other sound of life。 The fields around lay naked to the moon。
They saw no man； except that once； on a path that skirted the
farther edge of a meadow； three dark figures passed them； running
very swiftly。
Then the road plunged again into a dense thicket；
traversed it； and climbing to the left； emerged suddenly upon
a glade； round and level except at the northern side； where a
hillock was crowned with a huge oak…tree。 It towered above
the heath； a giant with contorted arms； beckoning to the host
of lesser trees。 〃Here；〃 cried Winfried； as his eyes flashed
and his hand lifted his heavy staff； 〃here is the Thunder…oak；
and here the cross of Christ shall break the hammer of the
false god Thor。〃
Withered leaves still clung to the branches of the oak： torn
and faded banners of the departed summer。 The bright crimson
of autumn had long since disappeared； bleached away by the
storms and the cold。 But to…night these tattered remnants of
glory were red again： ancient bloodstains against the
dark…blue sky。 For an immense fire had been kindled in front
of the tree。 Tongues of ruddy flame； fountains of ruby
sparks； ascended through the spreading limbs and flung a
fierce illumination upward and around。 The pale； pure
moonlight that bathed the surrounding forests was quenched and
eclipsed here。 Not a beam of it sifted through the branches
of the oak。 It stood like a pillar of cloud between the still
light of heaven and the crackling； flashing fire of earth。
But the fire itself was invisible to Winfried and his
companions。 A great throng of people were gathered around it
in a half…circle； their backs to the open glade； their faces
toward the oak。 Seen against that glowing background； it was but
the silhouette of a crowd； vague； black； formless； mysterious。
The travellers paused for a moment at the edge of the
thicket； and took counsel together。
〃It is the assembly of the tribe；〃 said one of the
foresters； 〃the great night of the council。 I heard of it
three days ago； as we passed through one of the villages。 All
who swear by the old gods have been summoned。 They will
sacrifice a steed to the god of war； and drink blood； and eat
horse…flesh to make them strong。 It will be at the peril of
our lives if we approach them。 At least we must hide the
cross； if we would escape death。〃
〃Hide me no cross；〃 cried Winfried； lifting his staff；
〃for I have come to show it； and to make these blind folk see
its power。 There is more to be done here to…night than the
slaying of a steed； and a greater evil to be stayed than the
shameful eating of meat sacrificed to idols。 I have seen it
in a dream。 Here the cross must stand and be our rede。〃
At his command the sledge was left in the border
of the wood； with two of the men to guard it； and the rest of
the company moved forward across the open ground。 They
approached unnoticed； for all the multitude were looking
intently toward the fire at the foot of the oak。
Then Winfried's voice rang out； 〃Hail； ye sons of the
forest！ A stranger claims the warmth of your fire in the
winter night。〃
Swiftly； and as with a single motion； a thousand eyes were
bent upon the speaker。 The semicircle opened silently in the
middle； Winfried entered with his followers； it closed again
behind them。
Then； as they looked round the curving ranks； they saw
that the hue of the assemblage was not black； but
white；dazzling； radiant； solemn。 White； the robes of the
women clustered together at the points of the wide crescent；
white； the glittering byrnies of the warriors standing in
close ranks； white； the fur mantles of the aged men who held
the central palace in the circle； white； with the shimmer of
silver ornaments and the purity of lamb's…wool； the raiment of
a little group of children who stood close by the fire； white；
with awe and fear； the faces of all who looked at them； and over
all the flickering； dancing radiance of the flames played and
glimmered like a faint； vanishing tinge of blood on snow。
The only figure untouched by the glow was the old priest；
Hunrad； with his long； spectral robe； flowing hair and beard；
and dead…pale face； who stood with his back to the fire and
advanced slowly to meet the strangers。
〃Who are you？ Whence come you； and what seek you here？〃
〃Your kinsman am I； of the German brotherhood；〃 answered
Winfried； 〃and from England； beyond the sea； have I come to
bring you a greeting from that land； and a message from the
All…Father； whose servant I am。〃
〃Welcome； then；〃 said Hunrad； 〃welcome； kinsman； and be
silent； for what passes here is too high to wait； and must be
done before the moon crosses the middle heaven； unless；
indeed； thou hast some sign or token from the gods。 Canst
thou work miracles？〃
The question came sharply； as if a sudden gleam of hope
had flashed through the tangle of the old priest's mind。 But
Winfried's voice sank lower and a cloud of disappointment
passed over his face as he replied： 〃Nay； miracles have I
never wrought； though I have heard of many； but the All…Father
has given no power to my hands save such as belongs to common
man。〃
〃Stand still； then； thou common man；〃 said Hunrad；
scornfully； 〃and behold what the gods have called us hither to
do。 This night is the death…night of the sun…god； Baldur the
Beautiful； beloved of gods and men。 This night is the hour of
darkness and the power of winter； of sacrifice and mighty
fear。 This night the great Thor； the god of thunder and war；
to whom this oak is sacred； is grieved for the death of
Baldur； and angry with this people because they have forsaken
his worship。 Long is it since an offering has been laid upon
his altar； long since the roots of his holy tree have been fed
with