按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 blood。 Therefore its leaves have withered before the
time； and its boughs are heavy with death。 Therefore the
Slavs‘and the Wends have beaten us in battle。 Therefore the
harvests have failed； and the wolf…hordes have ravaged the
folds； and the strength has departed from the bow； and the
wood of the spear has broken； and the wild boar has slain the
huntsman。 Therefore the plague has fallen on our dwellings；
and the dead are more than the living in all our villages。
Answer me； ye people； are not these things true？ 〃
A hoarse sound of approval ran through the circle。 A
chant； in which the voices of the men and women blended； like
the shrill wind in the pinetrees above the rumbling thunder of
a waterfall； rose and fell in rude cadences。
O Thor； the Thunderer
Mighty and merciless；
Spare us from smiting！
Heave not thy hammer；
Angry； aginst us；
Plague not thy people。
Take from our treasure
Richest Of ransom。
Silver we send thee；
Jewels and javelins；
Goodliest garments；
All our possessions；
Priceless； we proffer。
Sheep will we slaughter；
Steeds will we sacrifice；
Bright blood shall bathe
O tree of Thunder；
Life…floods shall lave thee；
Strong wood of wonder。
Mighty； have mercy；
Smile as no more；
Spare us and save us；
Spare us； Thor！ Thor！
With two great shouts the song ended； and stillness
followed so intense that the crackling of the fire was heard
distinctly。 The old priest stood silent for a moment。 His
shaggy brows swept down ever his eyes like ashes quenching
flame。 Then he lifted his face and spoke。
〃None of these things will please the god。 More costly is
the offering that shall cleanse your sin； more precious the
crimson dew that shall send new life into this holy tree of
blood。 Thor claims your dearest and your noblest gift。〃
Hunrad moved nearer to the group of children who stood
watching the fire and the swarms of spark…serpents darting
upward。 They had heeded none of the priest's words； and did
not notice now that he approached them； so eager were they to
see which fiery snake would go highest among the oak branches。
Foremost among them； and most intent on the pretty game； was
a boy like a sunbeam； slender and quick； with blithe brown
eyes and laughing lips。 The priest's hand was laid upon his
shoulder。 The boy turned and looked up in his face。
〃Here；〃 said the old man； with his voice vibrating as when
a thick rope is strained by a ship swinging from her moorings；
〃here is the chosen one； the eldest son of the Chief； the
darling of the people。 Hearken； Bernhard； wilt thou go to
Valhalla； where the heroes dwell with the gods； to bear a
message to Thor？〃
The boy answered； swift and clear：
〃Yes； priest； I will go if my father bids me。 Is
it far away？ Shall I run quickly？ Must I take my bow and
arrows for the wolves？〃
The boy's father； the Chieftain Gundhar； standing among
his bearded warriors； drew his breath deep； and leaned so
heavily on the handle of his spear that the wood cracked。 And
his wife； Irma； bending forward from the ranks of women；
pushed the golden hair from her forehead with one hand。 The
other dragged at the silver chain about her neck until the
rough links pierced her flesh； and the red drops fell unheeded
on her breast。
A sigh passed through the crowd； like the murmur of the
forest before the storm breaks。 Yet no one spoke save Hunrad：
〃Yes； my Prince； both bow and spear shalt thou have； for
the way is long； and thou art a brave huntsman。 But in
darkness thou must journey for a little space； and with eyes
blindfolded。 Fearest thou？〃
〃Naught fear I；〃 said the boy； 〃neither darkness； nor the
great bear； nor the were…wolf。 For I am Gundhar's son； and the
defender of my folk。〃
Then the priest led the child in his raiment of
lamb's…wool to a broad stone in front of the fire。 He gave
him his little bow tipped with silver； and his spear with
shining head of steel。 He bound the child's eyes with a white
cloth； and bade him kneel beside the stone with his face to
the cast。 Unconsciously the wide arc of spectators drew
inward toward the centre； as the ends of the bow draw together
when the cord is stretched。 Winfried moved noiselessly until
he stood close behind the priest。
The old man stooped to lift a black hammer of stone from
the ground；the sacred hammer of the god Thor。 Summoning all
the strength of his withered arms； he swung it high in the
air。 It poised for an instant above the child's fair
headthen turned to fall。
One keen cry shrilled out from where the women stood：
〃Me！ take me！ not Bernhard！〃
The flight of the mother toward her child was swift as the
falcon's swoop。 But swifter still was the hand of the
deliverer。
Winfried's heavy staff thrust mightily against the hammer's
handle as it fell。 Sideways it glanced from the old man's grasp；
and the black stone； striking on the altar's edge； split in
twain。 A shout of awe and joy rolled along the living circle。
The branches of the oak shivered。 The flames leaped higher。 As
the shout died away the people saw the lady Irma； with her arms
clasped round her child； and above them； on the altar…stone；
Winfried； his face shining like the face of an angel。
IV
A swift mountain…flood rolling down its channel； a huge rock
tumbling from the hill…side and falling in mid…stream： the
baffled waters broken and confused； pausing in their flow；
dash high against the rock； foaming and murmuring； with
divided impulse； uncertain whether to turn to the right or the
left。
Even so Winfried's bold deed fell into the midst of the
thoughts and passions of the council。 They were at a
standstill。 Anger and wonder； reverence and joy and confusion
surged through the crowd。 They knew not which way to move： to
resent the intrusion of the stranger as an insult to their gods；
or to welcome him as the rescuer of their prince。
The old priest crouched by the altar； silent。 Conflicting
counsels troubled the air。 Let the sacrifice go forward； the
gods must be appeased。 Nay； the boy must not die； bring the
chieftain's best horse and slay it in his stead； it will be
enough； the holy tree loves the blood of horses。 Not so；
there is a better counsel yet； seize the stranger whom the
gods have led hither as a victim and make his life pay the
forfeit of his daring。
The withered leaves on the oak rustled and whispered
overhead。 The fire flared and sank again。 The angry voices
clashed against each other and fell like opposing waves。 Then
the chieftain Gundhar struck the earth with his spear and gave
his decision。
〃All have spoken； but none are agreed。 There is no voice
of the council。 Keep silence now； and let the stranger speak。
His words shall give us judgment； whether he is to live or to
die。〃
Winfried lifted himself high upon the altar； drew a roll
of parchment from his bosom； and began to read。
〃A letter from the great Bishop of Rome； who sits on a
golden throne； to the people of the forest； Hessians and
Thuringians； Franks and Saxons。 In nomin Domini； sanctae et
individuae Trinitatis； amen！〃
A murmur of awe ran through the crowd。 〃It is the sacred
tongue of the Romans； the tongue that is heard and understood
by the wise men of every land。 There is magic in it。
Listen！〃
Winfried went on to read the letter； translating it into
the speech of the people。
〃We have sent unto you our Brother Boniface； and appointed
him your bishop； that he may teach you the only true faith；
and baptise you； and lead you back from the ways of error to
the path of salvation。 Hearken to him in all things like a
father。 Bow your hearts to his teaching。 He comes not for
earthly gain； but for the gain of your souls。 Depart from
evil works。 Worship not the false gods； for they are devils。
Offer no more bloody sacrifices； nor eat the flesh of horses； but
do as our Brother Boniface commands you。 Build a house for him
that he may dwell among you； and a church where you may offer
your prayers to the only living God； the Almighty King of
Heaven。〃
It was a splendid message： proud； strong； peaceful；
loving。 The dignity of the words imposed mightily upon the
hearts of the people。 They were quieted as men who have
listened to a lofty strain of music。
〃Tell us； then；〃 said Gundhar； 〃what is the word that thou
bringest to us from the Almighty？ What is thy counsel for the
tribes of the woodland on this night of sacrifice？〃
〃This is the word； and this is the counsel；〃 answered
Winfried。 〃Not a drop of blood shall fall to…night； save that
which pity has drawn from the breast of your princess； in love
for her child。 Not a life shall be blotted out in the
darkness to…night； but the great shadow of the tree which
hides you from the light of heaven shall be swept away。 For
this is the birth…night of the white Christ； son of the
All…Father； and Saviour of mankind。 Fairer is He than Baldur
the Bea