A Slave's Tale

8

8 "Wings of the wind, Odin and Thor, Smooth the blue road For our keel. Let our voyage Bring glory to Rogen And shame on no one. Odin! Gray one, Father of men, Spurn not our gift, Nor take from us Our strength." FROM WHERE I WASHIDING, behind some bushes, I could not see Hakon, only hear his voice. It was the day of the departure. The morning was beautiful. The wind blew steadily from the mainland, and the sun shone clear in a cloudless sky. It was early, and as I moved my head to try to get a better view, the dew from the branches fell on my face. All the people of Rogen were collected in Odin's 58 clearing. They stood in a circle around the big stone, on which was lying a sheep, with its legs tied together. The old people had grumbled when they had heard that only a sheep would be offered. They said that the powers of the gods had grown feeble when a man who owned cows and horses dared set sail on so dangerous a journey and only offer Odin an old sheep. It was not true that the sheep was old; and I believe most of the grumbling came from their stomachs, for they had eaten very little cow meat that winter. A great cry rose from the people, and drowned out the bleating of the poor sheep. "To Odin!" And a moment later, "To Thor!" I climbed out of my hiding place. A twig caught in my hair. I stopped to take it out; then I ran to the beach. In the still water, near the shore, the longship was lying at anchor. The sail was furled, but ready to be hoisted. Quickly I took off my clothes. Making a bundle of them I waded into the sea. It was still bitterly cold and felt like needles against my skin. Shivering, I stood still; the water came up to my knees. My plan depended on no one seeing me, so grinding my teeth I walked on until the cold water reached my waist. Then I held the bundle of clothes above my head and ducked my body. Once I was thoroughly wet, I did not feel so cold. I waded to the side of the ship, which was turned away from land; only my head was above the water now. The ship lay high in the water, for it was not heavily loaded. I tried to throw my clothes into it, but the bundle bounced off the railing and fell into the water. 59 Once more I threw it and this time I heard the bundle fall on the deck of the ship. Now, with both hands free, I could swim. I tried to reach an oar hole, but my arms were too short. Swimming aft, towards the steering oar, I began to be frightened of getting a cramp. The steering oar was pulled out of the water, and hung just a hand's breadth above it. A little above the blade, I grabbed it, and pulled half my body out of the water. The sun felt warm on my back. I fought desperately not to slide back into the cold sea. Throwing one leg over the oar and using both hands and legs to climb with, I managed to reach the railing. My strength was almost gone when at last I pushed myself over it and into the boat. I sat down where I had fallen on the deck; breathing very deeply, I began to rub my numb feet. The boat looked very different now. The deck was in place. The oars lay in two long rows, midship. Near the mast lay my bundle of clothes. Bending low so that no one could see me from the shore, I made my way to it. It had not been long enough in the water to be wet thoroughly . I spread the clothes out on the deck, hoping they would dry before I had to hide. The railing at midship is so low that I could have easily been seen from the shore had not the sail and the heavy spar hidden me from view. I lifted one of the loose deck boards near the mast. Below it were stored all the shields of the men; and though there was room for me, I thought it not...