Part 4 (1/2)
”I shall embrace little Alanik for you, little Sylvest,” and Armel added again, ”and yet I would have liked to hear the pretty stories of the traveler!”
Another man of Joel's family said to his expiring kinsman:
”I was a friend of Houarne of the tribe of Morlech, our neighbor. He was killed defenceless, while asleep, a short time ago. Tell him, Armel, that Daoulas, his murderer, was discovered, was tried and condemned by the druids of Karnak and his sacrifice will soon take place. Houarne will be pleased to learn of Daoulas' punishment.”
Armel signified that he would convey the message to Houarne.
Stumpy, who, not through wickedness but intemperate language, was the cause of Armel's death, also drew near with a message to the one about to depart, and said:
”You know that at the eighth face of this month's moon old Mark, who lives near Glen'han was taken ill; the angel of death told him also to prepare for a speedy departure. Old Mark was not ready. He wished to a.s.sist at the wedding of his daughter's daughter. Not being ready to go, old Mark bethought him of some one who might be ready to go in his place and that would satisfy the angel of death. He asked the druid, his physician, if he knew of some 'subst.i.tute.' The druid answered him that Gigel of Nouaren, a member of our tribe, would be available, that he might consent to depart in the place of old Mark, and that he might be induced to do so both out of kindness to Mark and to render himself agreeable to the G.o.ds, who are always pleased at the sight of such sacrifices. Gigel consented freely. Old Mark made him a present of ten pieces of silver with the stamp of a horse's head, which Gigel distributed among his friends before departing. He then cheerfully emptied his last cup and bared his breast to the sacred knife amid the chants of the bards. The angel of death accepted the subst.i.tute. Old Mark attended the wedding of his daughter's daughter, and to-day he is in good health--”
”Do you mean to say that you are willing to depart in my stead, Stumpy?”
asked the dying warrior. ”I fear it is now too late--”
”No, no; I am not ready to depart in your stead,” Stumpy hastened to answer. ”I only wish to request you to return to Gigel three pieces of silver that I owed him; I could not repay him sooner. I feared Gigel might come and demand his money by moonlight in the shape of some demon.” Saying which Stumpy rummaged in his lamb-skin bag, took out three pieces with the stamp of a horse's head, and placed them in the pocket of Armel's breeches.
”I shall hand your three pieces of silver to Gigel,” said Armel in a voice now hardly audible; and for a last time he murmured at Julyan's ear: ”And yet ... I would ... have liked ... to hear ... the pretty stories ... of ... the traveler.”
”Be at ease, brother Armel,” Julyan answered him; ”I shall attentively listen to the pretty stories so that I may remember them well; and to-morrow ... I shall depart and tell them to you.... I would weary here without you.... We swore brotherhood to each other, and never to be separated; I shall follow you and continue to live yonder in your company.”
”Truly ... you will come?” said the dying youth, whom the promise seemed to render happy; ”will you come ... to-morrow?”
”To-morrow, by Hesus.... I swear to you, Armel, I shall come.”
The eyes of the whole family turned to Julyan at hearing the promise, and looked lovingly upon him. The wounded youth seemed the most pleased of all, and with his last breath said:
”So long, then, brother Julyan ... listen attentively ... to the stories.... And now ... farewell ... farewell ... to all of you of our tribe,” and Armel sought to suit the motion of his hands to his words.
As loving relatives and friends crowd around one of their own when he is about to depart on a long journey, during which he will meet people of whom they all preserve a cherished remembrance, each now pressed the hand of Armel and gave him some tender commission for those of their tribe whom he was about to meet again.
After Armel was dead, Joel closed the youth's eyes and had him taken to the altar of grey stones, above which stood the copper bowl with the seven twigs of mistletoe.
The body was then covered with oak branches taken from the altar, so that, instead of the corpse, only a heap of verdure met the eye, with Julyan seated close to it.
Finally, the head of the family filled the large cup up to the brim, moistened his lips in it and said to the stranger: ”May Armel's journey be a happy one; he has ever been good and just; may he traverse under the guidance of Teutates the marvelous regions and countries that lie beyond the grave which none of us has yet traveled over, and which all of us will yet see. May Armel meet again those whom we have loved, and let him a.s.sure them that we love them still!”
The cup went around; the women and young girls expressed their good wishes to Armel on his journey; the remains of the supper were removed; and all gathered at the hearth, impatient to hear the promised stories told by the stranger.
CHAPTER IV.
THE STORY OF ALBREGE.
”Is it a story that you want of me?” asked the unknown guest turning to Joel, and seeing the eyes of all fixed upon himself.
”One story?” cried Joel. ”Tell us twenty, a hundred! You must have seen so much! so many countries! so many peoples! One story only? Ah, by the good Ormi, you shall not be let off with only one story, friend guest!”
”Oh, no!” cried the family in chorus and with set determination. ”Oh, no! We must have more than one!”
”And yet,” observed the stranger with a pensive and severe mien, ”there is more serious work in hand than to tell and listen to frivolous stories.”