Part 20 (2/2)
Placing himself at the head of one band he went off in the direction in which, from Krake's account of what had taken place, it seemed most probable that Tyrker might be found. They advanced so rapidly that when the sun rose they had got to within a mile or so of the spot where Krake and his party had given up their search on the previous evening. Thus it came to pa.s.s that before the red sun had ascended the eastern sky by much more than his own height, Karlsefin and Tyrker met face to face in a narrow gorge.
They stopped and gazed at each other for a few moments in silence, Karlsefin in astonishment as well--and no wonder, for the figure that stood before him was a pa.s.sing strange one. To behold Tyrker thus dishevelled and besmeared was surprising enough, but to see him with grapes and vine-leaves stuffed all about him and twined all round him was absolutely astounding. His behaviour was little less so, for, clapping his hands to his sides, he shut his eyes, opened his big mouth, and burst into an uproarious fit of laughter.
The men who came up at that moment did so also for laughter is catching.
”Why, Tyrker, where have you been?” demanded Karlsefin.
”Grapes!” shouted Tyrker, and laughed again.
”Are these grapes?” asked Karlsefin, regarding the fruit with much interest.
”Ay, grapes! vines! Vinland! hurrah!”
”But are you sure?”
Instead of answering, Tyrker laughed again and began to talk, as he always did when greatly moved, in Turkish. Altogether he was so much excited that Krake said he was certainly drunk.
”Drunk!” exclaimed Tyrker, again using the Norse language; ”no, that is not possible. A man could not get drunk on grapes if he were to eat a s.h.i.+p-load of them. I am only joyful--happy, happy as I can be. It seems as if my young days had returned again with these grapes. I am drunk with old thoughts and memories. I am back again in Turkey!”
”Ye couldn't be in a worse place if all accounts be true,” said Krake, with a grin. ”Come, don't keep all the grapes to yourself; let us taste them.”
”Ay, let us taste them,” said Karlsefin, advancing and plucking a bunch from Tyrker's shoulders.
The others did the same, tasted them, and p.r.o.nounced the fruit excellent.
”Now, lads, we will make the strong drink from the grapes,” said Tyrker.
”I don't know quite how to do it, but we will soon find out.”
”That you certainly shall not if I can prevent it,” said Karlsefin firmly.
Tyrker looked a little surprised, and asked why not.
”Because if the effect of eating grapes is so powerful, drinking the strong drink of the grape must be dangerous. Why do you wish to make it?”
”Why? because--because--it _does_ make one so happy.”
”You told us just now,” returned Karlsefin, ”that you were _as happy as you could be_, did you not? You cannot be happier than that--therefore, according to your own showing, Tyrker, there is no need of strong drink.”
”That's for you,” whispered Krake to Tyrker, with a wink, as he poked him in the side. ”Go to sleep upon that advice, man, and it'll do ye good--if it don't do ye harm!”
”Ease him of part of his load, boys, and we shall go back the way we came as fast as may be.”
Each man relieved Tyrker of several bunches of grapes, so that in a few minutes he resumed his own ordinary appearance. They then retraced their steps, and soon afterwards presented to the women the first grapes of Vinland. Karlsefin carried a chosen bunch to Gudrid, who, after thanking him heartily, stuffed a grape into the hole in Snorro's puckered visage and nearly choked him. Thus narrowly did the first Yankee (for such one of his own countrymen has claimed him to be) escape being killed by the first-fruits of his native land!
CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
GREENLAND AGAIN--FLATFACE TURNS UP, ALSO THORWARD, WHO BECOMES ELOQUENT AND SECURES RECRUITS FOR VINLAND.
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