Part 30 (1/2)
”I have a thought in my head,” said Biarne.
”Out with it then,” replied Leif, wiping his brow, ”because thoughts, if kept long in the brain, are apt to hatch, and the chicken-thoughts are p.r.o.ne to run away at the moment of birth, and men have a tendency to chase the chickens, to the utter forgetting of the original hens! What is thy thought, Biarne?”
”That I should take as many of the men as you can spare,” he replied, ”and go off by water to reinforce Karlsefin.”
”That is strange,” said Leif. ”I sometimes think that there must be a mysterious influence which pa.s.ses between mind and mind. The very same thought came into my head this morning when I was at work on this oar, and I had intended to talk with you on the subject. But why do you think this course of action needful?”
”Just because the party of savages may turn out to be larger than we imagined, or they may be joined by others, and it has occurred to me that the force which is out with Karlsefin is barely sufficient to make a good stand against heavy odds. With a small party heavy odds against you is a serious matter; but with a large party heavy odds on the side of the enemy makes little weight--unless, indeed, their men are willing to come on and be killed in large numbers, which my experience of savages a.s.sures me that they are never willing to do.”
”Your reasons, Biarne, are very much the same as my own; therefore, being of one mind, we shall go about the business without delay, for if our aid is to reach them at all it must be extended at once. Go, then, select and collect your men; I will be content to guard the place with the half of those that are now here; and make haste, Biarne, the more I think of it the more I fear delay.”
Biarne was not slow to act. In a remarkably brief s.p.a.ce of time he had selected his men, prepared the canoes, loaded them with arms and food, and got everything ready; so that before the afternoon had far advanced he was enabled to set off with four canoes and thirty-two men.
Meanwhile Leif had set those that remained to complete a small central point of defence--a sort of fortalice--which had been for some time in preparation as a last refuge for the colonists in the event of their ever being attacked by overwhelming numbers.
Karlsefin had long seen the propriety of building some such stronghold; but the friendly relations that had existed for a considerable period between the Nors.e.m.e.n and the natives had induced him to suspend building operations, until several annoying misunderstandings and threats on the part of the savages had induced him to resume the work. At the time of which we write it was almost completed.
This fortress was little more than a strong palisade of stout planks about twelve feet high, placed close together, with narrow slits on every side for the discharge of arrows, and a platform all round the top inside, on which men could stand to repel an a.s.sault or discharge stones and other missiles over the wall. But the chief strength of the place lay in its foundation, which was the summit of a small isolated rocky mound in the centre of the hamlet. The mound was not more than thirty feet high, but its sides were so steep that the top could not be reached without difficulty, and its area was so small that the little fortification embraced the whole of it. It was large enough, however, to contain the whole population of the place, exclusive of the cattle.
To the completion, then, of this place of refuge, Leif addressed himself with all the energy of his nature. A large shed was erected in one corner of it, with a strong plank roof, to protect the women from stones, arrows, and javelins, which were the only projectiles in vogue at that period of the world's history. Another shed was built just under the fortalice, on the lake side, for the safe housing of the live stock. Arrows were made in great numbers by some of the men, while others gathered and stored an immense supply of heavy ammunition in the shape of stones. Besides this a large quant.i.ty of dried provisions was stored in the women's shed, also a supply of water; but in regard to the last, being near the lake, and within easy bow-shot of their vessel, they trusted to bold night-sallies for additional supplies of the indispensable fluid. Finally, the work was carried on with such vigour that eight days after Biarne's departure it was finished.
Finished--and not a moment too soon! At the time when Biarne started on his voyage, the woods were, unknown to the Nors.e.m.e.n, alive with savages.
Fortunately these had not observed the departure of the canoes, the whole of them being engaged at the time deep within the woods, holding a council of war, in which it was resolved to attack the white invaders of their land, kill them all, and appropriate their property.
Leif committed a slight mistake in not sending out scouts at this time to guard against surprise, but he was so eager to have the works completed that he grudged sending away any of his small body of men.
On the day when everything had been got ready, he sent a man named Hengler, who was an expert bowman, to procure some venison. In less than an hour Hengler was seen running towards the hamlet at break-neck speed, with his eyes almost starting out of his head, his hair streaming in the breeze, and two savages close on his heels.
”To arms, men!” shouted Leif, as he s.n.a.t.c.hed up a bow, and, without waiting to put on helmet or sword, ran out to meet Hengler.
Seeing this, the savages stopped, hastily fitted arrows to their bowstrings and discharged them, the one at Hengler, the other at Leif.
The first just grazed the flying Norseman's ear; the other fell short, but before a second discharge was possible Leif had sent an arrow whizzing at the first savage. It pierced his thigh. Uttering a fierce yell, he plucked the shaft out of the wound, and turning round fled back to the woods followed by his companion.
”Not a moment to lose,” gasped Hengler, as he ran into the hamlet.
”There are hundreds of them everywhere.”
”Coming towards us?” asked Leif.
”Not when I saw them, but doubtless when these two return they will come down like a mountain foss.”
”Quick, get into the fort, lads!--Stay, Hengler, a.s.sist me with the women.”
”Do you think they really mean to attack us?” asked Gudrid, who, with Bertha and Freydissa, came forward at the moment.
”a.s.suredly they do,” answered Leif; ”come, follow Hengler to the fort.
Whatever they intended before, the arrow in that fellow's leg will settle the question. Where are Thora and Astrid?”
”In the dairy,” replied Gudrid.