Part 32 (1/2)

”That is not easy of accomplishment,” returned the other. ”Even you would scarcely, methinks, advise so small a band of men to make an open attack on five or six hundred savages.”

”I would not advise it,” replied Thorward; ”nevertheless, if it came to the worst I would _do_ it. But what, then, is your advice?”

”Why, _until_ it comes to the worst we must try strategy,” answered Karlsefin. ”I will call Hake to our council; the youth, I have observed, is a deep thinker, and clear-sighted.”

When Hake was summoned, and had laid himself down beside his leaders, he remained for some time silently gazing on the busy scene below, where some men in canoes were spearing fish in the bay, and others were skinning and cutting up deer near the edge of the woods, while women were cooking and engaged in other domestic duties at the doors of the tents, and children and dogs were romping about everywhere.

”Could we not get into our canoes,” suggested Thorward, ”make a dash at the spit of sand, and carry off the children at a swoop before the brown-skinned rascals were well aware of us?”

”They would see us before we got half-way to the spit,” replied Karlsefin, ”carry the children into the woods, and then be ready to receive us in hundreds on sh.o.r.e.--What think you, Hake; can you suggest any plan of outwitting these savages?”

”I have a plan,” answered the Scot, ”but I fear you will deem it foolish.”

”Out with it, man, foolish or otherwise,” said Thorward, who was beginning to chafe under difficulties that appeared to be insurmountable, even by his favourite method--force of arms.

”If ye approve of it,” returned Hake, ”I will cross the river alone and unarmed, and walk straight to the spot where the children are now seated. Much of the way is concealed by shrubs, and when I saunter across the open part, it may be that I shall scarce be noticed until I am near them. If I be, then will I make a dash, catch them up, make for the rapid, plunge in, and, on gaining the opposite bank, run to meet you. We can then hasten to the canoes--fight our way to them if need be--and sweep down the river. We shall probably get a fair start; and if so, it will go hard but we reach Leifsgaard before they overtake us.

If not, why--”

Hake touched the hilt of his sword by way of completing the sentence.

”A rare plan!” said Thorward with a suppressed chuckle; ”and how, my bold youth, if thou art observed and caught before getting hold of the children?”

”I will then set my wits to devise some other plan. It may be of some advantage to them that I should be a captive along with the children, and at most it is but one man lost to the expedition.”

”Ay, but that would be a heavy loss,” said Karlsefin; ”nevertheless the plan seems to me not so unlikely--only there are one or two points about which I have my doubts. In the first place, although your legs are marvellously good, I fear that with the additional weight of Olaf and Snorro on them, the fleet runners among the savages, of whom there must be many, would soon overtake thee.”

”With Olaf on my back, Snorro under my left arm, and the right arm free to swing--I think _not_,” replied Hake, quietly but decidedly.

”Then as to crossing: how do you--”

”I would swim,” replied Hake.

”What! with the weight and drag of wet garments to c.u.mber you!”

exclaimed Thorward; ”besides making it clear to the savages, if they caught you, that you had come from the opposite bank of the river, where your _friends_ might be expected to be waiting for you!”

”I would tie my clothes in a tight bundle on the top of my head,” said Hake. ”Many a time have I crossed the streams of my native land in this manner.”

”Well, ye have a ready answer for everything,” returned Thorward; ”nevertheless I like not the plan.”

”If you cannot suggest a better, I am disposed to let Hake try it,” said Karlsefin.

Thorward had no better plan to suggest. Indeed, the more he thought of it the more did he feel inclined to make a tremendous onslaught, cut as many men to pieces as he could before having his own life taken, and so have done with the whole affair for ever. Fortunately for Olaf and Snorro his counsels were not followed.

In a few minutes Hake was ready. His brother was ordered to lead the men back to the canoes, there to keep in close hiding and await further orders. Meanwhile Karlsefin remained on the cliff to watch the result.

Hake felt it to be a desperate venture, but he was possessed of that species of spirit which rejoices in such, and prefers danger to safety.

Besides, he saw at a glance that there would be no chance whatever of success if his leaders made up their minds to attempt an open attack against such fearful odds.

With a light step the young Scot descended to the river, thinking of Bertha as he went. A few minutes afterwards he was seen--or rather his head with a bundle on it--was seen crossing the river by the watchers on the cliff. A few minutes later, and he was on the opposite sh.o.r.e rapidly putting on his light garments. Thereafter he entered the bushes, and a glimpse could be caught of him ever and anon as he glided swiftly, like the panther towards his prey.