Part 9 (2/2)
”The fog lifts!” cried Grim from his post at the tiller.
The men heard the cry, and ceasing their awestruck talk, looked eagerly at the fast-widening rifts in the white shroud. Ghost-like wreaths detached themselves, flitted by the s.h.i.+p, and then dissipated in thin air. The summer night sky with its pale stars appeared in lakes above, and below, the fog rose from the water like steam. Presently the great cliffs came out clear and terrible in the midnight dusk, and the men cried that the spell was broken.
Over Estein came the greatest change. As the fog lifted, the light returned to his eye, and he turned eagerly to Grim.
”Where are we now? Have we yet time to catch Liot at his feast?”
The pilot shook his head.
”It will take us full two hours to reach the bay where Liot dwells, and the feast, I fear, will have ended even now, for the hour is late.”
Helgi's face fell, and he muttered a deep imprecation as he turned to Estein.
”What think you?” he asked; ”shall we run for some distant bay, and return to-morrow night?”
”I have come to meet Liot to-night,” Estein replied, and turning away he paced the deck in deep thought.
Helgi's cheerfulness returned in an instant. He hummed an air, and leaning against the bulwark awaited the march of events with his usual careless philosophy.
”The men were right,” he thought; ”it was a magic mist. The spell has lifted with the fog. It wants but a brisk fight now to cure him.”
A grim smile stole over Estein's face, and presently he stopped beside Grim, and said,--
”Know you where Liot sleeps in this hall of his?”
”Ay; I was forced to follow him for two years, and I know well his sleeping chamber.”
”Can you lead us to it in the dark?”
Grim looked at him doubtfully before answering.
”I think so,” he said at length.
”But are you sure?”
The pilot looked round him.
”The night is light,” said he, ”and there will still be some fire in the hall. But it will be a dangerous venture.”
Estein turned impatiently.
”Methinks you have little feud with Liot,” he said, and went over to where Helgi stood.
”Well?” asked Helgi.
”I have a plan.”
”Have you resolved on a burning? This cursed fog has made me cold, and a fire would like me well.”
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