Part 18 (1/2)
”If they have not found him yet,” he thought, ”he has perhaps escaped. But why did he not wait for me? If he had been alive, he surely would have met me.”
For some time he followed his mysterious guide in melancholy silence. There was only room for them to walk in single file, and it took him some trouble to keep up. Sometimes it seemed to him that they would leave the path and go straight through the trackless depths of the wood, with a quickness and a.s.surance that astonished him. Then again they would apparently fall upon a path for a time, and perhaps break into a trot while the ground was clear.
At last they came into a long, open glade, where a stream brawled between snow-clad banks, and the vague form of some frightened animal flitted silently towards the shade. The moon had come out of the clouds, and by its light Estein tried to scan the features of his companion. So far as a fur cap would let his face be seen, he seemed dark, unkempt, and singularly wild of aspect, but there was nothing in his look to catch the Viking's memory. He said not a word, but, with a swinging stride, hastened down the glade, Estein close at his shoulder.
”Where do we go?” Estein asked once.
”You shall see what you shall see. Waste not your breath,” replied the other impatiently.
Again they turned into the wood, and went for some considerable distance down a choked and rugged path which all at once ended in a clearing. In the middle stood a small house of wood. The frosted roof sparkled in the moonlight, and a thin stream of smoke rose from a wide chimney at one end, but there was never a ray of light from door or window to be seen. The man went straight up to the door and knocked.
”This then is the end of our walk,” said Estein.
”It would seem so indeed,” replied the other, striking the door again impatiently.
This time there came sounds of a bolt being shot back. Then the door swung open, and Estein saw on the threshold an old man holding in his hand a lighted torch. For an instant there pa.s.sed through his mind, like a prospect shown by a flash of lightning, a sharp memory of the hermit Andreas. Instinctively he drew back, but the first words spoken dispelled the thought.
”I have waited for thee, Estein.”
”Atli!” he exclaimed.
”Ay,” said the old man. ”I see thou knewest not where thy way would lead thee. But enter, Estein, if indeed after a king's feast thou wilt deign to receive my welcome.”
He added the last words with a touch of irony that hardly tended to propitiate his guest.
”I have to thank you, methinks,” replied Estein, as he entered, ”for bringing me to that same banquet.”
He found himself in a room that seemed to occupy most of the small house. One half of it was covered with a wooden ceiling which served as the floor of a loft, while for the rest of the way there was nothing beneath the sloping rafters of the roof. A ladder reached from the floor to the loft, and at one end, that nearest the outer door, a fire of logs burned brightly.
All round the walls hung the skins of many bears and wolves, with here and there a spear or a bow.
Atli left the other man to close the door, and followed Estein up to the fire.
He replied, either not noticing or disregarding the dryness of Estein's retort,--
”I knew well, Estein, thou wouldst come. Something told me thou wouldst not linger on my summons.”
”Did you then send for me to lead me into this snare?” said Estein, his brows knitting darkly.
”Does one eagle betray another to the kites and crows?” replied the old man loftily.
Estein burst out hotly,--
”Speak plainly, old man! Keep mysteries for Rune-carved staves and kindred tricks. What mean this message and this plot and this rescue? I have left my truest friend and twenty stout followers besides in yonder hall. I myself have had to flee for my life from a yelping pack of Jemtland dogs; and for aught I know, Ketill and the rest of my force may be drugged with drink and burned in their beds even while I talk with you. Give me some plain answer?”
Atli looked at him for a minute, and then replied gravely,--
”I have heard, indeed, that some strange change had befallen Estein Hakonson. There was a time when he who had just saved thy life would have had fairer thanks than this.”