XIX. KING OLAF'S WAR-HORNS. "STRIKE the sails!" King Olaf said; Never away from my foes! Let God dispose Of my life in the fight!" "Sound the horns!" said Olaf the King; On the Day of Doom! Louder and louder the war-horns sang The sun hung red As a drop of blood. Drifting down on the Danish fleet Three together the ships were lashed, So that neither should turn and retreat; In the midst, but in front of the rest The burnished crest Of the Serpent flashed. King Olaf stood on the quarter-deck, Hung his crimson cloak. On the forecastle Ulf the Red On his bearded lips. King Olaf laid an arrow on string, The old sea-wolf; "You have need of me!" In front came Svend, the King of the Danes, To the right, the Swedish king with his thanes; Earl Eric steered On the left with his oars. "These soft Danes and Swedes," said the King, "At home with their wives had better stay, Than come within reach of my Serpent's sting: But where Eric the Norseman leads Heroic deeds Will be done to-day!" Then as together the vessels crashed, Eric severed the cables of hide, With which King Olaf's ships were lashed, And left them to drive and drift With the currents swift Of the outward tide. Louder the war-horns growl and snarl, A death-drink salt as the sea Pledges to thee, Olaf the King! XX. EINAR TAMBERSKELVER. Ir was Einar Tamberskelver Stood beside the mast; From his yew-bow, tipped with silver, Flew the arrows fast; Aimed at Eric unavailing, As he sat concealed, Half behind the quarter-railing, Half behind his shield. First an arrow struck the tiller, Just above his head; Then Earl Eric said. Turning to a Lapland yeoman, Said Earl Eric, "Shoot that bowman Standing by the mast." Sooner than the word was spoken Flew the yeoman's shaft; Einar's bow in twain was broken, Einar only laughed. "What was that?" said Olaf, standing On the quarter-deck. "Something heard I like the stranding Of a shattered wreck." Einar then, the arrow taking From the loosened string, Answered, "That was Norway breaking From thy hand, O king!" "Thou art but a poor diviner," "Take my bow, and swifter, Einar, Einar saw the blood-drops oozing Through his iron glove. But the bow was thin and narrow; At the first assay, O'er its head he drew the arrow, Flung the bow away; Said, with hot and angry temper Flushing in his cheek, "Olaf! for so great a Kämper Are thy bows too weak!" Then, with smile of joy defiant Scaled he, light and self-reliant, |