LEIF THE CROSS-BEARER


Inquire and impart
Should every man of sense,
Who will be accounted sage.
Let one only know,--
A second may not;
If three, all the world knows.
Ha'vama'l


It was early the next morning, so early that the world was only here and
there awake. The town was silent; the fields were empty; the woods
around the camp slept in darkness and silence. Only the little valley
lay fresh and smiling in the new light, winking back at the sun from a
million dewy eyes.

Under the trees the long white-scoured tables stood ready with bowl and
trencher, and Alwin carried food to and fro with leisurely steps. From
Helga's booth her voice arose in a weird battle-chant; while from the
river bank came the voices and laughter and loud splashing of many
bathers.

Gradually the shouts merged into a persistent roar. The roar swelled
into a thunder of excitement. Alwin paused, in the act of ladling curds
into the line of wooden bowls, and listened smiling.

"Now they are swimming a race back to the bank. I wonder whom they will
drive out of the water today." For that was the established penalty for