CHAPTER V.

ANDREAS THE HERMIT.


The same day Estein rowed across alone to Hrossey, and started
over the hills with his bow and arrows. He walked for some miles
through moorland ground, and paused at length on the top of a
range of hills, whence he had a wide view over the inland country.
There he sat down and mused for long. Below him he saw a valley
opening out into a sweep of low-lying land, watered by many lochs,
and bounded by heather hills. All round, in glimpses between the
highest hill-tops, and in wide, unbroken stretches over the lower
ranges, the open sea girdled the island. Gradually the stillness
of the place and the freshness of the air told upon him, and at
length he fell asleep. He began to dream, at first of confused
events and hurrying faces, and then more distinctly and vividly.
He had landed, he thought, on the Holy Isle. It was dark, but he
seemed to see plainly a figure, wrapped in a long cloak, walking
before him towards the cells. It was neither Andreas nor his
daughter, and with some wonder he quickened his steps and overtook
it just as it was about to enter the hermit's cell. Then all at
once it seemed to flash upon him that this was no mortal visitor,
and with a sudden thrill of fear he stopped. At that instant the
figure turned a shrouded face on him, and said sternly, and so
clearly that the words were ringing in his ears when he woke,--

"What doest THOU here, Estein Hakonson?"