"'Hot work is ahead of us,' said Hakon. 'Besides, we must leave none of this mead for Havard. Lend a hand, some one.' "Then he and another pulled out a great tub that sat on the floor of the cupboard. "'I drink to Valhalla to-night,' cried Thorkel the Thirsty, and he plunged his horn deep into the tub. "When he brought it up, his sleeve was dripping and the sweet mead was running over from the horn. "'Sloven!' cried Hakon, and he struck Thorkel with his fist and knocked him over into the cupboard.[42] [42] "He fell against the wooden wall at the back, and a carved panel swung open behind him. He dropped down head first. In a minute he put his head out of the hole again. We all stood staring. "'I think it is a secret passage,' he said. "'We will try it,' I answered in a whisper. 'Throw dirt on the fire. It must be dark.' "So we dug up dirt from the earth floor and smothered the fire. All this time there was a terrible shouting and hammering at the doors, but they were of heavy logs and stood. "'I with four more will guard this door,' I said, pointing to the east end. "Immediately four men stepped to my side. "'And I will guard the other,' Hakon said, and four went with him. "'The rest of you, down the hole!' I said. 'Close the door after you. If luck is with us we will meet at the ships. Now Thor and our good swords help us! Quick! The doors are giving way.' "So we ten men stood at the doors[43] and held back the king's soldiers. It was dark in the room, and the people out of doors could not tell how many were inside. Few were eager to be the first in. [43] "'Thirty swords are waiting in there to eat up the first man,' we heard some one say. "We chuckled at that. "But the king stood in the very doorway and fought. Our five swords held him back for a long time, but at last he pushed in, and his men poured after him. We ran back and hid behind some tubs in a dark corner. The king's men went groping about and calling, but they did not find us. The room was full of shouting and running and
Prev.
Back
Top