XV
THE WRATH OF THE PEASANTS
Terrified by the reports of the great army of peasants marching to find him, Earl Haakon ordered his son Erlend to proceed to More, where he would join him and together they would seek a place of safety. The earl left his ship, and set his men free. He rode on horseback with Kark alone, also mounted, as his attendant. Riding furiously they reached the bank of the river Gaul, where they paused.
“My Jarl,” said the thrall, sullenly, “where art thou going? I am weary of this ceaseless journeying. Behind us are the angry peasants, and coming from some shore there is Olaf, the great son of Harold Fairhaired!”
Earl Haakon groaned. “Be faithful to me, Kark!” he pleaded, “be faithful! And as to Olaf—it is but a story,—a wild dreaming.”
“It is no wild dreaming, my Jarl. Olaf is in the Trondelag. The Tronders are wild over his coming. What will it be when he meets these hinds whom thou hast angered so greatly?”
“Be faithful to me, Kark, and I will reward thee; for think thee, my thrall, we were born in the same night, and death must meet us together.”
