Bondman
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The
Bondman
A New Saga
By
Hall Caine
Author of
"The Scapegoat," "The Manxman," etc.
"Vengeance is Mine—I will repay"
Thirty-seventh Thousand
London
William Heinemann
1901
Published in Three Volumes—First Edition, January; Second Edition, February; Third Edition, March, 1890. In One Volume: October 1890; Reprinted: October 1890; March; October 1891; August 1892; January; October 1893; January 1895; November 1896; June 1901
All rights, including translation, reserved
To
My Son
"Little Sunlocks"
Note
The central date of this story (a Saga in the only sense accepted among Icelanders) is 1800, when Iceland, in the same year as Ireland, lost the last visible sign of her ancient independence as a nation. But lest the historical incidents that stand as a background to simple human passions should seem to clash at some points, I hasten to say that I have not thought it wise to bind myself to the strict chronology of history, Manx or Icelandic, for some years before and after. I am partly conscious that the Iceland I have described is the Iceland of an earlier era, but Icelanders will not object to that licence if I have brought within my too narrow limits much of what is beautiful and noble and firing to enthusiasm in their old habits, customs, and laws. To the foolish revolt which occurred at Reykjavík early in this century I have tried to give the dignity of a serious revolution, such as, I truly think, Icelanders may yet make in order to become masters in their own house. For a great deal of my data towards this sort of secondary interest, I am indebted to many books, Icelandic and English, and for some personal help I owe my thanks to Herra Jón A. Hjaltalín, of Mödruvellír, who is not, however, to be charged with my mistakes, too numerous, I have no doubt. For my descriptions of Icelandic scene and character I can claim no authority but that of my own observation.
Hawthorns, Keswick.
Preface to Fourth Edition
The welcome given to this story has cheered and touched me, but I am conscious that to win a reception so warm, such a book must have had readers who brought to it as much as they took away. To put oneself in a position of sympathy with incidents so rugged, passions so elementary, and thoughts so simple, required some effort in an age of various intellectual interests and complex social life. I have encountered only one exception to this attitude of acquiescence, and that has come from an Iceland friend, who, with many cordial expressions, objects to the classification of this story as a Saga, on the ground that it is not an historical romance. The Icelandic Sagas are historical, mythical, heroical, and chiefly based on ancient poetry. Some of them are of the nature of histories, others are founded on tradition, and a few are pure fictions. Ail of them are distinguished by an epical method of narration, from the romances of a later period which are rhetorical and of modern times which are dramatic. So I have called my story a Saga, merely because it follows the epic method, and I must not claim for it at any point the weighty responsibility of history, or serious obligations to the world of fact. But it matters not to me what Icelanders may call The Bondman, if they will honour me by reading it in the open-hearted spirit and with the free mind in which they are content to read of Grettir and of his fights with the Troll. I can ask no more and no better than this from any Icelander or any Manxman, and I offer my thanks for the cheerfulness with which many of both countries have accepted me in the humble character which is the only one I have dared to assume—that of the teller of a simple story.
Contents
Page xi The Book of Stephen Orry Chapter I. 1 II. 8 III. 13 IV. 20 V. 28 VI. 42 VII. 58 VIII. 68 IX. 77 X. 87 The Book of Michael Sunlocks XI. 103 XII. 115 XIII. 128 XIV. 141 XV. 148 XVI. 154 XVII. 161 XVIII. 170 XIX. 183 XX. 195 XXI. 207 XXII. 220 XXIII. 229 The Book of Red Jason XXIV. 237 XXV. 251 XXVI. 263 XXVII. 271 XXVIII. 282 XXIX. 304 XXX. 319 339
Printed by Ballantyne, Hanson & Co.
Edinburgh & London
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
The longest-living author of this work died in 1931, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 92 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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