In this promising frame of mind they left their friendly haven and sailed away into an unknown world.

CHAPTER XXIV

FOR DEAR LOVE’S SAKE

He alone knows,
Who wanders wide
And has much experienced,
By what disposition
Each man is ruled
Who common sense possesses. 

          Ha’vama’l

The first night out was a moonless night, that shut down on the world of waters and blotted out even the clouds and the waves that been company for the solitary vessel.  The little ship became a speck of light in a gulf of darkness, an atom of life floating in empty space.  Under the tent roofs, by the light of flaring torches, the crew drank and sang and amused themselves with games; but beyond that circle, there was only blackness and emptiness and silence.

Sigurd gazed out over the vessel’s side, with a yawn and a shiver combined.  “It feels as though the air were full of ghosts, and we were the only living beings in the whole world,” he muttered.

A tow-headed giant known as Long Lodin overheard him, and laughed noisily, jerking his thumb over his shoulder toward the deck where Leif’s eagle face showed high above their heads.

“His luck could carry us safe through even the world of the dead,” he reassured him.

But Rolf paused in his chess game to throw his friend a keen glance.  “The Silver-Tongue has been one not apt to speak womanish words,” he said, gravely.  “Something there is on your mind which disturbs you, comrade.”

Sigurd pulled himself together with an attempt at his usual careless laugh.  “Is it your opinion that I am the only person who is thinking of ghosts to-night?” he parried.  “Look yonder at Kark, how he fears to turn his back on the shadows, lest the Evil One overtake him!  It is my belief that he would like it better to die than to venture into the dark of the foreroom.”

Following his glance, they beheld the bowerman, leaning against the mast with a face as pale as a toadstool.  When a sailor threw a piece of dried fish at him, he jumped as though he had been struck by a stone.  Rolf’s gentle smile expanded into a broad grin, and he let himself be turned thus easily from his object.

“Now that is true; I had not observed him before.  He appears as if the goddess Ran already had hold of his feet to pull him down under the water.  Let us have a little fun with him.  I will send him to the foreroom on an errand.”

Robert of Normandy set down his drinking-horn with a sharp motion, and Sigurd leaned forward hastily; but the Wrestler’s soft voice was already speeding his command.

“Ho there, valiant Kark-with-the-white-cheeks!  Get you into the foreroom and bring my bag of chess-men from the brass-bound box.”

Kark heard the order without a motion except an angry scowl, and Sigurd drew back with something like a breath of relief.  But Rolf made a sudden move as though to rise to his feet, and the effect was magical.