softly, down
the steps.

But once more before she left the deck, Thora opened her eyes. She saw
Halfred stained all over with blood. She recognised, by their armour
and clothing, the bodies of Hartvik and Eigil, with frightfully
shattered heads. She saw the whole deck strewn with dead. She saw that
only very few of the ship's crew were left, and shuddering, shrinking,
she closed her eyes again.

CHAPTER XIV.

But Halfred kneeled day and night beside her couch. He held her languid
hand; he listened to her faint breathing; he kissed from her lips the
small drops of blood which often gathered there.

He had the board which closed the gangway between the decks taken away,
and heaven and the stars shone down upon Thora's pillow.

When the day had gone ill, and much blood had flowed, and she fell
asleep with the falling night, then he would mount a few steps, draw
his hammer from his belt, and threaten the stars with furious words.

"If ye let her die for others' guilt, then woe to you, ye Gods, woe to
all who live."

But had the sufferer gained strength, and smiled lovingly and
peacefully on him; then this same ferocious man mounted upon the deck,
kneeled down, and cried with outstretched arms, and tear-choked voice,

"Praise, praise, to you, ye gracious Gods! I knew it, verily, that ye
live and rule justly, and would not let her die for others' guilt."

And if the day wavered between good and evil, between fear and hope,
then he paced the narrow chamber with hasty steps and murmured
inaudibly,

"Are there Gods! are there Gods! are there gracious Gods?"

And he believed that Thora heard this not, because she slept.

But she lay often awake, with closed eyes, and understood it all, and
it troubled her sorely, in waking and dreaming.

And Halfred now told her, at her mute request, all about Dame Harthild,
and the curse, and how all had happened.

When he had ended she murmured shuddering, "Much has been fulfilled! If
yet more should be fulfilled, unhappy Halfred."

It seemed, however, that Thora was better.

And Halfred resolved at once to carry her upon deck, that she might
breathe the fresh air, and again behold the beauty of sea and heaven.

And he had the deck carefully cleansed from all traces of the horrible
fight, and ordered the sailors, the day before, to run into a coast
which was bright with summer flowers, and commanded a whole mountain of
flowers, as he sa