ciated until one stood close by his side or fell into his powerful
grasp.

Erling was lion-like, yet he was by nature gentle and retiring. He had
a kindly smile, a hearty laugh, and bright blue eyes. Had he lived in
modern days he would undoubtedly have been a man of peace. But he lived
"long long ago"--therefore he was a man of war. Being unusually
fearless, his companions of the valley called him Erling the Bold. He
was, moreover, extremely fond of the sea, and often went on viking
cruises in his own ships, whence he was also styled Erling the Sea-king,
although he did not at that time possess a foot of land over which to
exercise kingly authority.

Now, it must be explained here that the words Sea-king and Viking do not
denote the same thing. One is apt to be misled by the termination of
the latter word, which has no reference whatever to the royal title
king. A viking was merely a piratical rover on the sea, the sea-warrior
of the period, but a Sea-king was a leader and commander of vikings.
Every Sea-king was a viking, but every viking was not a Sea-king; just
as every Admiral is a sailor, but every sailor is not an Admiral. When
it is said that Erling was a Sea-king, it is much as if we had said he
was an admiral in a small way.

CHAPTER TWO.

INTRODUCES, AMONG OTHERS, THE HERO AND HEROINE, AND OPENS UP A VIEW OF
NORSE LIFE IN THE OLDEN TIME.

Ulf of Romsdal had a daughter named Hilda. She was fair, and extremely
pretty.

The young men said that her brow was the habitation of the lily, her eye
the mirror of the heavens, her cheek the dwelling-place of the rose.
True, in the ardour of their feelings and strength of their imaginations
they used strong language; nevertheless it was impossible to overpraise
the Norse maiden. Her nut-brown hair fell in luxuriant masses over her
shapely shoulders, reaching far below the waist; her skin was fair, and
her manners engaging. Hilda was undoubtedly blue-eyed and beautiful.
She was just seventeen at this time. Those who loved her (and there
were few who did not) styled her the sunbeam.

Erling and Hilda had dwelt near each other from infancy. They had been
playmates, and for many years were as brother and sister to each other.
Erling's affection had gradually grown into a stronger passion, but he
never mentioned the fact to anyone, being exceedingly shamefaced and shy
in regard to love. He would have given his ears to have known that his
love was ret