en or where.
I am sure that it is not the first time that I have had it in my hand."
And as he said this, Havelok's face flushed a little, and his brow
wrinkled as if he tried to bring back the things of that which he had
thought his dream for so long.
It would seem that in the years there had grown up a tale that this was
a magic horn, which none but the very son of Gunnar could wind, and to
the chiefs who saw Havelok now for the first time this was a test to
prove him. But all knew that the words he spoke of it were proof enough,
for a pretender would have said plainly that it had been Gunnar's, and
that he knew it. I think that Sigurd was wise in what he did next, for
he set another horn in my brother's hand, and asked him the same
question; and at this Havelok looked for a moment and shook his head.
"I have not seen that one before, nor one like it. I am sure that I have
seen this, or its fellow."
At that the faces that watched brightened, for there was no doubt in the
way that Havelok spoke; and then the old chief who had asked for the
horn said, "That--'The horn of the king is sounding'--was the
gathering word of the night that has brought us here, and long have we
waited for it. Let Havelok wind his father's horn, that we may hear it
once again."
Then Havelok set it to his lips, and at once the call that he had
remembered came back to him, and clear and sweet and full of longing its
strange notes rang under the arched roof, unfaltering until the last;
and then over him came the full remembrance of all that it had been to
him, and he turned away from the many eyes and sank on the high seat,
and set his head in his arms on the table, that men might not see that
he needs must weep; and Goldberga stepped a little before him, and set
her hand on his, for I think that she knew the loneliness that came on him.
Yet he was not alone in his sorrow, for down in the hall were men to
whom the lost call brought back the memory of a bright young king riding
to his home, and calling the son whom he loved with the call that he had
made for him alone; and they saw the fair child running from the hall,
and the mother following more slowly with smiles of welcome; and they
saw the grim courtmen, who looked on and were glad; and they minded how
they had lifted the boy to the war saddle; and their eyes grew hot with
tears also, and they had no need to be ashamed.
And as men stood motionless, with the last notes of the wil
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