"Have you seen this before?" asked Sigurd wistfully, and looking into
Havelok's face as he gave it into his hand.
One could feel that men waited his answer, and it came slowly.
"Ay, friend, I am sure that I have, but I cannot yet say when 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.
Pages:
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304