Frey and His Wife

by Maurice Hewlett

Now the long ship which he had sunk was one of a fleet of them which sailed under the ensign of Earl Haakon himself. The master of it was a man of Iceland called Halward, who had been in Norway for many years, in the service of the Earl, and was a close friend of his. This Halward was a great man and a strong man; everybody spoke well of him and desired his good opinion.

In the morning, when he had heard the news, he went to Earl Haakon and told him about it. His men were saved; but his ship and all his gear and merchandise were at the bottom. The Earl was greatly put out, and his anger grew as he spoke. "Who and what sort of land-lice are these men? Are they thralls of Iceland upon a first adventure? Are men of worth and substance to be tossed into the water like frog-spawn? Now, Halward, you have my leave to take your due and pleasure of them. It will be a light matter for you, for you see what sort of cravens they are. Use your wit, exercise your hands upon them; I give you a free way with them."

Halward thanked the Earl and was for going out then and there to have the law of his assailants; but Wigfus, Battle-Glum's own son, was standing by, and had a word to say. It is very possible that he had an inkling whose ship it was that had been sailed so foully; but if he had he kept it to himself, and was content to plead with the Earl that things should go by the law of the land rather than by the power of Halward's arm. He urged that Halward should take amends from them, if so be that they were willing, as he had no doubt, to submit themselves to the judgment of the Earl. "At least," he said, "let Halward agree to this, that I go myself and find out what men they are, and what sort of terms may be made with them, supposing that terms may be made at all." Halward said nothing in reply to this; but the Earl considered the saying, thought it fair and reasonable, and bade Wigfus see what he could do. But he said also, "Let these men make no mistake. My plane makes thick shavings." By that he meant it to be understood that the fines he should lay would be heavy.

Wigfus betook himself to the ship where men were busy unloading the merchandise. He soon saw his foster-brother Ogmund, and greeted him fairly, asking what news of Iceland and his father. Ogmund reported all well there, and they talked a little about the Thwartwater people. Then Wigfus opened upon his matter, saying it was going to be awkward, and that Ogmund would have a difficult cause to plead.

Ogmund frowned. "How is it to be difficult?" he said. "To my mind it's as plain as daylight."

"If you had waited for daylight it had been very much better," said Wigfus, and told him what had been said that morning at the Earl's council. Then he spoke strongly about the necessity of laying it all to that lord's judgment; but, "I will do what I can for you, since you are my foster-brother; and we may not come off so badly after all."

But Ogmund was rather hot, and would not listen to reason. That is the way of men not too sure of their footing; they fan their eloquence and take fire from it. He stated his case as he viewed it, and stated it at length, and several times over. And then he said, "I know this Earl of yours so well by common report that I shall be careful to have nothing to do with his dooms and judgments. Why!" and he spread his hands wide, palms outwards, "Why! Look at this, Wigfus, that he says beforehand what he will do to me—with his talk of planing me deep and the like. And if I will not lay a case before him where he says nothing, how shall I plead at his judgment-seat when, before a word said, he avows what he will do?" He was very indignant; but by and by he said, "Mind you, I do not refuse if he speaks me fair, and keeps an open mind. No, no. I am not a hard man, far from it. So much you may tell Earl Haakon—to whom, nevertheless, I owe no allegiance; for I am not of his country, but am an Icelander, and a well-friended man in those parts."

Wigfus tossed up his chin. "Well, you shall do what seems good, and be ready to meet what befalls you. If Earl Haakon is angry, you will smart for it. You have not a rat's chance with him; and in my opinion you are talking rank nonsense. But have your own way."

Now then, Wigfus reports to the Earl that Ogmund will abide his judgment—which was not true, and was even notoriously untrue. So said one of the Earl's men who was there at the time, and Wigfus could not deny him.

Then up and spoke Halward, that mighty man, and spoke quietly as mighty men may. "I believe that Wigfus speaks untruly, and shall take my own way, by your leave, my lord. I did not need a mediator, and can do much better without him what I have to do."