For the White Christ: A Story of the Days of Charlemagne

by Robert Ames Bennet

Bale and terror--my trusty people,

Laid down life have my liegemen all.

BEOWULF.

CHAPTER I

Swans of the Dane-folk--

The ships of Sigmund--

Heads all gilt over,

And prows fair graven.

LAY OF GUDRUN.

Early of an April morning of the year 778, a broad-beamed Frisian trade-ship was drifting with the ebb-tide down the Seine estuary. Wrapped about by the morning vapors, the deeply laden little craft floated on the stream like a dreamship. The mists shut out all view of sky and land and sea. From the quarter-deck, the two men beside the steer-oar could scarcely see across the open cargo-heaped waist to where, gathered silently about the mast, a dozen or so drowsy sailors stood waiting for the morning breeze.