a steep descent to the
river, which served as a sort of back stairway to the stronghold. Before
them, green plains and sandy flats sloped away to the white shore of the
bay that rocked their anchored ship upon its bosom. Over their lowly
roofs, stately oaks and elms and maples murmured ceaseless
lullabies,--like women long-childless, granted after a weary waiting the
listening ears to be soothed by their crooning.

"I have a feeling that this land has always been watching for us; and
that now that we are come, it is glad," Helga said, happily, as she
paused where the jarl's son leaned in a doorway, watching Kark's
cook-fires leap and wave their arms of blue smoke. "Is it not a
wonderful thought, Sigurd, that it was in God's mind so long ago that we
should some day want to come here?"

"It is a fair land," Sigurd agreed, absently. And then for the first
time Helga noticed the frown on his face, and some of the brightness
faded from her own.

"Alas, comrade, you are brooding over the disfavor I have brought upon
you!" she said, laying an affectionate hand upon his arm. "I act in a
thoughtless way when I forget it."

Sigurd made a good-natured attempt to arouse himself. "Do not let that
trouble you, _ma mie_," he said, lightly. "When ill luck has it in her
mind to reach a man, she will come in through a window if the door be
closed. It is a matter of little importance."

He patted the hand on his arm and his smile became even mischievous.
"Still, I will not say anything against it if you wish to pay some
forfeit," he added. "See,--yonder Leif sits, playing with the bear cub
while he waits for his breakfast. Now, as he turns his eyes upon us, do
you reach up and give me such an affectionate kiss as shall convince him
forever that it was for love of me that you fled from Norway."

A vigorous box on the ear was his answer; yet even before her cheeks
cooled, Helga relented and turned back.

"Even your French foolishness I will overlook, for the sake of the
misfortune I have been to you. Take now a handful of these berries, and
make the excuse that you wish to give them to the bear. While you do so,
speak to Leif strongly and tell him your wish. That he is playing with
the cub is a sign that he is in a good humor."

Sigurd's eyes wandered wistfully beyond the cook-fires and the
storehouses to the last hut in the line, before which a dozen men were
buckling on cloaks and arming themselves, in a bustle of joyful
anticip