Viking Boys

of years ago, when the Vikings

ng out upon a grand stretch of ocean studded with islands of fantastic shape, among which numerous boats were threading their way. It was a fair summer afternoon, and the fishing boats were returning from the far haaf[1] laden with spoil. It had not required a gr

se days; such fighting and sailing and discovering new places; such

ese people long ago did not have all the nice th

to sing their history-much

ove, but she adored her brother, and what he said she acc

s now. Everything so tame and commonplace: mail-day once a week, sermon every Sunday, custom-house officers about, chimney-pot hats and tea! Bah!" Yaspa

he custom-house people and the revenue cutter are horrid-though the cutter is very pretty, and the officers look rather nice in uniform. But it is very nice to g

dy little craft, and that a kirk and Sunday service were advantages of no ordinary kind. "But," having admitted so much, he said, "why couldn't we have all that, and still be

sons of the Norsemen, and prove it by the way they are always sending out more and more ships, and bringing home more and more riches. As for the fighting-oh dear! There was Wate

y the lad clapping his hands together and shouting, "Hurrah! I've got an idea! a splendid idea! The very thing!" He s

ea!" said the worshipping little sister, gazing her admirat

to her homage-if the truth be

ome along, for I must set my idea to work at

he old form of the word, which signified the dearest relationship she knew. They were orphans, and "brother" w

u want to

s so funny; I want to see when he will be

e. The affectionate bird, though allowed such licence, never failed to return to Boden

ack. There were shoals of small cod-fish in the voe, and Loki had no difficulty in filling his most capacious maw. His mode of fishing was c

, rising lightly on the waves, Yaspard said, "Yes, it's the Laulie. What splendid sea-boys those lads of Lunda are! They are always off somewhere; always having some

for chums. I can't see why our grandfathers' quarrels and Uncle Brüs's grumpiness shou

y feud work into my idea, sure as can be! There, Signy; there g

e sea until it was possible for him to rise in steady flight. Then he

his arms; and as he swung a

his win

e fierce

some roc

is pre

d the op

to sea

the wild

the m

ter down. "There," he exclaimed; "there i

your idea

haped at all yet, but by-and-by you shall hear all about it, and help wit

n me, that is true-though you sometimes let things out by mistake. But you are a trump all the same, Signy; you are; and as good as a boy. I s

rfectly happy while they walked on, an

d if I do not take you with me. I want to have a long talk with the Harrison boys. B

igny. She was always "there" whe

small boat was lying ready for use. Their home was not many yards from the beach, and wa

off, and was soon speeding across the mile of water, whic

ood longer, but out of the house bounced a big dog,

er. For answer Pirate caught her skirt gently in his mouth, and indicated as plainly a

gny went with

," deep-s

tie," li

st," boa