With the marauders.

Wild was the life we led;
Many the souls that sped,
Many the hearts that bled,
By our stern orders.

66

Many a wassail bout1
Wore the long winter out;
Often our midnight shout
Set the cocks crowing,
As we the Berserk's 2 tale
Measured in cups of ale,
Draining the oaken pail,
Filled to o'erflowing.

"Once as I told in glee
Tales of the stormy sea,

Soft eyes did gaze on me,
Burning yet tender;

And as the white stars shine,
On the dark Norway pine,
On that dark heart of mine
Fell their soft splendor.

"I wooed the blue-eyed maid,
Yielding, yet half afraid,
And in the forest's shade

Our vows were plighted.
Under its loosened vest

Fluttered her little breast,

1 Wassail bout: A drinking bout, a carousal.

2 Berserk: In Norse legend a warrior who fought with frenzied fury.

"Scarce had I put to sea,

Bearing the maid with me,
Fairest of all was she

Among the Norsemen !

When on the white sea strand,
Waving his arméd hand,
Saw we old Hildebrand,

With twenty horsemen.

"Then launched they to the blast,
Bent like a reed each mast,
Yet we were gaining fast,
When the wind failed us;

And with a sudden flaw
Came round the gusty Skaw,1
So that our foe we saw
Laughed as he hailed us.

"And as to catch the gale. Round veered the flapping sail,

Death! 'Twas the helmsman's hail,

Death without quarter!

Midships with iron keel

Struck we her ribs of steel;
Down her black hulk did reel
Through the black water!

"As with his wings aslant Sails the fierce cormorant 2

1 Skaw: A cape, or promontory.
2 Cormorant: A greedy voracious bird.

Seeking some rocky haunt,

With his prey laden,
So toward the open main,
Beating to sea again,

Through the wild hurricane,

Bore I the maiden.

"Three weeks we westward bore,
And when the storm was o'er
Cloudlike we saw the shore
Stretching to leeward;
There for my lady's bower
Built I the lofty tower,
Which to this very hour
Stands looking seaward.

"There lived we many years; Time dried the maiden's tears;

She had forgot her fears,

She was a mother;

Death closed her mild blue eyes,

Under that tower she lies;

Ne'er shall the sun arise

On such another!

"Still grew my bosom then,
Still as a stagnant fen!
Hateful to me were men,
The sunlight hateful!

In the vast forest here
Clad in my warlike gear,

CH. LIT. V. - 2

Fell I upon my spear,

Oh, death was grateful!

"Thus seamed with many scars,

Bursting these prison bars,
Up to its native stars

My soul ascended!

There from the flowing bowl

Deep drinks the warrior's soul,

Skoal! To the Northland skoal!" 1

Thus the tale ended.

1 Skoal: A Scandinavian salutation when drinking a health.

THE LANDING OF COLUMBUS

WILLIAM ROBERTSON

S soon as the sun rose, all their boats were manned

AS

and armed. They rowed toward the island with their colors displayed, with warlike music, and other martial

THE SANTA MARIA

pomp. As they approached the coast, they saw it covered with a multitude of people, whose attitudes and gestures expressed wonder and astonishment at the strange objects which presented themselves. to their view. Columbus was the first European who set foot in the New World which he had discovered.

He landed in a rich dress, and with naked sword in his hand. His men followed, and kneeling down,