Adventure Magazine Cover — page 33: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Prisoners of War + 31 “He said I should look to him for friend- ship.” { “So!” said Tros. “Sit down then, Skell, and eat with-us. I would like to hear more about friendship. Ho there, Conops! Come and eat, and bring the Northmen. Bid those Britons lay off pumping for an hour, ‘unless the water makes too fast. Give them bread and dry meat.” The giant Sigurdsen refused food, al- though Helma tried to tempt him, but the other Northmen came and sprawled on deck, crowding the women away from the dish. ‘Tros sent Conops for another plate and heaped food on it for Sigurdsen’s wife and the widow, but he made Helma sit be- side him, whereat Skell laughed. — “She will not eat with the men,” he ex- plained. “She will obey!” Tros retorted, and then listened curiously while the Northmen sang _@ grace of some kind, a melancholy chant that had the dirge of seas in it and some- thing of the roll of thunder. When they had done he added a sunlit, wine-suggestive verse in Greek, being ever respectful of other men’s religions. For a while they ate enormously, using their fingers, Tros stuffing food into Helma’s mouth until she laughed and had to yield, with her face all smeared with gravy. But the laughter brought tears to her eyes, and she only kept on eating because Tros in- sisted; shame at being made to eat with men was swallowed by a greater grief, and Tros began to pity her in his own bull- hearted way. ~ Your brother Sigurdsen has made choice and cast in his lot with me. These other Northmen have no choice, but are my men henceforth. Now you shall choose,” he told her. “There is Skell, and here am I. Whose fortune will you follow? I will give you to Skell if you wish. Her scorn for Skell was so intense she almost spat at him. ~ That half-breed!” she sneered. ‘‘You may bestow me where you will, Tros, for that is your right. But I will not die, I will live to see you writhe in ruin if you treat me as less than a king’s daughter! I have heard you are a prince’s son, so I submit to you, although I hate you. If I should have to bear your children, they shall be a shame to me but a pride to you.” Tros Taid his huge hand on her shoulder. “Peace!” he ordered. Talk of that kind was as foreign to him as the Northmen’s language that contained ‘no word he understood. He was more per- plexed about the girl than ever, utterly un- able to imagine what to do with her. Ab- ruptly, gruffly, he changed the subject. “Tell us this plan of yours, Skell. How would she and you make use of me? What is your friendship worth to her?” Skell tried to grin ingratiatingly. Since he had eaten Tros’ food he had no fear of violence; the laws of hospitality were rigid; it was greater sin to break them than to steal or to seduce a neighbor’s wife, and un- less Tros were willing to incur contempt of the meanest slave in Britain he would have to let Skell get clear away before resuming enmity. “Cesar might love her!’ Skell answered slyly. “Cesar likes them young and well- bred. Why not send her to Cesar to love him a while and make your peace with hime” “Who is Cesar?” asked Helma, cheeks reddening. “He will be emperor of all the world, un- less I succeed against him better than the last two times!” Tros answered. “Ceesar and I are as fire and water, but as to which is which you must judge for yourself! 1 hate him as you hate me, young woman, Do you understand that?” She actually laughed. Her whole face lighted with a new humor that trans- formed it. , “Cesar might like you if you would let him,” she answered, and then looked away. “What else?” asked Tros, staring straight at Skell. “Did I not speak of one of Ceesar’s light o loves?” Skell answered. “The woman crossed from Gaul with me, in a boat that lost its mast almost within hail of your bireme. ‘Take my advice and be rid of this one before that one casts her hook into your heart! Put this one to a wise use!” “The woman’s name?” asked Tros, “She was named Cartisfindda, but the Romans changed it to Cornelia. She carried Ceesar’s message to Glendwyr the Briton. Glendwyr plots against Caswallon, is ready to pounce at the first chance. You under- stand now? Cesar can use you or ruin you! You and I and a handful of Northmen to help Glendwyr—man! We can help our- selves to the loot of Lunden Town! Fora beginning I say, send this girl to Cesar with your compliments.” Eomicbooks.com