Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 12, 1927 — page 131: what you’re looking at

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

CONRAD THE SAXON, ‘“ All our enemies are villains,” remarked Conrad, with a smile, “ and the successful general or emperor treats his with cor- responding cruelty and rigor. If your Alfred had put Guthrum to death long ago, he might not now be hiding in this forest; but he made generous treaties and welcomed Guthrum as a friend and ally, so Guthrum hankers for his blood and will not rest con- tent while Alfred lives. “Oh, do not doubt my admiration for your king, Herwin!” he added earnestly: “T see beatification and sainthood for him among all Christian folk, but while he lives on this unworthy earth there can be nothing for him but confusion and defeat. His nearest friends, I think, would best show their love for him by dissuading him from these vain enterprises against an over- whelming and unconquerable foe. - “ Saxons and Danes are killed by thou- sands: the Saxons are few, and grow steadily less; but the Danes are like the tides of ocean, ever sweeping in upon the crumbling sands and washing them away. This chieftain Hubba came with thirty ships and a powerful army. “ Hubba is slain, and a remnant of his army flees away in the ships, but ten more chiefs will come from out of the north, with ten times thirty ships, and when all of Alfred’s Saxons are mingled with the dust of Britain the Danes will still come on, till Britain is Denmark and the sea rovers turn their greedy eyes upon the continent of Europe and commence its conquest.” “Vou come from a dying world, Con- rad,” said Herwin bitterly, “ and you see no hope of life in anything.” The young Saxon was moody and de- pressed, and Conrad almost regretted that he had so shaken him. Alfred came again to them, glowing with zeal and full of plans for the new cam- paigns in defense of his exhausted people. ‘“ Ride now, if you will, brave Herwin,” he said, “and tell all our ealdormen and thanes to rouse their men and join me here. Ride through Wessex from west to east, and along the borders, and tell our vassals and ~ comrades how bright is our hope. “T had a dream,” he added in a lower tone, while his face grew solemn. “St. 605 Cuthbert stood before me, and told me that he had tried me by certain tests and found me acceptable. He said that the day of Britain was dawning in the east, and he would stand beside me when I led forth my men to rout the unbelievers. Is not this miraculous victory of Odda a portent? The dawn is breaking, and we must rise with the sun. Whisper these things to our peo- ple as you ride among them, and say that I am arming and waiting for them.” “Herwin is but one,” said Conrad, with a twinge of jealousy. “ Will your majes- ty not want others to ride with the mes- sage?”’ Alfred smiled happily and gave the young man a friendly glance. “You have a kind heart, Conrad,” he said, “and some good Saxon blood, but your heart is not Saxon. Believe me, I would have you do whatever your con- science commands. If I have read you aright, you are only a sojourner among us, and your mission here is to guard the Lady Edith from all danger until you go away and take her with you. That is your right, and I would not gainsay it—for I believe you honorable and true to your own lights.” a “You will take Edith with you, Con- rad?” exclaimed Herwin—not with hos- tility, but with an air of challenge. ‘‘ Where will you take her, and what will you take her to? You have said that you were forced to flee from your home and your emperor. We understand that your estates in the east are forfeited and your future there hangs upon the hazard of fortune. Would Edith have other friends in that strange country, or would her safety and happiness depend on you alone? “Our Britain is a howling wilderness— if you will—but Britain is Edith’s home, and her friends are here. I am your friend, Conrad, but for Edith’s sake I would not hesitate to call myself your foe if that would save her from going to a land of nameless perils, where Christians sing the Master’s praise and disobey His laws.” “ Nay, I fear you are unjust to Conrad,” Alfred objected. ‘‘I believe him true, and if he takes Edith from us he will be.sure of her happiness, knowing what he does. DOOKS COMEGE (E@)