Download the Full Version of the Ebook with Added Features ebookname.

com

Oracle Database Programming using Java and Web

Services 1st Edition Kuassi Mensah

https://ebookname.com/product/oracle-database-programming-
using-java-and-web-services-1st-edition-kuassi-mensah/

OR CLICK HERE

DOWLOAD NOW

Download more ebook instantly today at https://ebookname.com

Instant digital products (PDF, ePub, MOBI) available
Download now and explore formats that suit you...

Expert Oracle Database Architecture Oracle Database 9i 10g

and 11g Programming Techniques and Solutions 2nd Edition
Thomas Kyte
https://ebookname.com/product/expert-oracle-database-architecture-
oracle-database-9i-10g-and-11g-programming-techniques-and-
solutions-2nd-edition-thomas-kyte/
ebookname.com

Java Database Programming Bible 1st Edition John O'Donahue

https://ebookname.com/product/java-database-programming-bible-1st-
edition-john-odonahue/

ebookname.com

Practical Database Programming with Java 1st Edition Ying

Bai

https://ebookname.com/product/practical-database-programming-with-
java-1st-edition-ying-bai/

ebookname.com

Feminist Animal and Multispecies Studies Critical

Perspectives on Food and Eating 1st Edition Kadri Aavik

https://ebookname.com/product/feminist-animal-and-multispecies-
studies-critical-perspectives-on-food-and-eating-1st-edition-kadri-
aavik/
ebookname.com
Syria s Kurds Tejel

https://ebookname.com/product/syria-s-kurds-tejel/

ebookname.com

Geropsychological Interventions in Long Term Care 1st

Edition Lee Hyer

https://ebookname.com/product/geropsychological-interventions-in-long-
term-care-1st-edition-lee-hyer/

ebookname.com

Evidence Based Pediatric Infectious Diseases 1st Edition

David Isaacs

https://ebookname.com/product/evidence-based-pediatric-infectious-
diseases-1st-edition-david-isaacs/

ebookname.com

Eating the Other Translations of the Culinary Code 1st

Edition Simona Stano

https://ebookname.com/product/eating-the-other-translations-of-the-
culinary-code-1st-edition-simona-stano/

ebookname.com

Handbook of Chemoinformatics Algorithms 1st Edition Jean-

Loup Faulon

https://ebookname.com/product/handbook-of-chemoinformatics-
algorithms-1st-edition-jean-loup-faulon/

ebookname.com
Cardiac Mapping 2nd Edition Mohammad Shenasa

https://ebookname.com/product/cardiac-mapping-2nd-edition-mohammad-
shenasa/

ebookname.com
 Oracle Database
Programming Using
Java and Web Services
 Oracle Database Related Book Titles:

Oracle 9iR2 Data Warehousing, Hobbs, et al,

ISBN: 1-55558-287-7, 2004

Oracle 10g Data Warehousing, Hobbs, et al,

ISBN 1-55558-322-9, 2004

Oracle High Performance Tuning for 9i and 10g, Gavin Powell,

ISBN: 1-55558-305-9, 2004

Oracle SQL Jumpstart with Examples, Gavin Powell,

ISBN: 1-55558-323-7, 2005

Implementing Database Security and Auditing, Ben Natan,

ISBN 1-55558-334-2, 2005

Oracle Real Applications Clusters, Murali Vallath,

ISBN: 1-55558-288-5, 2004

Oracle 10g RAC Grid, Services & Clustering, Murali Vallath,

ISBN 1-55558-321-0, 2006

For more information or to order these and other Digital Press

titles, please visit our website at www.books.elsevier.com/digitalpress!
At www.books.elsevier.com/digitalpress you can:
•Join the Digital Press Email Service and have news about
our books delivered right to your desktop
•Read the latest news on titles
•Sample chapters on featured titles for free
•Question our expert authors and editors
•Download free software to accompany select texts
 Oracle Database
Programming Using
Java and Web Services

Kuassi Mensah

AMSTERDAM • BOSTON • HEIDELBERG • LONDON

NEW YORK • OXFORD • PARIS • SAN DIEGO
SAN FRANCISCO • SINGAPORE • SYDNEY • TOKYO
Elsevier Digital Press
30 Corporate Drive, Suite 400, Burlington, MA 01803, USA
Linacre House, Jordan Hill, Oxford OX2 8DP, UK

Copyright © 2006. Elsevier, Inc.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Permissions may be sought directly from Elsevier’s Science & Technology Rights
Department in Oxford, UK: phone: (+44) 1865 843830, fax: (+44) 1865 853333,
e-mail: [email protected]. You may also complete your request on-line
via the Elsevier homepage (http://elsevier.com), by selecting “Customer Support”
and then “Obtaining Permissions.”

Recognizing the importance of preserving what has been written, Elsevier prints its
books on acid-free paper whenever possible.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Application Submitted.

ISBN 13: 978 1-55558-329-3

ISBN 10: 1-55558-329-6

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

For information on all Elsevier Digital Press publications

visit our Web site at www.books.elsevier.com

06 07 08 09 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Printed in the United States of America

 To the memory of my mother and my father.

To my loving wife, Gabrielle, and my wonderful sons, Gareth and Kenneth.

This Page Intentionally Left Blank
Contents

Foreword xix

Preface xxi

Introduction xxv
Server-Side Database Programming
(Stored Procedures) xxvi
Database Programming Using JDBC, SQLJ,
and JPublisher xxviii
Database Programming with Web Services xxix
Putting Everything Together: The “All-You-Can-Eat Buffet” xxx

Acknowledgments xxxi

Part I: Java in the Database 1

1 Stored Procedures as Database Programming Model 3

1.1 Rationale for Stored Procedures 3
1.1.1 Simplifying Database Programming 3
1.1.2 Centrally Managed Data Logic 4
1.1.3 Performance: Run JDBC Applications Faster in
the Database 4
1.1.4 Encapsulation 10
1.1.5 Security: Advanced Data Access Control 10
1.1.6 Resource Optimization 11
1.1.7 Low-Cost Deployment 11
1.1.8 Fully Utilize Database Capabilities 11
1.2 Obstacles to the Adoption of Stored Procedures 11

vii
viii Contents

1.2.1 Lack of Portability across RDBMS Vendors 12

1.2.2 Scalability 12
1.2.3 Maintenance and Resilience to Schema Change 12
1.2.4 Hard to Debug 13
1.2.5 Weak Support for Complex Types 13
1.3 Languages for Stored Procedures 13
1.3.1 Proprietary Languages 13
1.3.2 Java for Stored Procedures 14
1.3.3 .NET Languages 18
1.4 PL/SQL or Java 19
1.4.1 PL/SQL and Java! 21

2 OracleJVM: Under the Hood 23

2.1 Design Goals and Architecture 23
2.1.1 Tight Integration with the RDBMS 24
2.1.2 J2SE Compatibility 24
2.1.3 How Is Java Stored in the Database? 25
2.1.4 Class Sharing 30
2.1.5 Interapplication Isolation (JSR 121) 32
2.1.6 Contrasting OracleJVM with the JDK VM 32
2.1.7 Resource Control 36
2.1.8 SQL Data Access from Java in the Database 37
2.1.9 DBMS_JAVA: The All-Purpose Tool for Administering
OracleJVM 39
2.2 Java Memory Management 41
2.2.1 Key Memory Structures of the Oracle Database 42
2.2.2 Java Memory Allocation Techniques 43
2.2.3 Garbage Collection Techniques 44
2.2.4 Java Memory Areas 46
2.2.5 Shared Servers versus Dedicated Processes 49
2.2.6 The Javapool 52
2.2.7 Top-Level Calls and Recursive Calls 53
2.2.8 State Preservation across Calls and End-of-Call Migration 54
2.2.9 End-of-Call,VM Termination, and Session Termination 58
2.3 Security in OracleJVM 60
2.3.1 User Authentication 60
2.3.2 Database-Schema Security 61
2.3.3 Resolver Specification and Class-Resolution Security 62
2.3.4 Login-User and Effective-User Security 64
2.3.5 Java 2 Security 66
2.3.6 Java 2 Security in OracleJVM 68
Contents ix

2.3.7 OracleJVM Security Best Practices 79

2.3.8 JNI Calls 80
2.4 Java VM Life Cycle 80
2.4.1 OracleJVM Install, Uninstall, and Reinstall 80
2.4.2 Java VM Initialization and Termination 81
2.5 Java Execution in the Database 81
2.5.1 The OracleJVM Interpreter 82
2.6 The Native Java Compiler (NCOMP) 84
2.6.1 What Is NCOMP? 84
2.6.2 Requirements and Design Choices 85
2.6.3 The NCOMP Process 88
2.6.4 The NCOMP Command 88
2.6.5 The STATUSNC Command 92
2.6.6 Dumping Java Classes with NCOMP 96
2.6.7 NCOMP Configuration and Planning 96
2.6.8 NCOMP Performance Tips, Improper Use,
and Troubleshooting 100
2.7 Conclusion 103

3 Developing and Running Java in

the Database 105
3.1 Developing Java in the Database 105
3.1.1 Turning JDBC Applications into Java Stored Procedures 105
3.1.2 Creating or Loading Java in the Database 106
3.1.3 Removing Java Sources, Classes, and Resources from
the Database 119
3.1.4 Setting/Querying Environment Variable and
System Properties 120
3.1.5 The Java Compiler within the Database 124
3.2 Turning Java in the Database into Stored Procedures 126
3.2.1 Call Spec Types 127
3.3 Mapping SQL and PL/SQL Types to/from Java Types 135
3.3.1 Mapping Matrix 135
3.3.2 Code Segments for Mapping 140
3.4 Invoking Java in the Database 207
3.4.1 Setup 207
3.4.2 Invoking Java in the Database Using OJVMJAVA 212
3.4.3 Invoking Java in the Database through the
PL/SQL Wrapper 214
3.4.4 Invoking Java in the Database through Client-side Stub 216
3.4.5 Errors and Exceptions Handling 221

Contents
x Contents

3.5 Managing Java in the Database 227

3.5.1 Java Audit 227
3.5.2 Oracle Enterprise Manager (Database Control) Support
for Java in the Database 228

4 Pragmatic Applications Using Java in

the Database 231
4.1 CNXO: Secure Credit Card Processing with Oracle and JSSE 231
4.2 Using J2EE and Java in the Database Together 239
4.2.1 Auto-generating Primary Keys for BMP Entity Beans 239
4.2.2 Calling-out EJB from OracleJVM 241
4.2.3 HTTP Call-Out: The Poor Man’s Cache Invalidation 249
4.2.4 JMS over Streams/AQ in the Database 253
4.3 JDBC Call-Out to Non-Oracle Databases 260
4.3.1 Description and Rationales 260
4.3.2 How Does It Work? 260
4.4 SAP Java Connector: Accessing the SAP System from the
Oracle Database 268
4.5 Excel-like Expression Parser in the Database 277
4.5.1 Rationales for Custom Parsers in the Database 277
4.5.2 What Is the Mini-Parser? 278
4.5.3 Implementing the Mini-Parser 279

5 Database Scripting Using Non-Java Languages 287

5.1 Why Contemplate Non-Java Languages for the Database? 287
5.1.1 Common Language Runtime in RDBMS 288
5.1.2 Scripting Languages Support in RDBMS 288
5.2 Database Scripting with OracleJVM—Just for Fun! 288
5.2.1 Proof of Concept #1: Running TCL (JACL) Scripts in
the Database 289
5.2.2 Proof of Concept #2: Running Jython (Python) in
the Database 297
5.2.3 Proof of Concept #3: Running Kawa (Scheme) in
the Database 299
5.2.4 Proof of Concept #4: Running Groovy in the Database 302

Part II: Java Persistence and Java SQL Data Access 317
Database Programming with Oracle JDBC 318
Contents xi

6 Introducing the JDBC Technology and

Oracle’s Implementation 319
6.1 JDBC Primer 319
6.1.1 First Steps in JDBC 319
6.1.2 JDBC within J2SE and J2EE Environments 324
6.2 Overview of JDBC Specifications 325
6.2.1 Overview of JDBC 1.22 Specification
(Where Things Started!) 325
6.2.2 Overview of JDBC 2.0 Specification
(A Major Spec!) 326
6.2.3 Overview of JDBC 3.0 Specification 328
6.2.4 Overview of Upcoming JDBC 4.0 Specification 330
6.2.5 JDBC Standards Support in the Oracle JDBC Drivers 331
6.3 Architecture and Packaging of Oracle JDBC Drivers 334
6.3.1 Rearchitected Oracle JDBC Drivers 334
6.3.2 Packaging of Oracle JDBC Drivers 336
6.3.3 Features Differences Between Driver Types 340
6.3.4 JDBC Drivers and Database Interoperability 343

7 URL, DataSource, Connection, and Statements 345

7.1 JDBC URL 345
7.2 DataSources 348
7.2.1 The OracleDataSource 349
7.2.2 DataSources and JNDI 351
7.3 Connections and Connection Services 357
7.3.1 JDBC Connections and Oracle Extensions 357
7.3.2 Connection Caching: Implicit Connection Cache 358
7.3.3 The Connection Cache Manager 383
7.3.4 RAC Events and Fast Application Notification 391
7.3.5 High Availability: Fast Connection Failover 400
7.3.6 Scalability: Connection Load Balancing 406
7.3.7 JDBC Support for Transparent Application Fail-over 409
7.3.8 Proxy Authentication 415
7.3.9 Connection Wrapping 422
7.3.10 JDBC Connections in Grid Environment 424
7.4 JDBC Statements and Oracle Extensions 427
7.4.1 JDBC Statement Types 427
7.4.2 Statement 428
7.4.3 PreparedStatement 432
7.4.4 CallableStatement (Calling Stored Procedures) 444

Contents
xii Contents

7.4.5 Retrieval of Auto-Generated Keys and DML

with Returning 454
7.4.6 Statement Caching 457
7.4.7 DML Batching 466

8 SQL Data Access and Manipulation 471

8.1 Key Metadata in JDBC 471
8.1.1 DatabaseMetaData: OracleDatabaseMetaData 471
8.1.2 ResultSetMetaData: OracleResultSetMetaData 473
8.1.3 ParameterMetaData 476
8.1.4 StructMetaData 478
8.2 Manipulating Oracle Data Types with JDBC 479
8.2.1 Manipulating SQL Null Data 488
8.2.2 Manipulating Character Data Types 489
8.2.3 Oracle JDBC Support for Number Data Types 492
8.2.4 JDBC Support for Long and Raw Data Types 496
8.2.5 JDBC Support for SQL Datetime Data Types 500
8.2.6 JDBC Support for LOB Datatypes 505
8.2.7 JDBC Support for ROWID 517
8.2.8 JDBC Support for OPAQUE Type 518
8.2.9 JDBC Support for XMLType 518
8.2.10 JDBC Support for SQL Object Types and
References Types 522
8.2.11 JDBC Support for User-Defined Collections 539
8.2.12 JDBC Support for Spatial Types 553
8.2.13 Unsupported Types 553
8.3 Result Set Support in Oracle JDBC 554
8.3.1 The Result Set API in a Nutshell 554
8.3.2 The Oracle Result Set Interface 558
8.3.3 Oracle JDBC Support for Scrollable Result Sets 559
8.3.4 Oracle JDBC Support for Updatable Result Sets 565
8.3.5 Prefetching and Auto Refresh 573
8.3.6 Changes Detection and Visibility 575
8.4 RowSet 577
8.4.1 Introducing the RowSet API 577
8.4.2 JDBCRowSet and OracleJDBCRowSet 579
8.4.3 CachedRowSet and OracleCachedRowSet 581
8.4.4 WebRowSet and OracleWebRowSet 587
8.4.5 FilteredRowSet and OracleFilteredRowSet 610
8.4.6 JoinRowSet and OracleJoinRowSet 617
8.5 Conclusion 623
Contents xiii

9 JDBC Quality of Services and

Best Practices 625
9.1 Transaction Services 625
9.1.1 Transactions 625
9.1.2 AutoCommit 625
9.1.3 Transaction Isolation Levels 626
9.1.4 Transaction SavePoint Support 627
9.1.5 Global/Distributed Transaction 632
9.1.6 Connection Sharing between Local and
Global Transactions 640
9.2 Security Services 642
9.2.1 Oracle JDBC Support for SSL 642
9.3 Tips and Best Practices 657
9.3.1 End-to-End Tracing 658
9.3.2 Common Errors 662
9.3.3 Optimizing Result Set Retrieval 662
9.3.4 Logging Service 663
9.4 Conclusion 666

Part III: Oracle Database Programming with SQLJ 667

10 Introducing the SQLJ Technology and

Oracle’s Implementation 669
10.1 Overview 669
10.1.1 What Is SQLJ? 669
10.1.2 Why SQLJ? 671
10.1.3 The Oracle SQLJ Translator 676
10.1.4 The Oracle SQLJ Runtime 689
10.1.5 Environment Setup 690
10.1.6 SQLJ Primer 692
10.2 SQLJ in the Database 693

11 The SQLJ Language and Oracle Extensions 701

11.1 Declaration Statements 701
11.1.1 Import Statements 701
11.1.2 Connection Contexts 701
11.1.3 Execution Contexts 712
11.1.4 Iterators 717
11.1.5 IMPLEMENTS Clause in Context Declarations 726

Contents
xiv Contents

11.1.6 WITH Clause in Context Declarations 728

11.2 Executable Statements 730
11.2.1 Statement Clauses 731
11.2.2 Assignment Clauses 737
11.2.3 Dynamic SQL 740
11.3 Expressions in SQLJ 744
11.3.1 Context and Result Expressions 746
11.3.2 Expressions Evaluation 748
11.4 Interoperability: Using SQLJ and JDBC Together 748
11.4.1 JDBC to SQLJ Interoperability 748
11.4.2 SQLJ to JDBC Interoperability 751
11.5 Conclusion 753

12 SQLJ Data Access and Best Practices 755

12.1 Manipulating Oracle SQL and PL/SQL Data Types with SQLJ 755
12.1.1 Oracle SQLJ Type-Mapping Summary 755
12.1.2 Column Definitions 759
12.1.3 Manipulating SQL Null Data with SQLJ 760
12.1.4 Manipulating Character Data Types with SQLJ 762
12.1.5 Oracle SQLJ Support for Number Data Types 764
12.1.6 SQLJ Streams, LONG, and RAW Data Types 765
12.1.7 SQLJ Support for SQL Datetime Data Types 772
12.1.8 SQLJ Support for SQL LOB Data Types 774
12.1.9 SQLJ Support for Oracle SQL ROWID 780
12.1.10 SQLJ Support for OPAQUE Types 782
12.1.11 SQLJ Support for SQL Object Types and SQL
References Types 783
12.1.12 Serialized Java Objects 796
12.1.13 SQLJ Support for User-Defined SQL Collections 807
12.1.14 PL/SQL Associative Array 809
12.1.15 Unsupported Types 809
12.2 SQLJ Best Practices 811
12.2.1 Row Prefetch 811
12.2.2 Statement Caching 811
12.2.3 Update Batching 812
12.3 Conclusion 813
Other documents randomly have
different content
 "It sounds easy," laughed Sigurd, "and that is what I would do if I were
alone. But with you and Sigrid on board I don't like to take unnecessary
risks."

Sigrid laughed as Alfred, in the throes of seasickness, seized his cloak

and left the cabin. "Don't mind us, Jarl; head for Ireland by all means!"

"Well," responded Sigurd, "we'll see how things look in the morning. I'm
going to turn in now and get some sleep."

CHAPTER XIV.

IN BRETLAND.

The morning broke dark and gloomy, with no land in sight. Sigurd,
concluding that they had been driven below the Thames, if not below the
end of England, ordered the helmsman to steer due west, and while he was
unable to communicate with the "Snake," he saw Biorn follow his example
at once, and knew that he understood.

The gale had now lessened to a steady wind from the northeast,
interspersed with flurries of snow, and both ships drove steadily along
under half-canvas.

For two days they held this course, and then Sigurd held a shouted
conference with Biorn. It seemed evident that they had been carried south
of England, so the prows were turned north, and the next morning land
appeared. Alfred had found his sea-legs by this time, while Sigrid was
rapidly gaining strength and color from the salt sea-air, which drove the
marsh fever out of her. She was a very pretty girl, indeed, with her blue
eyes and long flaxen hair, and she and Astrid were firm friends from the
start.
 Wulf, who was now more a friend than a captive, was a great favorite
with all on board, even with Alfred's Saxons. On the morning that land was
sighted, he drew Sigurd aside.

"Jarl, we must have fresh water at once. Three of the casks were
loosened by the storm and have run out; there is only a cask or two of ale
left."

Sigurd made a wry face. "Well, that will keep us from thirst, and the men
like it well enough, though I have little taste for it; but perhaps we can get
water from some river along the coast here, or from the 'Snake.'"

Wulf disagreed. "All Ethelred's Jarls and Thanes will be looking for us,
you may be sure, and as soon as we are sighted the housecarls will be
poured down wherever we land."

Sigurd thought it over, and finally signaled the "Snake." Biorn drew
alongside, but when Sigurd mentioned the shortness of water, the old viking
gave a cry of dismay.

"Why, we thought to get some from you! Never mind, we are drawing
into the coast, and I will make a landing and find out where we are. We
cannot be very far from South Wales, and once there it will be plain sailing,
for the people there are of my own race, and I have not forgotten the
language of the Cymry."

So they steered toward the shore, which was high and rocky. After
coasting along for two or three hours, a large bay was revealed, half frozen
over, with a hamlet nestling on the cliffs above.

"They are fishing folk, most like," said Alfred, "but there is no sign of a
river hereabouts. We may have to melt up some of that ice!"

Biorn's ship now drew carefully in, and broke through the thin outer
edge of ice. When the "Snake" would go no farther, Biorn leaped out after
testing the ice with oars, and a dozen men followed him to the shore. They
found the hamlet in great consternation, dreading the forays of the pirates,
but Biorn soon appeased their fears, buying a goodly quantity of fish from
them, and returned to the ships.

The "Snake" drew alongside the "Crane." "No fresh water, Jarl,"
reported Biorn. "Everything is frozen fast, and these people melt ice for
their needs. They say there is a river half a mile inland, but we dare not risk
it."

"I would advise that if possible we bear around South Wales and reach
up for the Northern Kingdom. It will only be a day's difference, and we
won't find much help among the people on this coast. We might take in
some ice-cakes, in case the ale gives out."

"How long does it take to reach North Wales?" asked Sigurd.

"We ought to get there to-morrow night, or the next day at latest," replied
Biorn, and Sigurd waved assent. The ships were rowed up to the ice and a
supply of this was taken on board each ship; then the sails were hoisted,
half the oars put out, and at full speed they passed along the coast, for
Sigurd was determined not to be caught in another tempest.

Next morning, however, the Land's End was reached, and the prows
turned north. By nightfall the land was in sight ahead, and early next
morning they drew close into shore.

"I know where we are," shouted Biorn to Sigurd. "Do you follow me,
Jarl, and we will speedily come to an open river, unless I am greatly
mistaken."

Before noon, indeed, a great shout of joy went up from the men, for
there before them was a bay, with an open river flowing down. True, the
channel was narrow and dangerous for ships, for the ice nearly met on
either side; but the "Crane" followed the "Snake" closely, and they entered
the channel. Half a mile from the mouth this widened out and turned
suddenly; as the "Snake" reached the bend Sigurd heard Biorn's war-horn,
and saw his men arming themselves in haste.
 "To arms, men!" he shouted, "and be ready for whatever may befall!"
Alfred quickly donned his armor and stood by Sigurd in the prow. As they
in turn came around the bend, they saw the reason for Biorn's preparations;
there before them lay two large ships, moored for the winter on shore, with
a camp close by. From their appearance they were Danes, and high above,
on a neighboring knoll, could be seen the roofs of a town of goodly size.

As the "Crane" came alongside the "Snake," Sigurd saw that the vikings
on shore were also arming and assembling around their two ships.

"This is the town of Neath, Jarl," cried Biorn, as he leaped on board the
"Crane," "and it was here that I was born. What ships these are I know not;
shall we draw in and hail them?"

"That would be best," replied Sigurd. "Doubtless they are some vikings
who are wintering here, but it is strange, indeed, that they are allowed to
remain so near a town, unless they came on a peaceful errand."

Sigurd ordered the men to row as close to shore as they could. The ship
stopped two or three hundred yards from it, for it was impossible to break
through the ice, and Sigurd blew a loud blast on a peace-horn. In answer
came one from the camp, and a dozen men left the two ships and started
over the ice toward the "Crane."

As these came near, Astrid uttered a little cry and caught Sigurd's arm.
"Oh, Fairhair, look at that big man in front! That is Halfdan, the brother of
Queen Gunhild, and my own uncle!"

Sigurd looked closely at the man, remembered him well, for he had seen
him often while the Jornsborg men were at King Svein's court. Halfdan
stopped just beyond spear-cast of the "Crane."

"Who are you, and do you come in peace or war?" he called.

"Good-morning!" laughed Sigurd, "don't you know your friends, Jarl?"

The other started, looked keenly at the ship, and ran forward. "Surely, it
is Sigurd Fairhair!" he cried, as he came near. "And by the eye of Odin! Am
I dreaming or is this Astrid?"

"Astrid it is, uncle!" laughed the girl, jumping down on the ice and
throwing her arms around his neck. The Jarl struggled to disengage himself,
and cried in mock dismay:

"Help; help, are you trying to make me captive? Let loose! Respect my
dignity!"

Sigurd followed Astrid to the ice, and clasped Halfdan's hand. "Be
careful, uncle," laughed Astrid, "Sigurd is your equal in dignity now!"

Sigurd nodded at the surprised look of the Dane. "Yes, I am one of Olaf
Tryggveson's men now, Jarl, and he made me a Jarl lately, although I am
altogether too young for such an honor."

"Nonsense, nonsense!" replied Halfdan, his merry eyes gleaming with

happiness, "you are the handsomest Jarl I ever saw in my life, upon my
word! But come up to the camp."

"Wait," said Sigurd, turning to his ships. "Alfred, do you and Sigrid join
us. Wulf, you and Biorn take charge of the ships and lay them up on shore,
there beside the others. We are with friends."

As Alfred and Sigrid climbed down to the ice, the young Jarl presented
them to Halfdan, who greeted them heartily.

"I have heard of your father's misfortune," he exclaimed, "and I was

sorry, indeed, for I fought against him three or four years ago, and he was a
noble foeman. However, he is safe in Flanders now, and is like to return
before long."

"Why, what do you mean?" cried Alfred, in surprise.

"Come along to the camp and I'll tell you." Halfdan led the way to the
shore. "It's too cold to be standing out here talking."

As they entered the camp, the news spread that a party of Jomsvikings
were among the arrivals, and a loud blast went up from the horns, while the
Danes met them with shouts of joy, for the men of Jomsborg were prime
favorites with King Svein's men. Sigurd found several whom he knew,
while Astrid was met with fresh cheers. As they entered the large hut of
Halfdan, the Jarl drove the men off.

"Get out of here!" he cried. "Go down and help stow the ships up on land
beside ours. We have much to talk over here, and would be left in peace."

With a last cheer, the men vanished, and Halfdan closed the door.

"Here is food and water, friends, if you are hungry."

"We have plenty of food, but a drink of water would not be amiss,"
answered Sigurd. "And now, how come you here, in Wales?"

"First make yourselves comfortable." Halfdan piled furs along the wall,
for Astrid and Sigrid, while he and the two boys sat on the long wooden
bench. "Well, of course you remember the oath that Svein made that night?
He wasn't in such a hurry as you Jomsvikings were, but he has been making
big preparations. He sent me here right after the news of Hiorunga Bay
arrived, for he had counted on your men making a descent on Ethelred from
the west as well as from Northumbria, where he himself will land in the
spring or summer.

"I arrived here a month or two ago, and have arranged matters with
Idwal ap Meirig, the King of North Wales. What barbarous names these
Welsh people have!"

"Probably they think ours just as bad," laughed Sigrid, "for they hate
everything Saxon; and as for your Norse names, I am sure they used to
sound harsh, even to us!"

"Well, in any case, King Idwal is up in the town yonder, has agreed to
join us, and we see him nearly every day. Now, tell me something about
yourself, Sigurd."

It was late when Sigurd finished his tale, so Halfdan, who had given
orders meanwhile, showed the two girls to a hut that had been hastily fitted
up for them, and shared his own with the boys for the night.

CHAPTER XV.

IN WINTER QUARTERS.

Next morning Halfdan's men joined forces with the new arrivals, and got
the two ships up on the shore, dismantling and unloading them, while
parties of men hastened out to the surrounding woods, and returned with
great quantities of firewood and timber, with which fresh huts were built.

This was finished by evening, for Halfdan had a hundred and fifty men,
and many hands made light labor. For several days the Norsemen rested
quietly, for they had many wounded, and some of the Saxons were still
down with fever. Sigrid, however, was now almost well, and the jovial
roughness of Halfdan amused her and brought the roses back to her cheeks.

Sigurd and Alfred wished to visit the town above, and if possible to take
up their quarters there, but Halfdan discouraged them from doing so.

"King Idwal watches us sharp enough, for he has suspicions of every

Northman within a hundred miles. One cannot blame him, either; the
vikings have ravaged poor Bretland terribly, destroying monasteries and
towns, and burning and plundering. Your own man Biorn is a sample; he
was carried off in his youth.

"As for visiting the town, it is not worth while. There is nothing there
save a great castle and a cluster of dirty little houses, and in any case Idwal
has forbidden our men to enter the town. Once a week the country folk
come down here with their market stuff, and Idwal sends us ale by the cask.
Never fear, he will be down pretty soon to see for himself who these new
vikings are."
 For two weeks they remained in camp, seeing nothing of the Welsh king,
but all were greatly interested in the people, who brought fresh meat and
food into camp once a week. Indeed, the vikings' camp at these times
assumed the appearance of a fair, for most of the men made small objects
which the country people took in exchange, and many merchants set up
permanent booths inside the camp. The Welsh people were smaller by far
than the Norsemen or Danes, and their bright, quick eyes and black straight
hair contrasted strangely with the Northmen and Saxons, most of whom
were fair.

Sigurd and Alfred had at first feared that the Saxons and Danes,
hereditary enemies, would not mingle well; but their fears proved to be
unfounded. Halfdan discovered from the country people that in the forests
to the west, only a few miles distant, wolves were a terrible scourge; so the
men set to work and made skis for themselves, and even Sigrid learned to
use the "snow-skates," as the Saxons called the long wooden runners. In the
second week of their stay the four young people and Halfdan took a score
of men, leaving the camp in charge of Biorn, and for three days went off on
a wolf-hunt in the forest.

On their return Biorn told them that word had arrived in their absence
from King Idwal, who intended to visit them on the following day, with all
his court. Great preparations were made for his reception. Pine boughs were
brought in from the forest, with which the huts were decorated gayly, and
Halfdan's large hut was hung with tapestries and cloths, which Sigurd found
in the cargo of the vessel which Biorn had captured.

All the men rubbed up their armor and weapons, and when in the
morning the Welsh were seen winding down the hill, the force was drawn
up in three divisions, the Danes, Norsemen and Saxons grouping
themselves together under the standards of Halfdan, Sigurd and Alfred.
Presently the Welsh arrived in the valley leading to the camp, and their
coming was greeted by a loud burst from the horns of the vikings.
 "They were greeted by a loud burst
from the horns of the vikings."

Leading the way came a troop of archers, behind whom, mounted on

small shaggy ponies, rode the King and his court. Idwal was a larger man
than most of his followers, with keen black eyes and firm features, shaved
in the Danish fashion, with two long mustaches. As he came up Halfdan
advanced and greeted him.

"Welcome, my lord King! It gives us pleasure to return the hospitality of

your castle!"

Idwal smiled. "Truly, Jarl, I am glad that these men of yours are not
minded to foray my borders! We would have a hard time of it to repel such
a force as this. I heard that you had been joined by a fresh band of vikings,
so came down to assure myself that we were in no danger."

At this Halfdan motioned Sigurd and his friends to advance and

presented them to the King. The latter frowned as Alfred came forward, and
swept his eye over the band of Saxons.

"It is many years since a Saxon has dared seek hospitality from the
Cymry, my lad," he remarked. Then Alfred told his story, and the king's face
cleared.

"Well, to be frank, I have small love for Saxons, but since you are
enemies of Ethelred, that is another matter. Tell me, in case your father
returned home and I joined with King Svein, would you be for or against
me?"

He gazed keenly at Alfred, but the lad met the look squarely, though with
a smile. "As to that, my lord King, I can only say that I would fight for my
own land against the invader, whoever he was; yet if my father thinks it
right to join King Svein, as well he may, I will be at his side."

Halfdan broke in with a laugh. "Don't be afraid, my lord, this Saxon will
not have to be feared for some time to come! I dare say that if you make a
foray against Ethelred this spring, he would stand as stoutly at your side as
any of your nobles. But come into the camp, my lord."

The vikings opened a path between their ranks, and Idwal led his men
through them. In an open space amid the huts, Halfdan had cleared away
the snow and stretched a large sail over a number of long tables, while on
either side blazed a dozen great fires.
 "By my faith," cried King Idwal, "this is a right royal reception, Jarl! An
open air banquet is far more to my liking than one inside these huts, and
these fires would warm an army!"

So saying, the king tossed aside his fur cloak, and Sigurd saw that he
wore a light suit of armor beneath it. In the king's train were some twoscore
nobles, and a bishop, to whom Halfdan accorded the place of honor. Among
the Welsh, bishops and priests were honored even above the king, and they
found Bishop Dafydd a learned, kindly, and intensely religious man, who
was at once interested in Astrid and Wulf, with both of whom he conversed
at great length.

It was well, indeed, that Halfdan had been hunting for three days
previously, for his stock of venison was heavily drawn upon. Great fish
were brought in, newly taken from the river below, and to the delight of the
Welshmen a huge boar's head, in the Saxon style, was placed before the
king. The vikings spared no pains to make the feast a notable one, and to
Sigurd's satisfaction the presence of Bishop Dafydd and his men prevented
it from becoming a wild carouse, as the Norsemen were only too apt to
make it.

Before the King left that evening there was an exchange of gifts, as was
customary. Biorn and Jarl Halfdan, who were skillful smiths, had the week
before made a beautiful byrnie, of woven gold rings, and this was presented
to the king, who was delighted with it.

He presented Halfdan with a great boar-hound, and to Sigurd he gave a

cloak, edged with fur, the scarlet cloth embroidered in silver thread. As he
had been informed of the presence of the two girls, he had thoughtfully
brought for them new outfits of garments suited to their rank.

Idwal returned to his castle that evening, and the bond between him and
the vikings was firmly cemented. He assured Jarl Halfdan that as soon as
King Svein landed in the east he would pour a flood of men over the West
Saxon earldoms, and Halfdan had no doubt that the Danish king would
fulfill the oath he had sworn at his accession feast.
 After this the camp settled down for the remainder of the winter. Every
week hunting parties, on skis, brought in fresh meat from the surrounding
forests, while their arms were repaired and added to by the smiths. The
chiefs of the Northmen were all trained armorers, and his work at the forge
added greatly to Sigurd's strength and widened his shoulders immensely.

The two girls had a most enjoyable time, for every man in the camp
worshiped them. They joined the hunting parties, and many a wolf fell
before Astrid's bow, while Sigrid, though less warlike, took part with equal
zest.

The time passed away rapidly, and in March the snows melted and the
four ships were run out and overhauled. They were freshly pitched and
calked, the masts were stepped, and at last they lay at anchor, fully ready for
the sea.

King Idwal paid the camp a second visit, after which the chiefs returned
to the castle with him for a few days. He sent down provisions of all kinds
for the ships, and at the beginning of April, Sigurd took leave of Halfdan.

They gathered in the Jarl's hut on the evening before sailing.

"Now, Jarl," said Sigurd, "I suppose you will take Astrid home with
you?"

"That depends," replied Halfdan, quizzically, "upon whether she wants

to go or not! She seems to like wandering about the world, with a knight-
errant to rescue her and guard her from harm!"

Astrid blushed, and cried, "That's not fair, uncle! I'm going home with
you—but listen! Why can't you come with us to King Olaf, and go home by
the north? It is just as short that way, and far less dangerous!"

The big Jarl leaped to his feet. "Hurrah! I never even thought of that; I
thought to go home around the south of England, but in truth this way is as
short, and I would fain see this King Olaf, whom you praise so highly."
 It had been arranged that Halfdan was not to sail till the next week, so he
at once dashed out and called his chiefs together. Telling them of the new
plan, the men went to work, by torchlight, and finished loading his two
ships, and by morning all was ready.

With a fair wind they reached out into the bay, and three mornings later,
after coasting along the Irish shore, they came in sight of the towers of
Dublin.

CHAPTER XVI.

AN AMBUSCADE.

Sigurd was received with unbounded joy by King Olaf, for he had been
given up for lost in the storm that swept the coast just before his departure.
Halfdan stayed in Dublin for a week, then decided to return home without
further delay.

Sigurd parted with Astrid sorrowfully, for they had become very dear to
each other in their wanderings, and although Alfred and Sigrid remained
with him, he knew that he would miss her greatly.

"Never mind," he said, as they walked down to the ships, "we will land
in Norway this summer or fall, and be sure that I will turn up at the Danish
court, or in Vendland, not long after."

"I'll be glad to see Vagn once more, when I get home," said Astrid. "It
will seem almost as good as seeing you." Halfdan had told them of Vagn's
safe arrival home, so that Jarl Eirik had evidently been true to his word.

Sigurd and Alfred, in the "Crane," accompanied Halfdan's ships for a

few miles; then, with a last farewell to Astrid, the "Crane" was turned about,
and sought Dublin again.
 Sigurd's duties were light at the court. Olaf's Irish kingdom was not
divided in districts, ruled by Jarls, as was Norway; so that Sigurd had little
to do beyond commanding the courtmen. Alfred had not done homage to
King Olaf, for he resolved to remain true to his own land; nevertheless, the
King gave him a command, and Alfred bore himself well indeed.

With the beginning of summer Olaf took all his warships out of the
water, scraped the bottoms, and gave them a thorough overhauling. Thorir
Klakke was still in Dublin, and Sigurd found that he was urging the King to
sail as soon as might be for Norway, saying that the bonders would flock to
him on his arrival, so that he need not take so large a force. King Olaf, who
thoroughly understood his treachery, did not undeceive him; but to Sigurd
he said, one night after Thorir had left the hall:

"Jarl, if ever a man deserved hanging, there is one. While you were
absent in England, two half-brothers of mine were driven from Norway by
Jarl Hakon, and came to me here. Thorir tried to bribe them, and fortunately
they let him think that they fell in with his plans, which he disclosed fully.

"Jarl Hakon, in truth, sent him here. Thorir will try to slay me on the
voyage," the King smiled grimly, "but if he fails, he is to get me on shore at
a certain point where Hakon will keep men in waiting day and night. These
men are to fall on me and kill me."

Sigurd gave a cry of anger, and the priest, Thangbrand, growled out, "Let
me attend to him, Olaf! I'll warrant he does not trouble you any more!"

Olaf laughed heartily. "Thangbrand, you are more fitted for a viking than
for a priest! If I ever win Norway, I will send you to Iceland to convert that
island to Christ."

The priest's face lit up. "Thanks, my King! It is a shame that so fair an
island as that should have no church of Christ in all its length! It may be
that I will meet resistance there, but methinks I can hold my own."

Sigurd laughed at this characteristic speech. Thangbrand was a strange

mixture of priest and warrior. Driven from home for his quarrelsome
disposition, he had joined himself to Olaf; but in reality the man was deeply
religious, and he was, indeed, the ideal man to carry the Cross to heathen
Iceland. In those days the Cross and sword went together, and the old gods
of Norway knew many martyrs to their faith before Christianity was
established in the land, in later years. Right or wrong, this was the spirit of
the age, for men overlooked the fact that Christ's gospel was one of peace,
and in their enthusiasm and religious fervor they spread it with fire and
sword.

There was much irregular fighting around Dublin, for the Irish kings
were ever striving to drive the Norsemen from their land. They fought
bravely, but their men were ill-armed compared with the vikings, and Olaf
had no trouble in preserving order for many miles around the city. His
brother-in-law, Olaf Kvaran, was away on a trip to Iceland at this time.

"How would you like, Jarl," said Olaf to Sigurd one evening, "to visit
King Brian Boroimhe? I am minded to make peace with him, for when I go
to Norway I want to leave Dublin in security, and my brother is not to be
relied on. A firm peace with King Brian for at least a year would be an
excellent thing."

"I would be glad, indeed," replied Sigurd, "for I have heard so much
about the interior of Ireland that I would fain see it."

"Well, I will have letters written in the Irish tongue," said the King, "and
do you take what men you will, together with an interpreter. Be ready to
start next Monday, and I think you will find the King at Kells, a large place
some thirty miles to the west. However, I will provide a reliable guide."

Thangbrand, the priest, hearing of the embassy, eagerly sought leave to

accompany Sigurd, which Olaf willingly granted. So, on the following
Monday, Sigurd, the priest, and a score of men left Dublin. Their weapons
were all in peace-bands, and an Irish captive was taken as guide and
interpreter, having promised to lead them to Kells in exchange for his
liberty.

Sigurd laughed when Thangbrand joined the party. The huge priest wore
a byrnie under his gown, a light steel cap on his head, and at his saddle-bow
was shield and sword.
 "No one knows what may happen," he replied stoutly, to the boy's peal
of laughter, "we may be waylaid by these Irish thieves, or this guide may
lead us astray, and it is best to be prepared for anything."

Kells was only a good day's march away, so they set forward briskly.
After reaching the bounds of Olaf's territory the road lay through woods and
swamps for a dozen miles; but toward evening they emerged on an open
plain, partly cultivated, and saw in the distance the spires and towers of a
large city. Several times they had been stopped by bands of Irish, but their
guide served them faithfully.

Sigurd was amazed at sight of Kells. "Why, this is wonderful!" he said.

"I had no idea that there was such civilization so near to Dublin!"

Thangbrand smiled. "Kells has seldom been ravaged by vikings, for

many years; it is a strong place, with a great monastery in the town. I have
been here once before, and found that the land is beautiful enough in times
of peace, but in war-time it would be well-nigh impossible to reach the
city."

Sigurd saw that this was so, as they approached, for on either side of the
road were defenses, and several stone castles came in sight. Just at sunset
they entered the gates of the town, and their guide spurred ahead to find
quarters for the men.

As they passed through the streets they met with sour looks and loud
curses from the Irish, who hated the Northmen bitterly, with only too much
reason. The vikings had ravaged the fairest vales of Erin, had destroyed her
monasteries and splendid civilization, and but for the strong hand of King
Brian would have overrun the country utterly. That night they took their
quarters in a large inn, and the next morning visited the court.

The King's palace was far beyond anything Sigurd had ever seen, even in
London. It was built of stone, and the great hall within was a blaze of arms
and tapestries. The nobles who thronged the hall were clad much as were
the Northmen, but their golden bracelets and cloak-pins were richly
wrought, and the precious metal seemed abundant.
 Sigurd led his men to the high-seat, and bowed low to King Brian, the
famous chieftain. The latter was a powerful, stern-faced man of some sixty
years, and he opened and read the letters of Olaf with a frown, afterwards
handing them to a monk who stood at his side.

"Sir Jarl," he said, without rising, fixing his gray eyes on Sigurd, "I will
have an answer written at once. For the present you and your men will be
quartered in my palace here. King Olaf is a brave and worthy man, and I am
glad to conclude a year's truce with him; were other Northmen like him,
Erin would be a happier land."

The monk translated the King's words, and bowing low, Sigurd retired.
Thangbrand at once visited the monastery, taking Sigurd with him; and
although the good monks were somewhat surprised at the warlike
appearance of the priest, they entertained their visitors well, and showed
them over the buildings.

Next morning Sigurd had another audience with King Brian, who
handed him a parchment for King Olaf, and presented him with a heavy
golden arm-ring; after which the Norsemen left the city at once on their
return journey.

They rode along at a good pace, and as they came near the boundaries of
Olaf's territory, Sigurd and Thangbrand rode somewhat ahead of the party;
for Thangbrand, who was an adept at horsemanship, of which the young
Jarl knew little, was showing Sigurd how to make his steed curvet and
prance, and thus they insensibly drew ahead of the rest.

They turned a bend in the road, which wound along beneath thick trees;
and as they did so a number of men sprang to their horses' heads, and others
sprang at Sigurd and Thangbrand, striving to pull them from their saddles.
At the same instant, before they could grasp their weapons, men dropped on
them from the branches overhead, and a minute later the two Norsemen,
bound hand and foot, were being hurried away through the forest depths.
 CHAPTER XVII.

KETIL TURNS UP.

Far behind them sounded a few faint shouts and horns, as the men
reached the spot where the two leaders had been ambushed; then these died
away into silence. Sigurd saw that they were carried by a band of two dozen
Irish, who were hastening north through the forest. He started to speak to
the priest, who was borne at his side, but one of the men struck him roughly
on the mouth, with a sharp command in Irish, and he ceased.

At nightfall the band halted beside a stream, and Sigurd judged they had
traveled several miles from the scene of their capture. A blazing fire was
built, over which the men cooked their meal, the two captives being flung
down beneath a large tree.

"What fools we were to leave the guide!" growled Thangbrand into his
thick black beard. "I wish they would give us somewhat to eat."

His wish was gratified immediately, for the leader of the band
approached, cut the ropes that bound their hands, and gave them bread and
meat, and a horn of water from the stream. After this they were bound
again.

"They seem to be expecting someone," exclaimed Sigurd, "did you note

that the leader had sent men out in all directions?"

This had indeed been done as soon as they arrived, and an hour later
there was a shout, and into the firelight came a second body of men. As they
saw them, Sigurd gave a cry of amazement, for at their head was Ketil
Gormson, whom he had left in London the winter before!

The new arrivals were also Irish, Ketil being the only foreigner. The
leader of the first party greeted him, and Ketil put into his hand a bag that
clinked pleasantly. Then he stepped forward to Sigurd's side.
 "So I have you at last, my lord Jarl!" he cried, an evil light in his dark
eyes. "It is a far cry from London to Ireland, but I have watched and waited
patiently."

"It is a pity that I didn't strike harder that night!" replied Sigurd. "What is
your object in this attack?"

Ketil laughed shortly. "You go with me to Jarl Hakon, my fine fellow,

and as for this follower of the white Christ, I think I will turn him over to
these good friends of mine in the morning."

Sigurd turned pale, for he knew that any Norsemen who fell into the
hands of the Irish obtained short shrift. Thangbrand, however, roared out:

"Loose my hands, you traitor, and face me with drawn blade!"

"So," sneered Ketil, "I thought that priests of your God were meek and
humble men, willing to die for their faith!"

Thangbrand flushed under the reproof, and fell silent. Ketil turned away,
set a guard over the captives, and in a few minutes the band lay sleeping in
their cloaks beneath the trees.

The Norsemen's weapons had not been taken from them, but as they
were bound firmly they were of no use. Sigurd, however, saw that the
peace-bands had been torn from his sword in the hasty flight through the
forest.

An hour after this he felt Thangbrand's hands touch his. The two captives
lay side by side, and their guard was sitting a few feet away, nodding
sleepily. Turning by inches, Sigurd looked at the priest, and saw him motion
toward the unbound sword.

Sigurd, very slowly and cautiously, rolled over on his face, bringing the
weapon within reach of Thangbrand, who at the same time turned his back.
Thus his hands, after a little vain searching, met the hilt of the weapon and
slowly drew it forth. An instant later their guard straightened up and strolled
over to them.
 Sigurd lay on his face, and with a quick movement Thangbrand had
thrust the drawn blade beneath him. The guard, thinking that both were
asleep, turned away, humming an air, and Sigurd caught a faint rasping
noise as the sword blade cut through the priest's bonds.

Soon the guard returned, and stooped over Sigurd, who lay nearer him,
to assure himself that his bonds were right. As he did so, Thangbrand drew
him down to the earth, his hands about the man's throat.

The struggle was brief and noiseless. In a few seconds the man relaxed,
and the priest quickly bound and gagged him; then he cut Sigurd's bonds,
whispering:

"If my hands were not so stiff I would have done better."

Indeed, Sigurd found that his hands and feet were too stiff to move, for
he had been tightly bound. They both sat for a moment rubbing their limbs,
then arose.

"Which way, Jarl?"

"West, Thangbrand. Once we strike men belonging to King Brian we

will be all right, for his bracelet here will be known, and you are a priest,
too."

Without a word more they stepped away, each picking up a light shield
from beside the sleeping men as they went. The forest was dark, but as the
moon was just rising Sigurd knew that their way would soon be light
enough to travel fast.

In half an hour they were well away from the camp, and both broke into
a swift trot, threading their way among the trees, and as far as they were
able heading west. The trees were roughly barked on the north, and this
guided them somewhat, for both men were accustomed, at home in Norway,
to finding their way through the forest by such signs.

"Hold up, lad," panted Thangbrand, after an hour's running.

 Sigurd slackened his pace, for the ground was too uneven and rough to
keep it up longer, and for a time they walked swiftly onward.

"Pray heaven that we strike no bog or morass," said Thangbrand, "for if

we do we are lost."

"I wonder if we will be pursued?"

"If we are, I do not propose to fall into their hands alive," answered the
priest, stoutly. "They are evidently some wandering band, who have been
hired by that villain Ketil. I'd like to get him within reach of my sword!"

They kept onward till dawn, walking and running by turns. As the gray
light broke through the trees, they found that the forest was thinning out
somewhat, and Thangbrand flung himself down for a brief rest.

"I think we must be getting near the cultivated fields in that broad plain
we crossed yesterday," conjectured Sigurd. "If we can once get to Brian he
will protect us, for I have heard that no one could be more jealous of his
word than he."

Ten minutes later they continued their way. The sun was just rising now,
and as they stood on the top of a small hill, vainly endeavoring to see some
signs of habitation, a faint yell arose from the forest behind them.

"Come on, Thangbrand," exclaimed Sigurd, breaking into a run. "It is a

matter of speed now."

For half an hour they kept up a brisk trot, but could hear the yells rising
from time to time behind them, each louder than the last. Finally
Thangbrand stopped short.

"Go on, Fairhair. I am clean winded, and your life is worth more than
mine to Olaf. Do you go on, while I hold them here as long as may be."

"One of the Jomsborg oaths," replied Sigurd, quietly, "is to never desert
a comrade—"
 "Out upon your Jomsborg oaths!" roared Thangbrand. "Get you gone,
and lose no time!"

"Listen!" cried Sigurd quickly. "Isn't that a horn?"

Far off toward the west they heard the faint notes of a war-horn, while
from behind them a loud shout arose, as their pursuers came in sight.

"Hasten, Fairhair," cried the priest, unsheathing his sword. "Go yonder
and bring help while I hold them here!"

Sigurd smiled and unsheathed his own weapon, as he looked around.

"Cease this nonsense," he said, though not without a thrill at thought of

the generosity of the big man. "Let us stand beneath this big oak, where we
can swing our swords without being struck in the back."

They took position on either side of a large oak tree, and five minutes
later the first of their pursuers appeared. He halted at seeing them, and sent
up a yell; as his comrades came up, they spread out, enclosing the tree in a
circle.

To do him justice, Ketil was brave enough. When he appeared, he led a

dozen men straight at the tree, and in a second the two were fighting
furiously. The Irish crowded around, striking with their long knives, but
speedily recoiled before the terrible sweep of Thangbrand's huge sword, and
the more scientific, but no less deadly, blows of the young Jarl. As they
retired, their chief yelled an order, and the arrows began to whizz past.

The first Sigurd caught with his shield, the second he cut in two as it
flew. A shout of amazement went up from the Irish as Thangbrand did the
same, for, unacquainted as they were with the exercises and training of the
Norsemen, this skill seemed little less than magical. Again and again the
two men repeated the trick, but it was impossible to ward off more than one
or two shafts at a time, and soon both Thangbrand and Sigurd were
wounded. Suddenly Ketil sprang at Sigurd with a shout of impatience.
 The Irish circled around, watching the combat with eager eyes, forgetful
of all else, while Thangbrand guarded Sigurd's back. Thrice Ketil's steel met
that of Sigurd, then seeing an opening, the latter struck; but his feet slipped
on the dew-wet grass, and he fell headfirst.

Thangbrand was instantly bestriding his body, facing Ketil. At this the
Irish came in behind him, watching eagerly for a chance to use their long
knives, while the priest crossed swords with Ketil. Suddenly the latter threw
up his arms as something flew past Thangbrand, and fell with a spear
through his body as a yell of terror went up from his band.

Looking about as he raised Sigurd to his feet, Thangbrand saw King

Brian Boroimhe behind him, sword in hand, while his men pursued the
fleeing band in all directions, cutting them down without mercy.

CHAPTER XVIII.

A MISSION FOR THE KING.

The King addressed Thangbrand in Latin, which the priest understood

fairly well.

"Just in time, my friends! The guide whom I sent with you returned late
last night with word of your mishap, and early this morning I sent men in
all directions, joining myself in the search, for I was greatly angered that
my safe-conduct had been broken in this wise."

"We owe you our lives, my lord," responded Thangbrand gratefully.

"These men were in the pay of a traitor, whom your spear slew before I had
a chance at him, unfortunately."

The old king smiled, not unkindly. "Strange words for a man of God, sir
priest! But I see that your blade has done good service to Jarl Sigurd, and
perhaps in these times a priest must be man of the world as well." King
Brian sighed heavily as he looked around, then said, "Ask the Jarl if he has
my letters safe."

When Thangbrand translated, Sigurd held up the letters, their seals

unbroken; and now the King's men returned, and the party went to Kells at
once. Here, as Sigurd was in haste to get back to Dublin, the King gave him
an escort of fifty men, and they set out without delay.

Upon reaching the territory of Olaf, Sigurd dismissed the Irish and
pushed forward; but on coming within sight of the city he gave an
exclamation of dismay. Instead of the King's standard, there floated from
the castle a huge black banner!

Wondering greatly, they galloped up to the city and entered. To their

amazement, the shops were all closed, and the whole city wore an air of
mourning. Sigurd, without stopping to ask questions, left Thangbrand and
hurried to the great hall.

It was empty, save for Olaf, who sat in the high-seat, his head bowed in
his hands. Sigurd advanced and held out the letters.

"Here, my lord, is the reply of King Brian Boroimhe. Why is the black
standard on the castle, and why are all the shops shut?"

Olaf raised his head and gazed at Sigurd with heavy eyes.

"Welcome back, Jarl, in an evil hour. Queen Gyda died last night."

As Sigurd stared at the King, the latter rose slowly, descended from the
high-seat, and taking Sigurd's arm in his, exclaimed:

"Sigurd, come and talk to me. I am lonely, and the most wretched of all
men."

They walked up and down the hall, and Olaf told Sigurd how the night
before the Queen had been seized with a fatal illness. Good Bishop Sigurd,
the English prelate who had come to Ireland with Olaf, had done his best,
for he was a skillful leech, but to no avail.

"Why should this evil come upon me now?" cried the King, bitterly.
Sigurd said little, allowing the King's pent-up grief to find utterance, then
he said, softly:

"It is the will of God, Olaf, and perhaps he has done it for the best. May
it not be that he means you to give your whole life to the spreading of his
Word in heathen Norway, and has sent you a touch of adversity to try you?"

"Mayhap," responded the King, "but it is hard. He has given me good

fortune, and I must bear the bad when it is his will; it may be true that he
wishes me to devote myself, heart and soul, to bearing his gospel to my
countrymen."

The blow was a terrible one to Olaf, and it was indeed many a month ere
he recovered a portion of his former light-hearted spirits. Two days later the
Queen was buried, and after the period of mourning Olaf threw himself into
the work of preparing the expedition with feverish energy.

This was no light task, indeed. Olaf had a dozen warships in the harbor,
but it was impossible to take so large a force, as men had to be left to
defend Dublin. Olaf had decided to give up his Irish land, in case of
succeeding in Norway, to his brother-in-law, Olaf Kvaran, but he could not
leave him without men.

At last, after many consultations with Sigurd and his other chiefs, the
King decided to take only the five largest ships, which would hold about
seventy-five men each. Thorir Klakke had no inkling that Olaf knew of his
treachery, and he advised the King to make a sudden descent on Norway
and to take Jarl Hakon unawares at Thrandheim, before men could be
gathered. Thorir, in giving this advice, thought that either he would be able
to kill Olaf by treachery on the voyage, or else that the men of Hakon,
posted at Agdaness in Norway, would remove Olaf before the plan could be
accomplished.
 The five ships were fitted up in the best of shape. The dragon heads were
taken from their prows, and in the place of these great crosses were set up,
for Olaf knew that only by the favor of God would he be able to win his
father's kingdom. They were laden with all the wealth that Olaf had
gathered in his travels through Russia, Constantinople, and England, and at
length the expedition was ready to start.

It was a bright morning in August that the King went on board his ships,
followed by all his men. Before doing so, he called Alfred and Sigrid to
him, and asked them what they intended to do. Alfred hesitated, for
although he wished to accompany Olaf, he did not forget that his father was
in Flanders, and he did not like to separate from his sister. Finally, Olaf
said, with a smile:

"You both had best come with me. I have a plan which I think will work
out to your satisfaction; I will tell you later just what it is. Put all your
Saxons on board the 'Snake,' Alfred—the ship that old Biorn captured in
England, and sail with us. Sigurd will command the 'Crane,' and when we
get to the Orkneys I will tell you what I have in mind."

So, wondering what the King meant, the "Snake" was added to the fleet,
to Sigurd's great joy. He had feared that Alfred and his sister would be left
behind, and it was with no small satisfaction that he helped fit out the
"Snake."

When the men were all embarked, Bishop Sigurd, standing in the prow
of King Olaf's ship, offered up a solemn prayer asking the aid and the
blessing of God for their enterprise. As he concluded, a great "Amen!"
rolled over the sea from ships to shore, the anchors were weighed, and the
journey was begun amid a blare of war-horns and the clash of arms.

The Pentland Firth was not passable, according to reports brought to

Olaf, so he bore up for the Orkneys, as had been his wish from the first.
These islands had long been settled by Norsemen, and Jarl Sigurd
Lodvarson ruled them: but the Jarl and his people were all heathen, for no
missionaries or Christian men had been allowed to settle in the islands. It
was Olaf's firm intention to spread the Word of God wherever he went, and
as the Orkneys were in his path, he decided to visit Jarl Sigurd.
 This was a dangerous proceeding, for the Jarl was powerful, and might
have settled the fate of the expedition there and then; but matters came out
luckily for Olaf. His six ships came to anchor in Asmundar Bay, in
Rognwald Island, and in the bay they found a single ship lying at anchor.

Olaf, seeing that the ship was a fine one, and very beautifully furnished,
dispatched Sigurd Fairhair to bring her commander on board his own ship,
hoping to get news of Norway. To his surprise, it happened that this
commander was no other than Jarl Sigurd Lodvarson himself!

Olaf greeted him with a smile. "Truly, it seems that we have an

abundance of Sigurds here! Yourself, my own Jarl Sigurd Fairhair, good
Bishop Sigurd, of England, and possibly a score of my men, all named
alike."

The Jarl, not knowing where King Olaf was bound with his fleet, was
somewhat fearful for his safety, and when Olaf urged him to be baptized, he
refused, saying the faith of his fathers was good enough for him. Then King
Olaf arose, holding in one hand a sword, in the other a cross.

"Jarl, you hold, as Jarl of the Orkneys, part of my inheritance, for I claim
all the lands as mine which the Kings of Norway have possessed. As it has
come to pass, by the will of God, that you are in my power, there are two
courses open to you. The one, that you accept the true faith, and allow
yourself to be baptized, with all your subjects. You may expect to hold
under me the Jarldom which you now possess, and what is of more
importance, you may hope to reign for ever in a nobler kingdom than this.

"The other course, a very wretched one, is that you die; and after your
death I will pass over the islands and bring the folk to believe in the true
God. Now choose, Jarl, which course you will take."

The Jarl hesitated; then he slowly stretched out his hand and took the
cross from that of Olaf. This action was greeted with glad shouts from the
crews, and without delay Bishop Sigurd baptized Jarl Sigurd.

Then he swore oaths of fidelity to King Olaf, and placed in the King's
hands his son, Hundi, who was also baptized, and who accompanied Olaf to
Norway as a hostage.

Next day Olaf came on board the "Crane."

"Sigurd," he said, "are you willing to undertake another mission for me?
You seem to scrape through somehow, no matter what happens, and as this
one is of some importance I can think of no one better fitted to undertake
it."

Sigurd smiled. "If I have scraped through some tight places, Olaf, I don't
ascribe it to my own conduct! I have been fortunate in finding friends, and
for the rest, God has protected me. Now tell me what this mission is."
 CHAPTER XIX.

AT KING SVEIN'S COURT.

Astrid and Halfdan had a safe and quiet voyage home to Denmark, but
when they arrived there they found that many changes had taken place
during the winter. The pale, quiet, religious Queen Gunhild had died, and as
she alone had restrained King Svein from his wild and warlike impulses, the
King was gathering great forces for his descent on England.

Astrid took up her abode in the castle as formerly, but the life was a
lonely one. Her parents had died when she was a child, and only her Uncle
Halfdan was near her. She disliked King Svein, who, although he always
treated her well and kindly, was a moody and irritable man, with no thought
for anything save his selfish ambitions. Soon after Astrid's return he placed
in her care his two sons, Harald and Canute, and she took great interest in
the education and care of the two lonely boys, little thinking that in after
days the younger was to prove a great and worthy king of England, thanks
to her early teachings.

So the summer passed, while men assembled and were sent on to the
Danish settlements in the north of England to wait the arrival of Svein in
the fall. Jarl Halfdan was sent in command of one of these detachments, and
after his departure Astrid felt her loneliness more than ever.

One day King Svein sent for her. Wondering at the summons, Astrid
proceeded to the hall, where she found the king surrounded by his chiefs.

"Lady Astrid," he said abruptly, "prepare your belongings for a journey.

Your hand has been asked in marriage by the son of King Vladimir of
Russia, and needless to say, I have accepted the offer, for besides being a
great honor, this will bring to my army a number of ships from Russia."

Astrid was overwhelmed, but answered the King bravely. "You have no
right to dispose of my hand, King Svein, in this fashion! It is unjust to me,
for I am not your vassal. My lands lie in Vendland, and if necessary I shall
appeal to King Burislaf for protection against this outrage!"

The King's face darkened. "You will do as I order!" he exclaimed

angrily. "King Burislaf also will do whatever I order him, and this is a thing
unheard of, that a girl should decide her own marriage!"

A murmur of assent went up from the chiefs, and Astrid gazed

hopelessly around the circle of fierce faces, finding no hope in them. How
she longed for her good uncle to stand at her side! But as the King said, a
girl in those days could rarely indeed marry whom she liked; her parents or
guardian settled that without consulting her, and Astrid felt that she was
helpless. "This is a noble marriage," continued the King, more calmly, "so
let me hear no more of these protests. You will leave here in two weeks for
Gardarike, Vladimir's capital, with a fitting escort."

With that the girl was dismissed to her apartments. Young Canute,
hearing of the matter, tried to comfort her, but the boy was of course as
helpless as she. So, although Astrid resolved that the marriage should never
take place, even though she had to fly from home, the packing of her effects
proceeded.

A week later, as she was sitting sewing in the garden, she heard a great
noise from the harbor, shouts and war-horns mingling with the clash of
arms. She sent Canute to see what it was about, and presently the boy came
running back, his eyes bright and his cheeks flushed with excitement.

"Oh, Astrid!" he cried, "we have visitors! Two great ships just sailed into
the harbor, from far over the sea—the strangest ships! They didn't have any
dragon in the bow, but instead was a big gilded cross! All the men on board
had shields with red crosses on them, and I saw them as they landed—great
warriors, all of of them!"

Astrid's cheek paled suddenly. What ships could these be, sailing under
the Cross, unless—? Canute continued hastily: "And, Astrid, you ought to
see the chiefs! There is one old viking, so fierce and brave-looking, and a
beautiful girl with bright yellow hair, and a boy who must be her brother;
Welcome to our website – the ideal destination for book lovers and
knowledge seekers. With a mission to inspire endlessly, we offer a
vast collection of books, ranging from classic literary works to
specialized publications, self-development books, and children's
literature. Each book is a new journey of discovery, expanding
knowledge and enriching the soul of the reade

Our website is not just a platform for buying books, but a bridge
connecting readers to the timeless values of culture and wisdom. With
an elegant, user-friendly interface and an intelligent search system,
we are committed to providing a quick and convenient shopping
experience. Additionally, our special promotions and home delivery
services ensure that you save time and fully enjoy the joy of reading.

Let us accompany you on the journey of exploring knowledge and

personal growth!

ebookname.com