. A child's book of warriors . and their garments streamed in white anddusky folds with the speed of their flight. Look, exclaimed the king, look at the sun! Near the blood-red arc and against the light of thegreen sky moved awful and colossal shapes, whichwere luminous at one moment and at the next seemedto be wild and menaceful shadows. I know not how I know, whispered Olaf, butthose are the ancient gods of the land. The bishop did not answer, but his lips moved inprayer: Adveniat regnum tuum—Thy kingdomcome; Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Out of the distance came a fierce cry
. A child's book of warriors . and their garments streamed in white anddusky folds with the speed of their flight. Look, exclaimed the king, look at the sun! Near the blood-red arc and against the light of thegreen sky moved awful and colossal shapes, whichwere luminous at one moment and at the next seemedto be wild and menaceful shadows. I know not how I know, whispered Olaf, butthose are the ancient gods of the land. The bishop did not answer, but his lips moved inprayer: Adveniat regnum tuum—Thy kingdomcome; Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Out of the distance came a fierce cry as of the windin winter: Return, return, ere we slay you,troublers of the land! But the ships sailed on in silence. Then a great flash of lightning split the heavenswith rifts of flame, and a peal of thunder rolled alongthe deep. Flash followed flash, and in the dazzlingbrightness the giant shapes of the old gods were seento be in swift commotion, coming across the sea. Olaf snatched his sword from its scabbard, caught 244. At Strife with the Gods it by the blade, and held the cross high above hishead. The jewelled hilt and the white blade glitteredin the lightning. Clear to see also were the goldhelmet, the steel ring-shirt, and the crimson mantleof the king. Then in a pause of the thunder Olafcried back his answer: With Christ to aid me, Itake up thy challenge, Thor! In an instant the tumult ceased. The dreadshadows vanished. The red sun rose half out ofthe sea, and the slumbering glow quickened towardsday. Sigurd and the king gazed at each other inwonderment. Are these—things that we have seen ? askedOlaf; or was it all a dream and phantasm of thenight ? What we have seen, many have seen, repliedthe bishop, with a wide movement of his hand. Then Olaf became aware of crowds of faces on theships turned towards him in silent inquiry, for agreat awe had fallen on the men, and they marvelledhow the mighty gods of the ancient days had beenabashed and scattered by the vision o
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