On this particular evening the presence of Idris caused both study and needlework to be suspended. He had whetted5 the curiosity of his entertainers by affirming that his coming to Ormsby had something to do with the search for his father: he was, in fact, following a clue.
His hearers pressed for enlightenment.
"Let us sit around the fire, and I will explain my meaning."
Drawing a comfortable arm-chair to the hearth6 Beatrice composed herself for what she felt was about to be an interesting disclosure.
"Among the papers," Idris began, "handed to me on my eighteenth birthday by my mother's executors was a piece of vellum with runic letters upon it. Though eleven years had passed I immediately recognized these characters as being identical with those engraved8 on the Ring of Odin. My mother had had the forethought to make a copy of the inscription9."
Here Idris paused, reading a question in Beatrice's eyes.
[Pg 83]
"Have you the transcript10 with you?" she asked. "It will be interesting to look at, though we do not understand it."
Idris produced from his pocketbook a scrap11 of vellum inscribed12 with four lines of tiny runic letters.
"And these are runes?" said Beatrice, looking at them attentively13. "They are very like the characters on the bugle14 that hangs within the porch of Ravenhall."
"Precisely15," said Godfrey, "inasmuch as that is an old Norse drinking-horn. But we are interrupting Idris' story."
"The sight of this inscription naturally interested me," continued Idris, "and I resolved to make an attempt at its decipherment, in the hope that it might cast a ray of light upon the mystery of Duchesne's murder, for I have always held to the belief that he was assassinated17 for the sake of the altar-ring. With this view I procured18 the services of a professor eminent19 for his knowledge of Norse antiquities20, and under his tuition I began the study of runology.
"I was soon able to read all the letters of the inscription, and to pronounce what I supposed were syllables22 and words: but syllables and words would not yield any sense. And here and there came a juxtaposition23 of consonants24 quite unpronounceable. To add to the difficulty there were no spaces to show where one word ended and another began. All the characters were equally close together and seemed to form one long word. I did my best to break the inscription up into its component25 parts, but failed. I could not distinguish one familiar term. Either the language was not old Norse, or the professor had taught me wrongly."
"Why did you not lay the inscription before the professor," asked Beatrice, "and get him to decipher it for you?"
[Pg 84]
"Because I did not wish any one to know the secret till I myself had first ascertained26 its value. In the belief that it might be written in some language other than old Norse I made incursions, not very deep, I fear, into Danish, Frisian, Icelandic, and other northern dialects, but failed to identify the inscription with any one of these tongues.
"At last in despair I cast aside the caution I had hitherto exercised, and placed the writing before my tutor; but, eminent runologist as he was, he could extract no meaning from it.
"Anxious to begin the search for my father, I parted from the Norse professor; but yet, amid all my wanderings through Europe, I never quite gave up the hope of being able to decipher the inscription.
"Now, a few weeks ago, it occurred to me that the art of secret writing may have been practised in Norse times just as in our own. Hitherto, following modern usage, I had always read the inscription from left to right: why not from right to left, as ancient Hebrew is read? I tried the course, but it made me no wiser.
"However, the cryptographic idea grew upon me, and was not to be shaken off. As you perceive, it is a four-line inscription; I therefore read downwards27, combining the letters in the first line with those directly beneath in the second, third, and fourth lines, but with no success. I read upwards28: disappointment was still my lot. I tried the plan of omitting every alternate letter. I seemed as far off as ever."
"But you succeeded in the end," said Beatrice.
"Yes. By playing at random29 with the letters, I hit upon the key to the decipherment. Observe this character," continued Idris, pointing to one in the first line, shaped thus:—*. "It is called Hagl, and corresponds to our H. As it is slightly larger than the other letters,[Pg 85] I had come to regard it as the initial one in the series, and the sequel proved that I was correct. Beginning with this Hagl, I omitted the three following letters, taking the fifth which corresponds to our i."
"That gives us H-i," said Beatrice.
"Just so. Passing over the next three characters we come to the equivalent of our l."
"H-i-l," said Beatrice.
"Proceeding30 in this way I add two more letters, and the result is a woman's name, as common in Norse days as in our own."
"You mean Hilda?"
"Precisely. Hilda is the first word of the inscription. Light had dawned at last. I had discovered the key to the writing, and it is this: every fourth letter is to be treated as if in immediate7 sequence.
"I instantly marked off the characters into sets of four. By taking out the first letter in each quartette, and placing them in consecutive31 order, I found the result was an intelligible32 sentence. By treating the second letter of each quartette in like manner the sentence was continued: and so with the third and fourth letters. There could be no doubt about it. I had mastered the secret of Odin's Ring."
"And what is the secret?" said Beatrice breathlessly.
Idris could not avoid smiling at her eagerness. It was pleasant to have so fair and interested a listener.
"It will be very unfair, then, after having excited our curiosity," she retorted.
"You shall have the secret," said Idris; "though you will probably be as much disappointed with it as I was. There is nothing very startling in it. It does not relate to Odin and the gods of Valhalla, but to an old Viking[Pg 86] and a buried treasure. This is my rendering34 of the Norse runes engraved on the broad perimeter35 of the ancient altar-ring."
"'Hilda, the Alruna, to her son, Magnus of Deira, greeting.—Within the lofty tomb of thy sire Orm, the Golden, wilt37 thou find the treasure won by his high arm. The noontide shadow of the oft-carried throne will be to thee for a sign. And may the fires of the Asas guard thy heritage for thee.—Farewell."
"That," continued Idris, after a pause, "is the secret of Odin's Ring: and though, as I have said, I was disappointed at first, yet in course of time I began to think that the knowledge I had acquired might furnish me with a clue—a very faint one, it is true,—towards discovering my father."
"I fail to see how," observed Godfrey.
"In this way. Captain Rochefort, who was instrumental in effecting my father's escape, possessed—so I have learned—a copy of this runic inscription. Now, let us suppose that he and my father turned their attention to its decipherment, and, like myself, succeeded. Let us further grant that they had reasons for believing that the old Viking's treasure still existed in the spot where it was originally placed. Allowing these premises38, what is the conclusion?"
"That they would endeavour to possess themselves of this treasure."
"Just so. They would try to find the Viking's tomb. Therefore, if I, too, could hit upon the place——"
"I understand. You might come upon some trace of your father."
[Pg 87]
"That is my meaning. I admit that it is a very slender thread upon which to hang my hopes, but it is all that is left me. To find the burial-place of Orm the Golden became my next object, a somewhat difficult feat39, seeing that he is a person who has altogether escaped the historian's pen. However, I have succeeded."
"What!" exclaimed Godfrey, incredulously. "You have discovered the burial-place of this unknown Viking, who, granting the reality of his existence, must have lived at least a thousand years ago?" And on receiving a nod of affirmation, he asked, "How did you accomplish it? 'Within the lofty tomb of thy sire Orm, the Golden,'" continued he, reading from Idris' translation of the inscription, "'wilt thou find the treasure, won by his high arm.' There is nothing here to indicate the site of this 'lofty tomb.'"
"There is just a hint. Magnus, the Viking's son, is said to be 'of Deira.' I infer, therefore, that the father Orm was likewise of Deira; that in Deira he lived, in Deira he died, and in Deira he was buried. 'Look for the tomb in Deira,' became my watchword."
"Deira," said Beatrice quickly. "Is not Deira the ancient name for this part of the country?"
"Yes," Godfrey answered, "and it is rather a wide area for our friend Idris to explore, seeing that the name included all the country from the Tyne to the Humber, and from the Pennines to the sea."
"True," assented40 Idris; "but we may narrow the area of our search considerably41. These old Vikings had such love for the sea that they were usually buried within sound of the breakers. We shall not err16, therefore, if we confine our attention to the sea-board only of Deira."
"Even then you will have a coast-line of more than one hundred miles to explore."
[Pg 88]
"In what way?"
"Thus. I take it that Orm the Viking, being master of much wealth, as is clear from the words on the ring, would build for himself a dwelling43 or castle by the sea. Around the abode44 of their chief the vassals45 and dependants46 would fix theirs, thus forming the nucleus47 of a town. Now what name would such a place be likely to take?"
"My dear Idris," said Godfrey, protestingly, "how can I tell?—or you either?" he added.
"I will grant you that much—no more."
"You cannot see at what I am aiming?"
"I am completely in the dark."
"Receive a ray of light, then. Don't you think that if this Orm built a town, that town would bear his name?"
"But I am. This town must have received its name from some one called Orm, and it is my belief that this Orm was none other than the Viking who figures on the runic ring. In the neighbourhood of this town, then, we must look for the 'lofty tomb' of my Norse warrior49. Now, four miles to the north of us, there is, so local guide-books say, a lonely valley called Ravensdale, containing——"
"Containing," Beatrice broke in, excitedly, "containing a rounded, artificial hillock, over fifty feet high, and known by the name of Ormfell."
"Ah! I see you know it," smiled Idris. "Yes, Ormfell, or Orm's Hill, is the spot where I shall find the bones of the ancient Viking."
"And do you really intend," asked Beatrice, "to bore[Pg 89] your way to the heart of that hillock in order to see what it contains?"
"Such is the purpose that has brought me to Ormsby, my object being to discover whether this tumulus exhibits traces of having been recently opened. It may be that in the sepulchral50 chamber51 within the hillock I shall light upon something that will afford a clue towards discovering my father. It may be a handkerchief merely, a discarded lantern, a tool, a match-box, a button, or some other article trifling52 in itself, but which a skilled detective will know how to employ in tracing the man he wants. I may come even upon a pocketbook or a letter unwittingly dropped—who can tell? Ormfell is my last hope. Fanciful as it may appear to you, Godfrey, something seems to whisper to me that the interior of that tumulus will furnish me with the means of lifting the veil that has so long shrouded53 my father's fate."
There was in Idris' manner a confidence which his hearers did not like to quell54 by the expression of cold doubt, though they considered his expectation fanciful in the extreme.
"Do you intend to obtain the earl's sanction to make your excavations55?" asked Beatrice. "Ormfell stands on the Ravengar lands, you know."
"Humph! if I should ask for permission I may meet with a refusal. In such circumstances, therefore, I feel myself justified56 in committing a bold trespass57."
"Well, if you should be caught, Mr. Breakspear," said Beatrice with a blush, "I will intercede58 for you with Lord Ormsby, for I believe I am rather a favourite of his."
Idris tendered her his thanks. He had almost forgotten that the pretty maiden59 sitting beside him might one day be the inheritrix of Ravenhall, and owner of those very lands the proprietary60 rights of which he was preparing to set at naught61.
[Pg 90]
"But," continued Beatrice, "if you are not going to apply for the earl's permission, how do you intend to escape observation?"
"By conducting my operations in the dead of night."
"I shall not be the first who has so acted, Miss Ravengar."
"You will not object to my help, I presume?" Godfrey remarked.
"On the contrary, I shall be glad of it."
"I am half-disposed to join in this romantic business myself," said Beatrice with a smile. "How interesting if you should discover the treasure!"
"We are not very likely to discover treasure that was secreted63 a thousand years ago," commented Godfrey.
"And yet," said Idris, "many sepulchral barrows, opened in our day, are found to contain treasure—coins, drinking-horns, armour64, and the like."
"True: but in this case you forget that the words on the runic ring were an express invitation to Orm's son—what was his name, Magnus?—to possess himself of the treasure. He would not leave much for posterity65 to glean66."
"Yes, if he received his mother's ring; but how if it miscarried? Hilda evidently lived far away from her son Magnus, else why should she have engraved her communication on metal, when she could more easily have delivered it viva voce and face to face? The messenger entrusted67 with the ring may have gone astray. Travelling was a difficult matter in Norse times, and many perils68 beset69 the wayfarer70, especially a wayfarer who carried anything worth stealing. Or consider this point, that though Magnus was capable of understanding the runic riddle—otherwise his mother would not have adopted such a[Pg 91] mode of communication—yet it does not follow that his son or successor was equally skilled. Supposing, then, that Magnus was dead when the messenger arrived with the ring, there may have been no one in Deira capable of interpreting the message. The ring might thus retain its secret, and the hillock its treasure, down to our own time."
"Possible, but not probable," smiled Godfrey.
Beatrice's eyes rested upon the vellum containing Idris' translation of the runic inscription.
"'The fires of the Asas guard thy heritage for thee!'" she read. "What does that mean?"
"The Asas were the old Norse gods, who were supposed to dart71 forth flames upon any one venturing to disturb the sleep of the dead."
"Then beware, Mr. Breakspear," she said playfully, "for you are going the very way to evoke72 their wrath73. 'The noontide shadow of the oft-carried throne will be to thee for a sign.' How do you interpret that?"
"I wish I could answer you, Miss Ravengar. That sentence is an enigma74 I've never been able to solve. It is my intention to pay a visit to Ormfell at noon to-morrow, when an inspection75 of the hillock may perhaps throw some light on the matter."
Soon afterwards Beatrice retired76 for the night, but it was a long time before sleep came to her. She lay awake, thinking of Idris, and of the passionate77 look that came into his eyes at the sight of the beautiful Lorelie Rivière.
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1
cosy
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| adj.温暖而舒适的，安逸的 | |
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ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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jointly
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| ad.联合地，共同地 | |
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embroidery
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| n.绣花，刺绣；绣制品 | |
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whetted
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| v.（在石头上）磨（刀、斧等）( whet的过去式和过去分词 )；引起，刺激（食欲、欲望、兴趣等） | |
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hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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engraved
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| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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inscription
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| n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文 | |
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transcript
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| n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书 | |
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scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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12
inscribed
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| v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接 | |
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13
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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bugle
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| n.军号，号角，喇叭；v.吹号，吹号召集 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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err
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| vi.犯错误，出差错 | |
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assassinated
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| v.暗杀( assassinate的过去式和过去分词 )；中伤；诋毁；破坏 | |
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procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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antiquities
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| n.古老( antiquity的名词复数 )；古迹；古人们；古代的风俗习惯 | |
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syllable
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| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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syllables
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| n.音节( syllable的名词复数 ) | |
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juxtaposition
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| n.毗邻，并置，并列 | |
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consonants
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| n.辅音，子音( consonant的名词复数 )；辅音字母 | |
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25
component
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| n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的 | |
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ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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downwards
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| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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29
random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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consecutive
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| adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的 | |
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intelligible
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| adj.可理解的，明白易懂的，清楚的 | |
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impulsive
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| adj.冲动的，刺激的；有推动力的 | |
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rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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perimeter
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| n.周边，周长，周界 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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40
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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ordnance
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| n.大炮，军械 | |
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43
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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vassals
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| n.奴仆( vassal的名词复数 )；（封建时代）诸侯；从属者；下属 | |
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dependants
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| 受赡养者，受扶养的家属( dependant的名词复数 ) | |
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nucleus
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| n.核，核心，原子核 | |
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alluding
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| 提及，暗指( allude的现在分词 ) | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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50
sepulchral
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| adj.坟墓的，阴深的 | |
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51
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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52
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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shrouded
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| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
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54
quell
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| v.压制，平息，减轻 | |
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55
excavations
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| n.挖掘( excavation的名词复数 )；开凿；开凿的洞穴（或山路等）；（发掘出来的）古迹 | |
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56
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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57
trespass
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| n./v.侵犯，闯入私人领地 | |
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58
intercede
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| vi.仲裁，说情 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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60
proprietary
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| n.所有权，所有的；独占的；业主 | |
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61
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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63
secreted
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| v.（尤指动物或植物器官）分泌( secrete的过去式和过去分词 )；隐匿，隐藏 | |
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64
armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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65
posterity
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| n.后裔，子孙，后代 | |
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66
glean
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| v.收集(消息、资料、情报等) | |
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67
entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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69
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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70
wayfarer
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| n.旅人 | |
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71
dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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72
evoke
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| vt.唤起，引起，使人想起 | |
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73
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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74
enigma
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| n.谜，谜一样的人或事 | |
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75
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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76
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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77
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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