the blue flower-第30节

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The　steps　of　the　pilgrims　were　noiseless；　but　the　sledges
creaked　over　the　dry　snow；　and　the　panting　of　the　horses
throbbed　through　the　still　air。　　The　pale…blue　shadows　on　the
western　side　of　the　road　grew　longer。　　The　sun；　declining
through　its　shallow　arch；　dropped　behind　the　tree…tops。
Darkness　followed　swiftly；　as　if　it　had　been　a　bird　of　prey
waiting　for　this　sign　to　swoop　down　upon　the　world。

〃Father；〃　said　Gregor　to　the　leader；　〃surely　this　day's
march　is　done。　　It　is　time　to　rest；　and　eat；　and　sleep。　　If　we
press　onward　now；　we　cannot　see　our　steps；　and　will　not　that
be　against　the　word　of　the　psalmist　David；　who　bids　us　not　to
put　confidence　in　the　legs　of　a　man？〃

Winfried　laughed。　　〃Nay；　my　son　Gregor；〃　said　he；　〃thou
hast　tripped；　even　now；　upon　thy　text。　　For　David　said　only；
'I　take　no　pleasure　in　the　legs　of　a　man。'　　And　so　say　I；　for
I　am　not　minded　to　spare　thy　legs　or　mine；　until　we　come　farther
on　our　way；　and　do　what　must　be　done　this　night。　　Draw　thy
belt　tighter；　my　son；　and　hew　me　out　this　tree　that　is　fallen
across　the　road；　for　our　campground　is　not　here。〃

The　youth　obeyed；　two　of　the　foresters　sprang　to　help　him；
and　while　the　soft　fir…wood　yielded　to　the　stroke　of　the　axes；
and　the　snow　flew　from　the　bending　branches；　Winfried　turned
and　spoke　to　his　followers　in　a　cheerful　voice；　that　refreshed
them　like　wine。

〃Courage；　brothers；　and　forward　yet　a　little！　　The　moon
will　light　us　presently；　and　the　path　is　plain。　　Well　know　I
that　the　journey　is　weary；　and　my　own　heart　wearies　also　for
the　home　in　England；　where　those　I　love　are　keeping　feast　this
Christmas…eve。　　But　we　have　work　to　do　before　we　feast
to…night。　　For　this　is　the　Yuletide；　and　the　heathen　people　of
the　forest　are　gathered　at　the　thunder…oak　of　Geismar　to
worship　their　god；　Thor。　　Strange　things　will　be　seen　there；
and　deeds　which　make　the　soul　black。　　But　we　are　sent　to
lighten　their　darkness；　and　we　will　teach　our　kinsmen　to　keep
a　Christmas　with　us　such　as　the　woodland　has　never　known。
Forward；　then；　and　stiffen　up　the　feeble　knees！〃

A　murmur　of　assent　came　from　the　men。　　Even　the　horses
seemed　to　take　fresh　heart。　　They　flattened　their　backs　to
draw　the　heavy　loads；　and　blew　the　frost　from　their　nostrils
as　they　pushed　ahead。

The　night　grew　broader　and　less　oppressive。　　A　gate　of
brightness　was　opened　secretly　somewhere　in　the　sky。　　Higher
and　higher　swelled　the　clear　moon…flood；　until　it　poured　over
the　eastern　wall　of　forest　into　the　road。　　A　drove　of　wolves
howled　faintly　in　the　distance；　but　they　were　receding；　and
the　sound　soon　died　away。　　The　stars　sparkled　merrily　through
the　stringent　air；　the　small；　round　moon　shone　like　silver；
little　breaths　of　dreaming　wind　wandered　across　the　pointed
fir…tops；　as　the　pilgrims　toiled　bravely　onward；　following
their　clew　of　light　through　a　labyrinth　of　darkness。

After　a　while　the　road　began　to　open　out　a　little。　　There
were　spaces　of　meadow…land；　fringed　with　alders；　behind　which
a　boisterous　river　ran　clashing　through　spears　of　ice。

Rude　houses　of　hewn　logs　appeared　in　the　openings；　each　one
casting　a　patch　of　inky　shadow　upon　the　snow。　Then　the　travellers
passed　a　larger　group　of　dwellings；　all　silent　and　unlighted；　and
beyond；　they　saw　a　great　house；　with　many　outbuildings　and
inclosed　courtyards；　from　which　the　hounds　bayed　furiously；　and　a
noise　of　stamping　horses　came　from　the　stalls。　　But　there　was　no
other　sound　of　life。　　The　fields　around　lay　naked　to　the　moon。
They　saw　no　man；　except　that　once；　on　a　path　that　skirted　the
farther　edge　of　a　meadow；　three　dark　figures　passed　them；　running
very　swiftly。

Then　the　road　plunged　again　into　a　dense　thicket；
traversed　it；　and　climbing　to　the　left；　emerged　suddenly　upon
a　glade；　round　and　level　except　at　the　northern　side；　where　a
hillock　was　crowned　with　a　huge　oak…tree。　　It　towered　above
the　heath；　a　giant　with　contorted　arms；　beckoning　to　the　host
of　lesser　trees。　　〃Here；〃　cried　Winfried；　as　his　eyes　flashed
and　his　hand　lifted　his　heavy　staff；　〃here　is　the　Thunder…oak；
and　here　the　cross　of　Christ　shall　break　the　hammer　of　the
false　god　Thor。〃

Withered　leaves　still　clung　to　the　branches　of　the　oak：　torn
and　faded　banners　of　the　departed　summer。　　The　bright　crimson
of　autumn　had　long　since　disappeared；　bleached　away　by　the
storms　and　the　cold。　　But　to…night　these　tattered　remnants　of
glory　were　red　again：　ancient　bloodstains　against　the
dark…blue　sky。　　For　an　immense　fire　had　been　kindled　in　front
of　the　tree。　　Tongues　of　ruddy　flame；　fountains　of　ruby
sparks；　ascended　through　the　spreading　limbs　and　flung　a
fierce　illumination　upward　and　around。　　The　pale；　pure
moonlight　that　bathed　the　surrounding　forests　was　quenched　and
eclipsed　here。　　Not　a　beam　of　it　sifted　through　the　branches
of　the　oak。　　It　stood　like　a　pillar　of　cloud　between　the　still
light　of　heaven　and　the　crackling；　flashing　fire　of　earth。

But　the　fire　itself　was　invisible　to　Winfried　and　his
companions。　　A　great　throng　of　people　were　gathered　around　it
in　a　half…circle；　their　backs　to　the　open　glade；　their　faces
toward　the　oak。　　Seen　against　that　glowing　background；　it　was　but
the　silhouette　of　a　crowd；　vague；　black；　formless；　mysterious。

The　travellers　paused　for　a　moment　at　the　edge　of　the
thicket；　and　took　counsel　together。

〃It　is　the　assembly　of　the　tribe；〃　said　one　of　the
foresters；　〃the　great　night　of　the　council。　　I　heard　of　it
three　days　ago；　as　we　passed　through　one　of　the　villages。　　All
who　swear　by　the　old　gods　have　been　summoned。　　They　will
sacrifice　a　steed　to　the　god　of　war；　and　drink　blood；　and　eat
horse…flesh　to　make　them　strong。　　It　will　be　at　the　peril　of
our　lives　if　we　approach　them。　　At　least　we　must　hide　the
cross；　if　we　would　escape　death。〃

〃Hide　me　no　cross；〃　cried　Winfried；　lifting　his　staff；
〃for　I　have　come　to　show　it；　and　to　make　these　blind　folk　see
its　power。　　There　is　more　to　be　done　here　to…night　than　the
slaying　of　a　steed；　and　a　greater　evil　to　be　stayed　than　the
shameful　eating　of　meat　sacrificed　to　idols。　　I　have　seen　it
in　a　dream。　　Here　the　cross　must　stand　and　be　our　rede。〃

At　his　command　the　sledge　was　left　in　the　border
of　the　wood；　with　two　of　the　men　to　guard　it；　and　the　rest　of
the　company　moved　forward　across　the　open　ground。　　They
approached　unnoticed；　for　all　the　multitude　were　looking
intently　toward　the　fire　at　the　foot　of　the　oak。

Then　Winfried's　voice　rang　out；　〃Hail；　ye　sons　of　the
forest！　　A　stranger　claims　the　warmth　of　your　fire　in　the
winter　night。〃

Swiftly；　and　as　with　a　single　motion；　a　thousand　eyes　were
bent　upon　the　speaker。　　The　semicircle　opened　silently　in　the
middle；　Winfried　entered　with　his　followers；　it　closed　again
behind　them。

Then；　as　they　looked　round　the　curving　ranks；　they　saw
that　the　hue　of　the　assemblage　was　not　black；　but
white；dazzling；　radiant；　solemn。　　White；　the　robes　of　the
women　clustered　together　at　the　points　of　the　wide　crescent；
white；　the　glittering　byrnies　of　the　warriors　standing　in
close　ranks；　white；　the　fur　mantles　of　the　aged　men　who　held
the　central　palace　in　the　circle；　white；　with　the　shimmer　of
silver　ornaments　and　the　purity　of　lamb's…wool；　the　raiment　of
a　little　group　of　children　who　stood　close　by　the　fire；　white；
with　awe　and　fear；　the　faces　of　all　who　looked　at　them；　and　over
all　the　flickering；　dancing　radiance　of　the　flames　played　and
glimmered　like　a　faint；　vanishing　tinge　of　blood　on　snow。

The　only　figure　untouched　by　the　glow　was　the　old　priest；
Hunrad；　with　his　long；　spectral　robe；　flowing　hair　and　beard；
and　dead…pale　face；　who　stood　with　his　back　to　the　fire　and
advanced　slowly　to　meet　the　strangers。

〃Who　are　you？　　Whence　come　you；　and　what　seek　you　here？〃

〃Your　kinsman　am　I；　of　the　German　brotherhood；〃　answered
Winfried；　〃and　from　England；　beyond　the　sea；　have　I　come　to
bring　you　a　greeting　from　that　land；　and　a　message　from　the
All…Father；　whose　servant　I　am。〃

〃Welcome；　then；〃　said　Hunrad；　〃welcome；　kinsman；　and　be
silent；　for　what　passes　here　is　too　high　to　wait；　and　must　be
done　before　the　moon　crosses　the　middle　heaven；　unless；
indeed；　thou　hast　some　sign　or　token　from　the　gods。　　Canst
thou　work　miracles？〃

The　question　came　sharply；　as　if　a　sudden　gleam　of　hope
had　flashed　through　the　tangle　of　the　old　priest's　mind。　　But
Winfried's　voice　sank　lower　and　a　cloud　of　disappointment
passed　over　his　face　as　he　replied：　　〃Nay；　miracles　have　I
never　wrought；　though　I　have　heard　of　many；　but　the　All…Father
has　given　no　power　to　my　hands　save　such　as　belongs　to　common
man。〃

〃Stand　still；　then；　thou　common　man；〃　said　Hunrad；
scornfully；　〃and　behold　what　the　gods　have　called　us　hither　to
do。　　This　night　is　the　death…night　of　the　sun…god；　Baldur　the
Beautiful；　beloved　of　gods　and　men。　　This　night　is　the　hour　of
darkness　and　the　power　of　winter；　of　sacrifice　and　mighty
fear。　　This　night　the　great　Thor；　the　god　of　thunder　and　war；
to　whom　this　oak　is　sacred；　is　grieved　for　the　death　of
Baldur；　and　angry　with　this　people　because　they　have　forsaken
his　worship。　　Long　is　it　since　an　offering　has　been　laid　upon
his　altar；　long　since　the　roots　of　his　holy　tree　have　been　fed
with