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ago they came pirating into these parts； and then there chanced a
mighty shipwreck； for God was angry with them； and He sunk them；
and their skulls； as they came ashore； were placed here as a
memorial。 There were many more when I was young； but now they are
fast disappearing。 Some of them must have belonged to strange
fellows； madam。 Only see that one； why； the two young gentry can
scarcely lift it！' And； indeed； my brother and myself had entered
the Golgotha； and commenced handling these grim relics of
mortality。 One enormous skull； lying in a corner； had fixed our
attention； and we had drawn it forth。 Spirit of eld； what a skull
was yon！
I still seem to see it； the huge grim thing； many of the others
were large； strikingly so； and appeared fully to justify the old
man's conclusion that their owners must have been strange fellows；
but； compared with this mighty mass of bone； they looked small and
diminutive like those of pigmies； it must have belonged to a giant；
one of those red…haired warriors of whose strength and stature such
wondrous tales are told in the ancient chronicles of the north； and
whose grave…hills； when ransacked； occasionally reveal secrets
which fill the minds of puny moderns with astonishment and awe。
Reader； have you ever pored days and nights over the pages of
Snorro？ … probably not； for he wrote in a language which few of the
present day understand； and few would be tempted to read him tamed
down by Latin dragomans。 A brave old book is that of Snorro；
containing the histories and adventures of old northern kings and
champions； who seemed to have been quite different men； if we may
judge from the feats which they performed； from those of these
days； one of the best of his histories is that which describes the
life of Harald Haardraade； who； after manifold adventures by land
and sea； now a pirate； now a mercenary of the Greek emperor； became
king of Norway； and eventually perished at the battle of Stamford
Bridge； whilst engaged in a gallant onslaught upon England。 Now； I
have often thought that the old Kemp； whose mouldering skull in the
Golgotha of Hythe my brother and myself could scarcely lift； must
have resembled in one respect at least this Harald； whom Snorro
describes as a great and wise ruler and a determined leader；
dangerous in battle； of fair presence and measuring in height just
FIVE ELLS； neither more nor less。
I never forgot the Daneman's skull； like the apparition of the
viper in the sandy lane； it dwelt in the mind of the boy； affording
copious food for the exercise of imagination。 From that moment
with the name of Dane were associated strange ideas of strength；
daring； and superhuman stature； and an undefinable curiosity for
all that is connected with the Danish race began to pervade me； and
if； long after； when I became a student I devoted myself with
peculiar zest to Danish lore and the acquirement of the old Norse
tongue and its dialects； I can only explain the matter by the early
impression received at Hythe from the tale of the old sexton；
beneath the pent…house； and the sight of the Danish skull。
And thus we went on straying from place to place； at Hythe to…day；
and perhaps within a week looking out from our hostel…window upon
the streets of old Winchester； our motions ever in accordance with
the 'route' of the regiment； so habituated to change of scene that
it had become almost necessary to our existence。 Pleasant were
these days of my early boyhood； and a melancholy pleasure steals
over me as I recall them。 Those were stirring times of which I am
speaking； and there was much passing around me calculated to
captivate the imagination。 The dreadful struggle which so long
convulsed Europe； and in which England bore so prominent a part；
was then at its hottest； we were at war； and determination and
enthusiasm shone in every face； man； woman； and child were eager to
fight the Frank； the hereditary； but； thank God； never dreaded
enemy of the Anglo…Saxon race。 'Love your country and beat the
French； and then never mind what happens；' was the cry of entire
England。 Oh； those were days of power； gallant days； bustling
days； worth the bravest days of chivalry at least； tall battalions
of native warriors were marching through the land； there was the
glitter of the bayonet and the gleam of the sabre； the shrill
squeak of the fife and loud rattling of the drum were heard in the
streets of country towns； and the loyal shouts of the inhabitants
greeted the soldiery on their arrival； or cheered them at their
departure。 And now let us leave the upland； and descend to the
sea…bord； there is a sight for you upon the billows！ A dozen men…
of…war are gliding majestically out of port； their long buntings
streaming from the top…gallant masts； calling on the skulking
Frenchman to come forth from his bights and bays； and what looms
upon us yonder from the fog…bank in the east？ a gallant frigate
towing behind her the long low hull of a crippled privateer； which
but three short days ago had left Dieppe to skim the sea； and whose
crew of ferocious hearts are now cursing their imprudence in an
English hold。 Stirring times those； which I love to recall； for
they were days of gallantry and enthusiasm； and were moreover the
days of my boyhood。
CHAPTER III
Pretty D… … The venerable church … The stricken heart … Dormant
energies … The small packet … Nerves … The books … A picture …
Mountain…like billows … The footprint … Spirit of De Foe …
Reasoning powers … Terrors of God … Heads of the dragons … High…
Church clerk … A journey … The drowned country。
AND when I was between six and seven years of age we were once more
at D…； the place of my birth； whither my father had been despatched
on the recruiting service。 I have already said that it was a
beautiful little town … at least it was at the time of which I am
speaking … what it is at present I know not； for thirty years and
more have elapsed since I last trod its streets。 It will scarcely
have improved； for how could it be better than it then was？ I love
to think on thee； pretty quiet D…； thou pattern of an English
country town； with thy clean but narrow streets branching out from
thy modest market…place； with thine old…fashioned houses； with here
and there a roof of venerable thatch； with thy one half…
aristocratic mansion； where resided thy Lady Bountiful … she； the
generous and kind； who loved to visit the sick； leaning on her
gold…headed cane； whilst the sleek old footman walked at a
respectful distance behind。 Pretty quiet D…； with thy venerable
church； in which moulder the mortal remains of England's sweetest
and most pious bard。
Yes； pretty D…； I could always love thee； were it but for the sake
of him who sleeps beneath the marble slab in yonder quiet chancel。
It was within thee that the long…oppressed bosom heaved its last
sigh； and the crushed and gentle spirit escaped from a world in
which it had known nought but sorrow。 Sorrow！ do I say？ How faint
a word to express the misery of that bruised reed； misery so dark
that a blind worm like myself is occasionally tempted to exclaim；
Better had the world never been created than that one so kind； so
harmless； and so mild； should have undergone such intolerable woe！
But it is over now； for； as there is an end of joy； so has
affliction its termination。 Doubtless the All…wise did not afflict
him without a cause： who knows but within that unhappy frame
lurked vicious seeds which the sunbeams of joy and prosperity might
have called into life and vigour？ Perhaps the withering blasts of
misery nipped that which otherwise might have terminated in fruit
noxious and lamentable。 But peace to the unhappy one； he is gone
to his rest； the death…like face is no longer occasionally seen
timidly and mournfully looking for a moment through the window…pane
upon thy market…place； quiet and pretty D…； the hind in thy
neighbourhood no longer at evening…fall views； and starts as he
views； the dark lathy figure moving beneath the hazels and alders
of shadowy lanes； or by the side of murmuring trout streams； and no
longer at early dawn does the sexton of the old church reverently
doff his hat； as； supported by some kind friend； the death…stricken
creature totters along the church…path to that mouldering edifice
with the low roof； inclosing a spring of sanatory waters； built and
devoted to some saint； if the legend over the door be true； by the
daughter of an East Anglian king。
But to return to my own history。 I had now attained the age of
six： shall I state what intellectual progress I had been making up
to this period？ Alas！ upon this point I have little to say
calculated to afford either pleasure or edification； I had
increased rapidl