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hairs on their lips。 Their flanks were smoking。 They sank
above the fetlocks at every step in the soft snow。
Last of all came the rear guard； armed with bows and
javelins。 It was no child's play； in those days； to cross
Europe afoot。
The weird woodland； sombre and illimitable； covered hill
and vale； table…land and mountain…peak。 There were wide moors
where the wolves hunted in packs as if the devil drove them；
and tangled thickets where the lynx and the boar made their
lairs。 Fierce bears lurked among the rocky passes； and had
not yet learned to fear the face of man。 The gloomy recesses
of the forest gave shelter to inhabitants who were still more
cruel and dangerous than beasts of prey；outlaws and sturdy
robbers and mad were…wolves and bands of wandering pillagers。
The pilgrim who would pass from the mouth of the Tiber to
the mouth of the Rhine must trust in God and keep his arrows
loose in the quiver。
The travellers were surrounded by an ocean of trees； so
vast； so full of endless billows； that it seemed to be
pressing on every side to overwhelm them。 Gnarled oaks； with
branches twisted and knotted as if in rage； rose in groves
like tidal waves。 Smooth forests of beech…trees； round and
gray； swept over the knolls and slopes of land in a mighty
ground…swell。 But most of all； the multitude of pines and
firs； innumerable and monotonous； with straight； stark trunks；
and branches woven together in an unbroken flood of darkest
green； crowded through the valleys and over the hills； rising
on the highest ridges into ragged crests； like the foaming
edge of breakers。
Through this sea of shadows ran a narrow stream of shining
whiteness；an ancient Roman road； covered with snow。 It was
as if some great ship had ploughed through the green ocean
long ago； and left behind it a thick； smooth wake of foam。
Along this open track the travellers held their way；heavily；
for the drifts were deep； warily； for the hard winter had driven
many packs of wolves down from the moors。
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 back