202 THE VAUANGIANS. 



appears to have possessed a natural genius. Suddenly, however, a 

 martial form was seen rapidly advancing through the dismayed 

 crowd, and a voice of thunder was heard recalling the infuriated 

 warriors to their duty. It was Redwald ; and his sudden apparition, 

 his threatening brow, and drawn sword, struck awe into the souls of 

 his followers, maddened or stupefied as they were with their late de- 

 bauch. But a huge Dane, the most intoxicated of the party, and by 

 nature fierce and turbulent, seizing a bar of iron from the hand of a 

 workman in the crowd, aimed a violent blow at Redwald, exclaiming 

 " Comrades, what fear ye ? Stay, but an instant, and with this " 



He spoke no more. Swifter than the lightning, the sword of 

 Redwald descending cut sheer through the enormous neck, and 

 the head rolled in the dust, the eyes glaring hideously, and the 

 shaggy red beard dyed a deeper hue in the vital fluid. The rest, who 

 had been preparing for resistance, shrank back appalled. Redwald 

 lost not a moment, but rushing amongst them, striking some with the 

 flat of his bloody blade, and rebuking all in a loud and authorative 

 tone, compelled their submission, and ceased not till he had delivered 

 them into the charge of a guard of their fellow-soldiers who now 

 arrived at the scene of action, and had beheld them placed in con- 

 finement. For many days subsequent to this mutinous display, 

 Redwald was entirely occupied with his military duties, and saw not 

 Evadne, whom indeed he had seldom visited for some time previous, 

 having been engaged, in the intervals of his own more peculiar duty, 

 in assisting in the training of some of the raw levies which the 

 emperor had raised in the northern provinces of his dominions, and 

 had added to his numerous, though motley, forces. But one after- 

 noon whilst he was conversing with a group of his friends, he was 

 called aside by a little Greek, in whose countenance and twinkling 

 black eyes there was a strong expression of mirth, together with 

 knavery, who imparted to him in a low tone such tidings as made 

 him instantly hurry to seek his horses and servants, without giving 

 any explanation of the cause of his haste to the somewhat surprised 

 party. 



Besides the Varangians, the Emperor had now in pay a small 

 body of adventurers from France or Germany, and amongst these 

 had lately been admitted, at his own request, a stranger, who claimed 

 to be of noble descent, though possessing nought but his sword. His 

 name, he said, was Galahautin ; he was handsome and elegant in 

 person, polished and insinuating in his manners ; so much so, indeed, 

 that he was without hesitation admitted into the society of the most 

 distinguished families in Constantinople. Amongst these was that of 

 Lesbia, an honour which he had been particularly anxious to obtain, 

 for he had already seen Evadne, and had already nourished in his 

 mind the idea of obtaining her love, in the pursuit of which he was 

 resolved to be overcome by nothing but impossibility. When intro- 

 duced to her he was not, however, too precipitate in his attentions, 

 but by an artful and measured conduct endeavoured gradually to win 

 a place in her affections. His various accomplishments and know- 

 ledge of the world made him a most agreeable companion, and his 

 apparent frankness and benevolence induced Evadne to listen for a 



