BIRD OF ODIN 135 



among those on whom he was about to make his fatal 

 swoop. Sometimes, the banner of a noted sea-king 

 would be woven by his mother, with her own 

 hands, with wondrous skill and under potent spells, 

 which were destined, it was believed, to bring 

 victory to his band of warriors, but death to him 

 who bore it ; and there were never wanting those 

 who, like the Decii family at Rome, or the Japanese 

 of the present day, were eager candidates for the 

 post of honour and of fate.* 



But the raven-standard did not always lead its 

 followers to victory ; and the capture of one such 

 standard was a turning point in the fortunes 

 of the English nation, and of the best and 

 greatest of English kings. Ragnar Ludbrog, 

 a famous sea-king, was believed to have been 

 stung to death by serpents, in the dungeon 

 of the Northumbrian king, ^Ella, who had taken 

 him prisoner. His sons swore to avenge him by 

 conquering England ; and his daughters managed 

 to weave, in one noontide, the mysterious " Raefan" 

 or raven-standard, which was to accompany them, 

 and to help and to witness the conquest. Did it 

 appear to flap its wings as they marched into 

 battle, it was a sure omen of victory. Did the 

 * Dasent's Story Q/ Burnt Njal } vol. i., p. 120. 



