i62 THE BOOK OF BIRDS 



There is a story which connects the Raven with the 

 discovery of Iceland by the Norsemen. One of this hardy 

 race, Flokki by name, sailing westward over the desolate 

 northern seas, and being sorely perplexed as to the direction 

 in which land might be found, set free in succession three 

 of these birds which he had brought with him. The first 

 two flew back home, but the third flew away towards the 

 north-west. Noting the direction, Flokki headed his 

 galley thither, and in due course reached the island, which 

 till then seems to have been unknown to his country- 

 men. 



Among the monkish legends which gathered round the 

 memory of this and that holy saint and hermit, in those far- 

 off days, a quaint story is told of St. Guthlac. 



He had sought out a dwelling-place in what he knew to 

 be the loneliest, dreariest wilderness in all the eastern 

 shires. This was the Great Fen, where land and water 

 seemed to be always striving for the mastery and each 

 spoiled the other, so that no great distance could be 

 traversed either by keeled boat or foot of man. But St. 

 Guthlac learned of one spot of firm ground — the same where 

 afterwards was reared the famous Abbey of Croyland — and 

 there he built himself a hut in which to meditate and pray. 



His fame as a holy man spread far and wide, and many 

 a visitor had he. Some came for healing, and some for 

 teaching. But both he and they were much troubled by 

 reason of the thievish practices of the fen Ravens ; for, 

 grown bold in the solitude, they would swoop down and 

 snatch from these pilgrims any trinket or dropped coin or 

 ornament of dress which took their fancy. 



Then the Saint reproached the Ravens for their evil 

 ways, and the birds listened and hung their heads, and 

 finally flew down to him carrying the stolen articles in 



