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headed sexton stood in the porch； who； perceiving that we were
strangers； invited us to enter。 We were presently in the interior；
wandering about the aisles； looking on the walls； and inspecting
the monuments of the notable dead。 I can scarcely state what we
saw； how should I？ I was a child not yet four years old； and yet I
think I remember the evening sun streaming in through a stained
window upon the dingy mahogany pulpit； and flinging a rich lustre
upon the faded tints of an ancient banner。 And now once more we
were outside the building； where； against the wall； stood a low…
eaved pent…house； into which we looked。 It was half filled with
substances of some kind； which at first looked like large gray
stones。 The greater part were lying in layers； some； however； were
seen in confused and mouldering heaps； and two or three； which had
perhaps rolled down from the rest； lay separately on the floor。
'Skulls； madam；' said the sexton； 'skulls of the old Danes！ Long
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