Reader，haveyoueverporeddaysandnightsoverthepagesofSnorro？-probablynot，forhewroteinalanguagewhichfewofthepresentdayunderstand，andfewwouldbetemptedtoreadhimtameddownbyLatindragomans。AbraveoldbookisthatofSnorro，containingthehistoriesandadventuresofoldnorthernkingsandchampions，whoseemedtohavebeenquitedifferentmen，ifwemayjudgefromthefeatswhichtheyperformed，fromthoseofthesedays；oneofthebestofhishistoriesisthatwhichdescribesthelifeofHaraldHaardraade，who，aftermanifoldadventuresbylandandsea，nowapirate，nowamercenaryoftheGreekemperor，becamekingofNorway，andeventuallyperishedatthebattleofStamfordBridge，whilstengagedinagallantonslaughtuponEngland。Now，I
haveoftenthoughtthattheoldKemp，whosemoulderingskullintheGolgothaofHythemybrotherandmyselfcouldscarcelylift，musthaveresembledinonerespectatleastthisHarald，whomSnorrodescribesasagreatandwiserulerandadeterminedleader，dangerousinbattle，offairpresenceandmeasuringinheightjustFIVEELLS，neithermorenorless。
IneverforgottheDaneman’sskull；liketheapparitionoftheviperinthesandylane，itdweltinthemindoftheboy，affordingcopiousfoodfortheexerciseofimagination。FromthatmomentwiththenameofDanewereassociatedstrangeideasofstrength，daring，andsuperhumanstature；andanundefinablecuriosityforallthatisconnectedwiththeDanishracebegantopervademe；andif，longafter，whenIbecameastudentIdevotedmyselfwithpeculiarzesttoDanishloreandtheacquirementoftheoldNorsetongueanditsdialects，IcanonlyexplainthematterbytheearlyimpressionreceivedatHythefromthetaleoftheoldsexton，beneaththepent-house，andthesightoftheDanishskull。
Andthuswewentonstrayingfromplacetoplace，atHytheto-day，andperhapswithinaweeklookingoutfromourhostel-windowuponthestreetsofoldWinchester，ourmotionseverinaccordancewiththe’route’oftheregiment，sohabituatedtochangeofscenethatithadbecomealmostnecessarytoourexistence。Pleasantwerethesedaysofmyearlyboyhood；andamelancholypleasurestealsovermeasIrecallthem。ThosewerestirringtimesofwhichIamspeaking，andtherewasmuchpassingaroundmecalculatedtocaptivatetheimagination。ThedreadfulstrugglewhichsolongconvulsedEurope，andinwhichEnglandboresoprominentapart，wasthenatitshottest；wewereatwar，anddeterminationandenthusiasmshoneineveryface；man，woman，andchildwereeagertofighttheFrank，thehereditary，but，thankGod，neverdreadedenemyoftheAnglo-Saxonrace。’LoveyourcountryandbeattheFrench，andthennevermindwhathappens，’wasthecryofentireEngland。Oh，thoseweredaysofpower，gallantdays，bustlingdays，worththebravestdaysofchivalryatleast；tallbattalionsofnativewarriorsweremarchingthroughtheland；therewastheglitterofthebayonetandthegleamofthesabre；theshrillsqueakofthefifeandloudrattlingofthedrumwereheardinthestreetsofcountrytowns，andtheloyalshoutsoftheinhabitantsgreetedthesoldieryontheirarrival，orcheeredthemattheirdeparture。Andnowletusleavetheupland，anddescendtothesea-bord；thereisasightforyouuponthebillows!Adozenmen-
of-warareglidingmajesticallyoutofport，theirlongbuntingsstreamingfromthetop-gallantmasts，callingontheskulkingFrenchmantocomeforthfromhisbightsandbays；andwhatloomsuponusyonderfromthefog-bankintheeast？agallantfrigatetowingbehindherthelonglowhullofacrippledprivateer，whichbutthreeshortdaysagohadleftDieppetoskimthesea，andwhosecrewofferociousheartsarenowcursingtheirimprudenceinanEnglishhold。Stirringtimesthose，whichIlovetorecall，fortheyweredaysofgallantryandenthusiasm，andweremoreoverthedaysofmyboyhood。