The treasure finders; or, How the adventurers of four countries sought a new land

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE

I The Sea Rovers i

II The Man Who Found a Country . . 26

Introduction

The men who found America — who sailed the unknown seas, traversed mysterious forests, and came upon mighty rivers which flowed they knew not whither, were heroes of daring. Their lives were full of excitement, and the adventures which befell, them — the dangers they faced, the mutinies and plots they quelled, the strange sights they saw — form stirring chapters in the history of our country.

The following stories deal with the romances of discovery and exploration. As a noted historian has said, no boy who has made friends with Robinson Crusoe, will fail to be at home with Champlain and Drake ; no girl at all familiar with the heroines of the past, will forget the picturesqueness of Queen Isabella.

The spirit of piracy was found aboard the small boats which put out from Spain, England, France, and Holland. How tiny and how insecure these crafts were will be remembered by many who saw the caravel which was brought over from Spain by our armored cruiser for the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, and the model of the Half -Mo on which

INTRODUCTION

was stored away on one of our modern ocean liners, and sent by the Dutch to participate in the Hudson-Fulton celebration in 1909.

The only real way to understand history is to know the men who made history, A date only tells when a thing was done ; it does not tell how or why it was done. A date only tells when a man lived; it does not make us see the man as he actually was. 1492 is a year we all remember, but the picture of Columbus pacing the deck alone, looking into the darkness of night for some sign of land, thinking every star a signal from an unknown shore — such a picture is more interesting than the date.

History is not a dry study; it is full of action, and this action is what makes a story.

Chapter I

WHEN the world was very young, and our America an undiscovered country, the sun shone upon a virgin land of surpassing beauty, though none beyond the seas which girdled it knew of its existence. On either side an " ocean old, centuries old " lapped about its untrod shores. In the heart of it were lakes and rivers, dense forests and high mountains. Parts of it were warm and balmy, — the land where the palm trees grew, where the palmettoes spread their shade, and brilliant flowers and gorgeous-hued birds lived and flourished in the tropical sun. Parts showed majestic trees and plants of hardier growth, and seasons that came and went like our own. Winds sighed through the forests, and the waters of the lakes and rivers and woodland streams rippled in ceaseless flow. Sometimes wild beasts came down to the water's edge to drink, sometimes a red-skinned savage — his bow

I and arrows at his back — stole down too, another wild animal in search of prey. But for the most part reigned the silence of undisturbed peace.

The mountains towered in the blue distance, — some low and undulating, covered with green in Summer and red and yellow Autumn tints, and bare gaunt trees in Winter; others with lofty snowcapped peaks, standing clear-cut against the sky line. All great and mysterious, hugging their mighty secrets in a thousand clefts and ravines and abysses, burying stores as priceless as gold and silver beneath the weight of giant rock!

Beyond, in the far North where the rocks grew larger and the trees smaller, the angry waters lashed themselves into a fury at the foot of grim plateaus. " A stern and rock-bound " jagged coast-line jutted out into the sea, which roared and pitched its waves mountain high, building icebergs with every toss of its crested head. The heart of this country was frozen. Winter lived here in a crystal palace all the year round. True, for several months the sun shone with a brilliance which caused the snow and ice to sparkle with prism rays. But things which slept deep down in the frozen ground had never a chance to waken into life, so fond was the Frost King of his palace and his ice diamonds and his glittering snow, his polar bears, his seals, his sables, and the other furred things which were found in this bleak land.

There was rude living in this vast undiscovered country, for the savage tribes were little better than the animals they hunted, — wild, untamed creatures of the woods and glades and mountains, living on fruits and nuts. Then presently from between untutored lips came forth speech, very queer guttural sounds, but they passed from one to the other and were understood. Then came the hunger for something more than fruits and nuts. They boiled their food by putting it into holes in the ground; these holes were lined with skins, and the food was cooked upon heated stones or by putting it into baskets lined with clay and hung over a fire. For they soon discovered that clay was hardened by heat, and liquid food was safe cooked in that fashion. Then some one smarter than his mates discovered that the clay would do perfectly well without the basket, and thus began the invention of pottery.

After these savages had learned how to catch fish and to use fire, some master mind among them thought of the bow and arrow. With this they discovered they could fight and shoot wild animals, increasing their food supply, making them stronger and hardier. Then, searching among the animals of the forests, they found that the wolves, though savage like themselves, had the desire for companionship ; they were also keen hunters, and so the tribes caught many of them, and tamed them and trained them to live in the houses with their women and children, to lie before their rude fire-pits, and to lick the hands which gave them food or which stroked their rough coats, and to watch at night and to keep at bay their wild brethren of the woods.

Thus we find the dog in America, before the royal families of dogdom came over with the discoverers. Little by little these savages took to building with more skill and with eye to comfort, the dwellings where they passed the rainy season and their hours of rest. They planted maize or Indian corn which grew so easily and needed so little care ; also beans, squashes and pumpkins were added to their bill of fare, and by the time America was ready to be discovered, these simple, childlike folk had awakened from a purely savage state. They were learning the uses of the things around them, had fashioned rude implements of agriculture and war, and were living among themselves in some sort of law and order.

But up in the far North where the rocks rose sheer and desolate upon the bleak coast, the savage was still a wild creature. His food was coarser, his body — exposed to biting winds and ice and snow- — was of tougher fibre. He was clothed in fur, and he looked like the shaggy animals who dwelt there. Yet it was the dreary North country which was first to hear sounds from afar.

Across frozen seas lay a world which was centuries old, no older in reality than the world which we call new ; old only in the sense that civiHsation had long abided there. In Europe there were nations many and great, dominions of vast extent and power. There were men of might, of wisdom and of learning; priests, warriors, kings and queens, scholars and sages, and a host of lesser folk who peopled the great cities and cultivated the soil, and who went forth to fight and die for their country, or to conquer and wrest possessions from the enemy.

Norway was but a small part of this restless, crowded continent. Way up in the North it lay between two seas which did much to separate it from the mainland. For if we pause a moment and conjure up the map of Europe in our minds, we will remember that Norway and Sweden (it was all Norway in the earlier ages) formed a peninsular touching land only in the extreme northern part of Russia.

A cold, bleak country is Norway, with its fjords and lakes, its gloomy mountains capped with ice even in Summer-time when the days were longer and the skies bluer. Summer-time in Norway lasts but a short while, yet it is a glorious time, when jiight and morning meet half-way in the clear sky, and the sun shines brilliantly at midnight — such a sight !

The fjords and the mountains were fitting scenery for the hardy race of men who flourished there.

Strong, powerful, bearded giants they were, living a wild, poetic life; hunting, fishing, warring with each other and serving heathen gods — as wild as the mountains, the fjords, the crags and cliffs of Norway. Surrounded by the sea, these sturdy people set themselves the task of building ships to ride upon the waters in search of adventure. They had no knowledge of sea-craft, but they built their vessels of strong frame, and trusting themselves to Odin, the greatest of all their gods, they set forth on many enterprises.

The sea was their playground all winter long. Nine months out of the twelve they were snowbound and ice-bound, sitting in their great pillared halls around a fire which leaped and glowed as the flames wrapped about the huge logs which fed it, and making plans against the day when the ice should melt and give them liberty to go forth in their ships.

They lived a simple, stately life — these hardy Norsemen — worshipping their gods with strange ceremonies suited to the wildness of the regions which they were supposed to inhabit, and singing of their prowess in long poems written by their skalds or bards, poems which we may read to-day translated from the Norse collection known as the Edda. But most of all they loved the legends which told them of the coming of Spring. The story runs that two lovers declared their passion to each other one stormy night in a lonely hut on the mountain-side.

They had no fear, for they were descended from the gods and enjoyed their protection, and though trackless wastes of snow lay about them, love was warm in their hearts and rushed to their lips in one fervent kiss. It was as a sign ; the doors of the snowbound hut were opened wide, and without — the snow had disappeared, the hills were green with grass and gay with flowers, the sky was bright and blue, birds were singing, and everywhere was the murmur of running streams as the icy fetters melted in the sun's rays.

The goddess Freya had wrought this change at the first kiss of the lovers she watched over. Winter had vanished from the land ; the Spring had come !

Centuries of such springs had summoned generations of Norsemen to go forth in search of adventure. They were heathens still, though Christianity had knocked and gained admittance into most of the European countries. They served their stern gods while they lived, and when it came time to die they sailed away on their ships with their dogs and steeds and much treasure, on their journey to Valhalla — the great hall of Odin — where all brave men and warriors killed in battle were supposed to live after death. When the ship stood well out at sea the torch was set to it, and in clouds of smoke and bursts of flame the departing spirit took its flight to the hall of the blest.

Somewhere about the year 872, King Harold Fairhair of Norway subdued the Jarls or princes who were sowing discontent in the country. He overcame them in a great naval battle, after a war which had lasted twelve years. These proud princes became his vassals, but it galled them to serve where they had once commanded, so with their Viking followers they went aboard their dragon-prowed ships and, invoking the blessing of the storm-god, sailed away to other lands. England, Gaul (which was the name of ancient France), Ireland, Scotland, the Orkney Islands, the Hebrides, even the countries bordering upon the Mediterranean Sea, — in short, wherever there were waters upon which to ride their ships — saw the coming of these powerful men of the North.

But the best blood among them drifted to Iceland, that noble island surrounded by Northern waters where these sea-roving princes could enjoy their favourite sport, and it was not long before Iceland became a flourishing colony numbering at least fifty thousand souls. Here they raised sheep and cattle, and carried on a brisk trade in oil, butter, skins and wool, with Norway, Denmark, and the British Islands. The new colony soon became a centre of wealth and culture, for the Vikings of Iceland turned the legends of the new country into poems and histories which we know to-day as the Icelandic Sagas, and which contain a complete chronicle of the many adventures of these famous eea rovers who visited the coast of North America long before Columbus planned his voyage.

These Vikings, of whom we hear and read so much, were for the most part descended from royal blood, but the name Viking was not bestowed upon them as a royal title ; its real meaning is " son of the fjord," and whatever of majesty it carried with it lay in the stalwart giant frames of the men who bore the title. We can picture them now with their fair hair flowing over their broad shoulders, their ruddy weather-beaten faces, and their bright blue eyes — blue as the shadows of the snow in the country whence they sprung. We can see them in their ships, built always in the shape of some fabulous animal, going forth, they knew not where, — in quest of adventure, they knew not what.

In the Eddas and Sagas these ships have been so vividly described, that we may have some idea of how they built them in those early days. Navigators had not yet learned to depend entirely upon sails in propelling a ship, though when the wind was fair they raised a sturdy pole upon which they hung one or more sails. The old galley was still used, with benches below to hold the oarsmen. They were stronger, swifter, and more seaworthy than the Spanish sailing vessels which carried Columbus. They were called by figurative, poetic names, chiefly suggesting speed, such as Deer of the lo THE TREASURE FINDERS

Surf, Reindeer of the Breezes, Raven of the Sea, Gull of the Fjord, Snake of the Sea, Horse of the Gull's Track, and hundreds of others equally appropriate.

The war ships were many and of various shapes. There was the Dreki or Dragon, the finest and largest vessel of the North, so named because the prow was ornamented with the head and the stern with the tail of one or more dragons. Indeed, the Northmen cunningly contrived to paint and ornament their ships to represent the animals for which they were named. The Dragon was a long, low ship, with room in its interior to hold from twenty to twenty-five rowers' benches, each bench accommodating two rowers; the oars, moving evenly through the slits made to hold them, represented the legs of the fabulous creature ; the warriors' shields, hung over the sides, looked like the scales of the monster; and the sails, striped with red and blue, afar off resembled his wings.

There were other ships: the Skeid — noted for its swiftness; the Snekky — a smaller ship; the Skuta — smaller still, and many others of which there is mention in the chronicles. The rudder was always on the right side (starboard) ; the helmsman was generally the commander of the ship, and his place was often below the rudder-head, especially when in battle he wished to protect himself from flying missiles, as the aim of the enemy was always

THE SEA ROVERS ii

to disable the commander. Whoever organised an expedition for any purpose took the helm, thereby assuming command.

In the year 876, just two years after settling in Iceland, a certain Gnunbjorn, in search of adventure, was driven out of his course to the coast of Greenland, where he and his crew were forced to spend the Winter, as the ship was locked in ice. When the Spring set them free they went back to Iceland with wonderful tales of the land they had found, and over a century passed before any more discoveries were made by the Vikings.

In 983, Erik the Red, so called because of his red hair, killed a man in a brawl and was banished from Iceland. With a few followers he took ship, determined to find the country Gnunbjorn had described ; and being a fine old heathen, with little or no regret for the deed he had done, he thought only of a suitable place in which to make a new home. They spent three years in exploring the coast of Greenland, and at length found a spot at the head of Igaliko Fjord. It was a deep fjord, but they managed to penetrate it and found this refuge hidden by miles of craggy ice-covered headlands — a pleasant surprise considering the grim surroundings. And Erik named it Greenland, wisely observing it was well to have a pleasant name in order to induce people to come there. This name, which he gave to one little corner, has since become the name of the entire continent, without rhyme or reason, for there is little of green in that desolate country of leaden skies and rocks and icebergs.

At any rate, Erik was so well pleased with this expedition that he decided to venture back to Iceland for the purpose of persuading settlers to follow him thence to Greenland. He succeeded in bringing twenty-five ships full of people, and a marvellous array of Dragons, Snakes, Reindeer, Gulls, and other strange animals rode forth upon the sea. He had with him many of the best folk in Iceland, including his three fine sons Leif, Thorvald and Thorstein Eriksson — the last name meaning "a son of Erik.''

It was a noble company which set forth, but bad weather and cruel icebergs destroyed eleven ships with all aboard. The remaining fourteen after many adventures at last reached Igaliko Fjord with about five hundred survivors of this direful voyage. But Erik was undaunted ; he and his men set about building houses at a place called Brattahlid. And here Erik, the stormy, adventurous old chieftain, settled down as an honoured patriarch, to watch his sons grow up around him. He also had a daughter, a half-sister of the young princes, called Freydis, but she was a dark blot upon their home, — a very wicked woman who, with all the Viking blood in her veins, had yet the cruelty of a tiger.

Most of the settlers had brought their families, but they all looked to Erik the Red as the commander of the expedition and the head of the colony, and as his beard grew grey and his long locks silvered he ruled them wisely and well.

Erik's home was built of red sand-stone, substantially, after the Iceland fashion. The great hall, the central feature of the house, was girded with heavy wooden beams from which hung skins of wild animals captured in the chase; there were trophies of the war upon the walls. The huge fireplace with its inglenook was where the family usually gathered, and it was rarely indeed without the brilliance of the glowing logs. Beyond was the table where they feasted, the vacant chair for the unexpected guest, the high seat for the master of the house, and lower benches for the rest of the family. The hall was curtained in many places, and behind these curtains were the sleeping apartments. The heavy front-door with its large clumsy latch had a little inner parch, for the Iceland folk put all their ornaments on the inside of their homes; and the guest, as he entered, stood framed like a portrait in the doorw^ay.

One night there was a knock on Erik's door in Brattahlid; the heavy latch was lifted, and a handsome young Viking stepped into the hall.

" I come from where my father dwells," he said in his simple way, bowing low before Earl Erik, who sat in the inglenook.

" Who is thy father — and where dwells he ? " asked the Red Earl.

" My father's name is Herjulf. I am his son, Bjarni Herjulfsson. I was always fond of adventure and took early to the sea. In the Winter season I rested when I could with my father; but behold, when last I went to Iceland, lo! my father had sailed away to Greenland."

" Ay ! " said Erik the Red, " even with me came the noble Herjulf."

Bjarni went on to tell the old Earl about his adventures that Summer in quest of his father, — how he and his followers rashly took ship for the Greenland sea though they knew not in which direction it lay. These simple mariners depended upon the sun to guide their course, and when the winds blew and the fog fell like a thick veil they could not tell where they were drifting. But when the sun pierced the mists at last, they saw before them land level and well-wooded, with here and there a green hill, whereat Bjarni was much puzzled. For people had told him that Greenland was a land of ice mountains and frowning crags, not this sunny woodland country, — this was surely not the land whither his father had gone with Erik the Red! His men wished to land, for they were in need of wood and water. But Bjarni said, '' No — it is my father I seek; we must sail until we find the ice mountains." And after sailing four days longer, they sighted land,

THK SEA ROVERS 15

grim-looking and desolate, which Bjarni thought must be the country. He ordered his men to steer for land, and, imagine his delight when he found himself on the very spot which his father had chosen for a home. And there was great rejoicing in Herjulfs household over Bjarni's coming to drink the Yuletide ale with his father.

All this, Bjarni, sitting in the great chair beside the loaded table, told his host, who listened with his three stalwart sons close by. The old Viking liked Bjarni and took him into his service.

Young Leif Eriksson, the eldest son, heard with wonder of this strange country of woods and hills, so unlike the Greenland that he knew, — indeed unlike any country he had seen on any of his adventures. And the desire to seek this new land rose within him. He talked much about it to Bjarni, and Leif Eriksson was a man not given to talking over much.

A mighty man he was, tall and bronzed, with eagle nose and eyes as piercing blue as steel or ice, — a born leader, a ruler of men, with fear of none, not even of his father of w^hom the most powerful stood in awe. For it is told that while in Norway, through love of King Olaf Trygvasson, Leif became a Christian, and none dared break the news to Erik the Red save Leif himself, when with his followers he returned to Greenland. It was at a feast his father gave to celebrate his home coming, and Leif waited his opportunity until all the household was assembled, to announce his change of faith.

Old Erik heard the words, " I am a Christian," and sprang to his feet, goblet in hand, his eyes blazing.

" Say that again ! " he shouted.

His son obeyed him, facing him calmly. Crash went Erik's goblet, shivering into a thousand pieces on the table before him! His face grew purple and twitched with rage, and he raised the bronze battleaxe that always leaned against his chair, with menacing hand. It was not an uncommon thing for these stern Vikings to slay their sons for even smaller offences, and the frightened company thought Leif's moments were numbered. But Leif was King Olaf's messenger and he was not afraid, for he spoke quietly to Erik the Red.

" You know that your gods must die. We know that they are dead. But we have found One who is ever-living and ready to help us. Therefore King Olaf has sent me." He got no further, for Erik hurled the axe at him. It missed him by a hair's breadth, burying itself in the wall behind him.

Instantly there was a tumult; followers of father and son drew their weapons. Leif rose from his seat and faced his father calmly. " You have broken the laws of hospitality — you who taught me these very laws. But I am not afraid; I will leave your house and go back to my ship." He signed to his men to file out in order — still standing before the high seat of honour and holding his father in check with his eyes as if Erik the Red were a mad dog at bay. Then, as the last man passed out, he too turned to go and walked alone among his father's frowning followers.

" Stop ! " called Erik, growing blacker and blacker with rage. " You shall not throw shame upon my hospitality ; here in this house shall you stay as long as you remain in Greenland — you and your men, — and though I shall no longer own you for a son, you shall come to no harm."

So Leif stayed, and little by little the mood of the fiery old Jarl softened. He never became a Christian, but Leif grew back into his heart, and was once again a great leader. For all men knew that he was without fear ; so when the spirit of adventure rose within him, his followers were eager to set forth. He bought a ship of Bjarni Herjulfsson, which he called Sea Deer, and taking with him thirty-five men he resolved to find this country where wood abounded. " For," said he, " we need the wood for ships and for our Winter fires, and if no others claim it we may have it for the seeking."

" Come with us," he said to his father, but Erik shook his head.

" I am old, my son, and the sea life is irksome. Go thou and bring me word."

" But you will bring us luck," urged Leif, and after many words Erik was persuaded. So his steed was brought, and mounting he rode with his son toward the ship. When almost there the horse stumbled, throwing the old warrior to the ground.

" This is a sign that I shall discover no more lands,'' he cried. " Go thou, my son, and may Odin and Thor watch over you."

When his father commended this favourite son to the care of the gods, Leif Eriksson put his trust in the Lord and set forth with great hopes for unknown lands.

In the year looo, when the Summer sun was highest, the little company sailed southward from Brattahlid till they came to a barren country covered with big flat stones. Leif called it Helluland or " Slate-land," and it w^as most probably either Labrador or the northern coast of Newfoundland, for that is the part of North America just opposite Greenland. It must have been very exciting to these mariners to touch land they had never seen or heard of before.

When we go on a journey nowadays we know, exactly what to expect, indeed the very time we will reach our destination. But Leif and his men knew nothing; they could not even tell if their ship would take a straight course. The sun was their compass, and guided by pleasant weather they kept on towards the South, coming at length to a thickly wooded coast where they landed. On account of the wonderful forests, Leif named it Markland or " Woodland." This is supposed to have been the coast of Nova Scotia. But the little party was fired with the spirit of adventure and pushed on for two more days before they came to land again. They found a low, sandy coast-line, and went ashore, " where a river issuing from a lake fell into the sea." Historians seem to be of one mind that Leif Eriksson made his landing somewhere in the neighbourhood of Cambridge, Massachusetts; the river was the Charles, and the " lake " where they brought their ship and cast anchor was none other than Massachusetts Bay.

The waters were full of fish and the climate was so delightful that Leif decided to spend the Winter there. So they went to work and built themselves comfortable huts. They divided into parties and explored the country for miles around. One of the men came back in much excitement, saying he had discovered vines loaded with grapes. This man was not a Northman ; he had been brought up in a vine country and was much pleased at the sight of them in the new land. Leif accordingly called this courttry Vineland, as the grapes were plentiful during this Autumn season.

Such is the story of Vineland spoken of in the Icelandic Sagas. It has been handed down to us since the time of Leif's discovery; from father and mother to son and daughter the story was told as fireside entertainment for many generations; then when people learned to write it was put on parchment. Even the children of Iceland were taught to recite these Sagas as they had been told to them, word for word, and woe to the child who strayed one step from the truth in telling of the deeds of Leif Eriksson and the other sea rovers who lived for a while in the fruitful Vinelands, — where Indian corn grew wild, where grapes were found by the roadside, where the Winters were so mild that it was not necessary to house the cattle!