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"There he collected together the women of the army, the fortune-tellers and the blood-seers, and compelled them to depart, that the holy mothers might escape the swords of the Romans. The minstrel also he forced into the boat, and he himself, noble-hearted spirit, made a rampart with his body and weapons in front of the place of departure. The rope was released, the boats floated on the green flood amid the whizzing of Roman spears; the enemy pressed on, and painfully did the little band at the foot of the rock fight the last fight.

"Then the Hero beheld on the stone above his head the dragon of Cæsar, the grim reptile, and with a bound he broke through the Roman guard; he leaped upon the stone; with bear-like grip he laid hold of the giant who bore the banner, and threw him from the rock. Lifeless the Roman sank in the flood; then lifting the banner, and shouting the battle-cry, the Hero sprang with the dragon down into the stream. A cry of rage yelled from the throats of the Romans: to revenge the bitter shame before the eyes of Cæsar, to slay the daring one, to save the holy token of Rome, men and horses threw themselves madly into the stream; but the victorious Hero drew the red dragon down into the whirling stream. Yet once more I saw him raise his arm and shake the banner; then I never saw him more. Cæsar, with troubled mind, caused search to be made along the banks of the stream on both sides.

"Two days after, a spy on the Allemann bank found far down the broken banner-spear; the enemy's dragon no one brought back. Then did the men return to the banks of the Rhine with resentment in their souls. Cæsar's victory-bringing spell was lost in the stream, and retribution threatened the Roman army. Envoys who came up from the Catts in order to offer an alliance with the Roman people, stopped on their journey when they learned of the bad omen. The insult of the conqueror was revenged by a strong arm, and Ingo the hero, had vanished from man's earth."

The minstrel ceased, and bent his head over his instrument. All was still in the hall as after a death dirge; the men's eyes glistened, and emotion worked in every countenance; but in none more than in the stranger's. When the minstrel had entered, and in passing by him had touched his dress, he had bent his head down, and, as his neighbor Wolf had observed with displeasure, had taken less interest in the account of the minstrel than was fitting for a warrior, and his comrades on the bench had pointed to him, and exchanged jeering words. But when the minstrel began about the fight for the dragon, he raised his face, a rosy light shone over his features, and so beaming and glorified was the look that he cast upon the singer, that those who saw him could not turn their eyes away; the bright curly hair formed a kind of halo round the inspired face; and when the minstrel became silent, he sat motionless.

"Look there, Volkmar!" called out a deep woman's voice, trembling with emotion; and all eyes followed the direction in which Irmgard's hand pointed who was standing erect in the arbor.

The minstrel rose, and gazed at the stranger. "The Spirit of the stream has given the Hero back!" he exclaimed with terror, yet immediately after he sprang forward. "Blessed is the day on which I behold thee, Hero Ingo, Ingbert's son, thou my preserver, the last fighter in the battle of the Allemanns!"

The guests rose from their seats, the hall resounded with cries of joy. The minstrel rushed up to Ingo, bent over his hand, and exclaimed: "I hold thee bodily. Never did my song receive so delightful a reward." Then he led the stranger to the table of the Prince, who with moist eyes hastened up to him.

"Blessed be thou, heroic man; today a heavy burden falls from my heart; I knew well that the fame of the hero could not be concealed. Be welcome to my house, thou good and trusty one! Remove the chair, boys, that the Prince may join the nobles of my people. Cupbearer, bring the wine hither; in festal goblets, with Roman drink bought with Roman gold, we will drink the health of the kingly Hero, son of our gods."

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