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Thus passed, with ardent sun and storms, the glad summer. The fields were cleared, and the country folk were sociable. The more distinguished houses of the district desired in succession to entertain the guest; banquets alternated with hunting expeditions over the forest hills; and the Prince and Ingo were now seldom at home. The Prince conceived a still higher opinion of the guest when he saw in what repute he was held by the principal men of the district, and how distinguished and right-minded he showed himself. Of the anxieties in the apartments of the ladies the master of the house observed nothing; the prudent hostess was silent as to what might disturb the thoughts of her lord; she was contented that the Hero should roam away for weeks together. But Ingo perceived that Irmgard looked serious, and he was angry that it was so difficult for him to speak to her without witnesses.

Once Ingo rode with the Prince to the same spot which he trod when he first came over the mountain. In the forest yellow leaves fluttered to the ground; through the openings sounded the hunting calls of the men and the deep cry of the hounds. The well-fed cattle ran bellowing about; the herdsmen prepared for departure from the wilderness into the villages; and the maidens from the Prince's house were again occupied in lifting into the wagon the last load from the milk-cellar. While Answald was watching these preparations, Ingo stood next to Irmgard. The latter pointed to Frida, who was passing by with a milk-jug. "From this source thou didst quaff thy first drink with us, and there, where thou standest, I saw thee for the first time. Since then the cheerful green has disappeared, and the wild birds have flown away."

"From thy countenance also joy has vanished," replied Ingo, tenderly.

But Irmgard continued:

"Happy once were the exalted women who in feather dresses soared along wherever their wishes led them. I know a maiden who stands by the torrent, and longs for the heavenly power. She would like to work two feather garments for the swan and his mate; but vain is the wish, and she gazes sorrowfully after them, when the feathered flock soar from their fields into the distance."

"Confide in me," said Ingo in a low tone; "what disturbs thy mind?"

Irmgard was silent. "The day will come when others will tell thee, not I," she at last answered. "If thou tarry with us during the winter, I do not fear what anxieties it may bring ---."

"The conversation was interrupted by wild shouts and a foreign war-cry. Ingo rushed out; as before in the hall, his countenance lighted up with joy, while the other men sprang up in a body, and seized their weapons.

"They come in peace," exclaimed Bero's daughter; "my father rides among them." She pointed to a troop of horsemen who, rejoicing and swinging their spears, were rushing down from the height. Ingo hastened toward them; the riders sprang down, and surrounded the Hero; they held his arms, bent over his hands, and clasped his knees. Again and again sounded the wild cry of joy. Ingo called each individual by name, and embraced and kissed them, while tears fell from his eyes. His looks wandered from one to the other in vain search; for all did not stand alive before him whom he had hoped to greet. And yet the happiness of that hour was so great that he and the strangers long forgot the presence of the others. The Prince's men, who had been drawn out of the forest by the war-cry, gathered round him: tears were in his eyes also, and in those of the noble maiden, and they listened with absorbing interest to the rapid questions and answers, laughings and lamentations, of the strangers. Bero looked upon the troop more calmly, while he told the Prince, "I had ridden southward over our mountains, down as far as Idisbach, where the small people, the Marvingians, dwell, and as I was dealing with the people there about a herd of cattle, I fell in with this flight of wild geese that were seeking for their goose leader. I knew about them, and as their active manners pleased me, I brought them here."

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