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"But a new sun rises for thee," said the old man, consolingly, "which will cast thy shadow over the breadth of the land. Now it is necessary that the weary boys shall find a refuge against the winter storm. As soon as the buds begin to swell on the trees we will accompany thee on some new heroic expedition. Tell me, oh King, whether the roofs which I see before me will shield us well during the winter."

"May the gods graciously so dispose it!" replied Ingo, earnestly. "I have found more happiness here than I expected, and less security than I hoped."

The door of the Prince's house was opened wide; the host received the strangers, and accompanied them into the hall. There the meal of welcome was prepared, and the Vandals were distributed among the Prince's men on the bench. The following morning there began an active hammering and lifting; from the provisions of planks and rafters, which lay in high piles in the courtyard, a sleeping-room was prepared by Ingo's house, and beside it a provisional enclosure for the horses. After a few days the building was erected, for great was the number of helping hands. The neighbors also came, greeted the strangers, and examined the great string of unemployed horses; they bought and exchanged, and took their own to winter fodder instead of the strangers' horses, which they retained. Around the quiet Princes's court there was now the merry crowding of the people of the district, and the tumult of men and horses; the lofty figures of the Vandals walked in their foreign warrior dress among the houses, and lay near the Prince's men on the steps of the hall carelessly laughing and willingly relating what the customs of their race were. They went with the Prince's retainers into the forest, and rode as welcome guests among the villages of the district.

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