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Wolf, who led the vanguard, stopped upon a height, and pointed with his hand to the distance. In front of the traveling band rose from the snow-covered landscape the mighty stone building, the King's castle, with high walls, solid towers with battlements, and amid them the red-brown tiled roof of the King's house --- a fearful sight for the wayfaring comrades. "It may be easy for birds to enter into such a cage, but it is not every one that will succeed in flying out of it," muttered Berthar. The tones of a short horn sounded from the distant battlement. "The warders are stirring; now trot, that they may perceive our eagerness."

The strangers rode through a hollow path betwixt two rocks, up to the stone outwork which was built in front of the bridge, the top of which was garrisoned with armed men. "The boys have closed the gates, in order to prepare themselves for our visit," exclaimed the old man, striking at the iron knocker of the door. The watchman from the top inquired their names, and what they wanted. Ingo answered. But long did the troop wait, and impatiently did the horses stamp, before the heavy creaking door opened, and the drawbridge fell to the ground. The horsemen galloped into the court of the castle; armed men thronged at all the doors; the King's herald met the guests; once more there were questions and answers; then the man, with clouded brow, advised them to dismount, and guided the heroes, who led their horses by the bridle, in front of the King's hall.

"Where does the host tarry?" cried out Berthar, with much displeasure, to the herald. "My lord is not accustomed to enter the threshold of a house before the master of it stands there." But at the same moment the door of the hall opened, and King Bisino stood in a circle of his nobles at the entrance; Queen Gisela by his side. Ingo ascended the steps, and bowed.

"Long have we expected thee in vain, stranger, and tardy have been the steps of thy horse from the forest to my dwelling," began the King, with a gloomy look. But immediately Queen Gisela stepped forward; she offered her white hand to the Hero in welcome, and nodded a greeting to his followers. "When I was a child, not taller than my son here, I saw thee, my lord, in the hall of the Burgundians; but we remember past times and old friendships. Reach thy hand to thy cousin," she commanded the boy, "and take care to become a hero famous among the people, as he is."

The child held out his hand to the guest. Ingo raised up the little one, and kissed him; and the boy clung confidingly round the neck of the man. Now also the King approached him. Between the royal pair Ingo walked into the hall, and exchanged words of greeting with them both, till the King commanded the herald to take the foreign guests to their quarters. Ingo returned to his followers; the countenances of the Thuringians became more friendly; one warrior after another went up to the strangers, greeted them, and accompanied them to the apartment which was destined for the dwelling of the guests. The servants carried them food and drink, cushions and coverlets; and again the herald came to invite Ingo to the King's repast.

It was late in the evening when Ingo, accompanied by one of the King's chamberlains and the torch-bearer, returned to the apartment of his men. Berthar was sitting alone at the door of the apartment; he held his battle-sword between his legs; his shield was propped up against the post; his gray beard and the breastplate under the woolen coat glistened in the torchlight. Ingo dismissed the King's servants with a greeting, and Berthar placed the torch in the large socket of an iron candlestick, which towered up to the height of a man in the middle of the room. The light shone on the rows of men who were sleeping on the cushions on the floor, their swords by their sides, and their helmets on their heads, and with their coats-of-mail on. "Thou keepest true watch, father," said Ingo; "how dost thou like our new hosts?"

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