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"They squint," said the old man, laughing. "There is a proverb that the greater the King the more savage are the fleas in the sleeping coverlet which he has prepared for the wandering guest. Meagre was the evening fare ordered by the host, but the Queen sent wine and dainties, and thy boys lie satisfied and travel-weary by their shields. It is a roomy building," he continued, spying into the dark corners; "there, in a compartment of the gallery, the Prince's bed has been put up. Observe, my King, under the stone walls of this gigantic castle this is the only wooden structure; it stands apart, against the wall which towers above it at the back; and if one of the King's men should at night put a torch to the woodwork, and close the door, then the hall will blaze up in flames without noise, and the crackling will not disturb the repose of the castle's inmates."

Ingo exchanged a significant look with the old man, and asked in a low tone, "How was the greeting of the King's men?"

"They sneak like foxes about the nest; they are little accustomed to court manners; they boasted of the power of their ruler, and examined closely our weapons. I observe, my lord, they all hop to exchange sharp sword-blows with us. My King has at times been surrounded by enemies, but never was the enclosure so fast."

"King Bisino does not yet know what he intends to do," replied Ingo, "but the Queen is well-disposed toward us."

"None of the court retinue boasted to me that the Queen was beautiful," replied the old man, "therefore I perceive that they are afraid of their mistress. Perhaps fear of my King will give us tonight quiet sleep. I will extinguish the torch, that its light may not betray the sleeping-places to any spear. The first night in a dwelling is always the most full of anxiety to a guest."

"Perhaps also the last," replied Ingo. "It becomes me to watch, father; I send thee to thy bed."

"Dost thou think that the old man would sleep when thine eyes are not closed?" He brought a seat for Ingo close to the entrance, where the shadow concealed him; then he seated himself again on his stool, placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, listened to the noise in the court, and gazed some time at the starry heaven of the fresh winter night. "The stars also are sitting above there, as they say, on their silver chairs, and ward off evil from the oppressed man who looks up to them in prayer," began Berthar, piously. "I am an old trunk, and it is time that I should be felled: for thee also, my King, I have sometimes longed for a fight with noble enemies as a glorious end of thy troubles. But now I behold in the forest a good woman, who is faithfully minded toward thee; and yet I fear for thee the dark night-clouds which divide us from the starlight, and I fear the night-storm driving about this wooden roof; for in the darkness I think the King may do what his bad spirit suggests to him."

"Thou knowest, father, that we have many a time overcome cold hospitality," answered Ingo.

The old man smiled at the remembrance, and continued, "I am always pleased when the iron flies in the air, and there is a free field, and better light than from flickering wood. Yet thou speakest well, oh King, for there is much that is insecure on the earth; but nothing deceives so much as anticipation before the combat. The longer one has wandered about with spear and sword, the less one cherishes thoughts concerning the end. And, in fact, I suspect that the Weird Sisters cast our lots before the fight with smiling faces. They hurl us into the greatest danger, as if in jest, and pull us out again merrily by the hairs of our head; and another time they intoxicate our minds with dreams of victory, and lay us dead on the heath. But as they try the hearts of men, at last they rejoice over us fighting boys on earth now, and later elsewhere."

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