ments? It
is a base death to die. But can I cast this half-fainting creature away
from me on the dark, hard earth, perhaps into some deep abyss? Come,
then, what will, thou, Lady Aslauga, knowest that I die an honourable
death!"

"Froda! Hildegardis!" breathed a gentle, well-known voice at the
entrance, and recognising Edwald, Froda bore the lady towards him into
the starlight, saying, "She will die of terror in our sight in this
deep cavern. Is the foe near at hand?" "Most of them lie lifeless on the
shore, or swim bleeding through the waves," said Edwald. "Set your mind
at rest, and repose yourself. Are you wounded, beloved Froda?" He gave
this short account to his astonished companions--how, in the darkness,
he had mixed with the Bohemians and pressed into the skiff, and that it
had been easy to him on landing to disperse the robbers entirely, who
supposed that they were attacked by one of their own crew, and thought
themselves bewitched. "They began at last to fall on one another"--so
he ended his history; "and we have only now to wait for the morning
to conduct the lady home, for those who are wandering about of that
owl-squadron will doubtless hide themselves from the eye of day." While
speaking, he had skilfully and carefully arranged a couch of twigs and
moss for Hildegardis, and when the wearied one, after uttering some
gentle words of gratitude, had sunk into a slumber, he began, as well
as the darkness would allow, to bind up the wounds of his friend. During
this anxious task, while the dark boughs of the trees murmured over
their heads, and the rippling of the stream was heard from afar, Froda,
in a low voice, made known to his brother-in-arms to the service of what
lady he was bound. Edwald listened with deep attention, but at last he
said tenderly, "Trust me, the noble Princess Aslauga will not resent it,
if you pledge yourself to this earthly beauty in faithful love. Ah!
even now doubtless you are sinning in the dreams of Hildegardis,
richly-gifted and happy knight! I will not stand in your way with
my vain wishes; I see now clearly that she can never, never love me.
Therefore I will this very day hasten to the war which so many valiant
knights of Germany are waging in the heathen land of Prussia, and the
black cross, which distinguishes them for warriors of the Church, I will
lay as the best balm on my throbbing heart. Take, then, dear Froda, that
fair hand which you have won in battle, and live hencefor