h the old grandmother and the Adeling; for he
loves the child ardently."

"You know that too?"

"One doesn't need Odin's assistance for it," replied the Duke, smiling.
"I was young once too. You wished to spare the youth?"

"Yes, great Father. He would wear himself out with rage and grief. Yet
he can do nothing to save her."

"He would only destroy himself, and perhaps our best hope of victory,
by some desperate deed. I am pleased with you, slave. Keep silence as
before. But Ausonius was there too?"

"Yes, the foreigner who stayed so long in Arbor several years ago. But
he didn't seize the child; it was another, younger man."

"Did you not hear his name? Was it anything like Saturninus?"

"My lord, his name was not spoken, or I did not hear it. He was a
fine-looking man in glittering armor."

"But he took his prisoner to Ausonius?"

"Yes. Yet he did not lift her on Ausonius's white horse, as the latter
seemed to ask, but swung the struggling girl upon another--a black
one--perhaps, yes, probably his own."

The Duke remained silent and thoughtful. At last he said: "The Adeling
is not to reach the Roman camp until twilight is closing in tomorrow.
Before he rides forth he will receive some directions from me. Tell him
so. And"--here he lowered his voice to a whisper, much to the surprise
of the slave, since there was no one in the tent--"if a faithful and
cunning man should venture to introduce himself or some one else in
disguise into the hostile camp and tell me what he saw there,--for I
fear they will not give Adalo much chance to look about him,--and this
man should be a slave, I would buy his freedom."

"Great Father!" exclaimed the Sarmatian, throwing himself prostrate
before the Duke and trying to kiss his feet.

The old man angrily thrust him back with the handle of his spear: "Are
you a dog, that you want to lick my feet?"

"Zercho is a Jazyge," said the bondman, rising and rubbing his bruised
shins. "Thus my people honor one who is worthy of honor."

"But we sons of the Ases do not bend the knee even to the mighty King
of Asgard when we call upon him and desire to honor him. Now go.
Perhaps it will be well that Adalo should not know what is to happen."

"He must not hear of it until after it has succeeded, for he would not
let the others whom I must have go with me."

"I do not wish to know in advance how the work is to be done. Say
outside that no one is to enter till I strike the shield."