nipe that is caught in a snare.
For I ask the assembly,--his own words are the most open expression of
guilt,--with what does the law threaten him?"

"The rope--the willow rope!" rang from a thousand voices. "The tree of
shame! Hang him! Hang him up at once!"

"But between two dogs: wolves are too good for him."

A look of keen anguish flitted over the King's proud, bold face. He did
not fear death, but disgrace. He shuddered slightly. The Duke had
watched him intently.

"I, the judge," he now began slowly, "ought not to oppose this
sentence, and the guilty man cannot. But consider, spearmen! It will
bring little renown to our name among the other peoples, when the rumor
spreads among them: a King of the Alemanni is swinging between the
clouds and water for treason to the army. You have offered the humble
fisherman the straw of hope that the Lofty One might save him from the
death of shame, bear him to himself in Valhalla, or even--almost
against possibility--after the fulfillment of the deed which you have
assigned to him, spare his life.

"Well then, this King's guilt, it is true, is far greater than that
caused by the father's love for his child; but honor in him the
descendant of the god of harvests! Do not rouse Fro to vengeance, lest
for many years he should blast our crops. The god of the boar with
golden bristles is easily angered! And remember, too, with gratitude
this man's father."

"A brave hero!" ran from lip to lip.

"He fell in the bloody battle of Strataburg, at the head of the wedge
of his district. Fighting gallantly in the van of his people, he at
last sank--fell backward on his shield, with many wounds in his breast;
for he, the man who had the wild-boar's courage, would not turn his
back to the foe. This hero is now looking down from Valhalla upon us;
his heart is throbbing anxiously at this impending sentence of
disgrace. Alemanni, do not let him behold his son hanging between dogs.
Grant the King, as well as the fisherman, a deed of ransom!"

Ebarbold looked up with a grateful glance to the man whom he had so
bitterly hated. The people were still silent: their wrath was fierce.

Then: "Suppose he should run away?"

"Suppose he should desert to the Romans in the midst of the battle?"

Two men uttered the questions at the same moment. A deep groan escaped
the lips of the defiant King: "No one feared that from the fisherman!
They ought not to deem me so base." He struck his brow with his