o fight, but the lake fortresses
seemed to be too strongly garrisoned. They dread these fortifications
from long experience. They required to have aid from us.

"Well: least of all now, with the Emperor so near and a Roman army on
the northern shore, least of all now, do the tyrants fear an attack
upon their fortresses in the south. To-morrow nearly all the soldiers
who usually guard Arbor will come across on the ships to share the gay
expedition for booty; only a small guard will be left behind. But as
soon as the camp on the Idisenhang is burning,--a magnificent torch,
kindled by Zio himself,--the infuriated colonists will attack Arbor
from the land side. Thousands of free Alemanni from the eastern
districts will aid; they have stolen in small parties through the
mountain passes from far, far beyond Brigantium, and remained hidden in
the forests and farm-houses of the colonists for the last two days. At
the same time our men from the eastern marshes (Suomar commands them)
in thirty boats, under cover of the darkness (this is why I could not
move while the moon-goddess was in the sky), will go to Arbor, burst
the chains of the harbor, and unless the Christian God should descend
from the clouds to save the fortress, the morning sun will see the free
and the enslaved Alemanni on the walls of Arbor.

"Many times already we have won it, plundered it, half burned it, and
then left it, so that the Romans could establish themselves there
again: we will be so foolish no longer. If we conquer this time, we
will remain there forever! Then one link of the iron chain will be
broken, and we shall find it easier to subdue the other fortresses at
the left and the right, from Brigantium to Constantia.

"I shall not live to see the day, but you will, young warrior, the day
when the southern shore of the lake and the country far, far into the
lofty mountains whose peaks are crowned with eternal snows, will be the
possession of the free Alemanni: then think of this hour and old
Hariowald."

He started up, intensely moved, his white hair and silver beard waving
proudly in the breeze.

"My Duke," cried Adalo enthusiastically, "this is magnificent! Speak,
when to-morrow we have won this great victory according to your plans,
will you not then, instead of Count, bear the name of _King_ of the
Linzgau and the Ebergau, if Ebarbold fall?"

"No," replied the old man quietly, "that would not be wise. I have
reflected upon it a long time. O