victims to the boats, tossing them in as
unceremoniously as if they had been bales of merchandise.

The King looked around for his son Inga, but failed to find the boy
among the prisoners. Nor was the fat King, Rinkitink, to be seen
anywhere about.

The warriors were swarming over the palace like bees in a hive, seeking
anyone who might be in hiding, and after the search had been prolonged
for some time the leader asked impatiently: "Do you find anyone else?"

"No," his men told him. "We have captured them all."

"Then," commanded the leader, "remove everything of value from the
palace and tear down its walls and towers, so that not one stone
remains upon another!"

While the warriors were busy with this task we will return to the boy
Prince, who, when the fog lifted and the sun came out, wakened from his
sleep and began to climb down from his perch in the tree. But the
terrifying cries of the people, mingled with the shouts of the rude
warriors, caused him to pause and listen eagerly.

Then he climbed rapidly up the tree, far above his platform, to the
topmost swaying branches. This tree, which Inga called his own, was
somewhat taller than the other trees that surrounded it, and when he
had reached the top he pressed aside the leaves and saw a great fleet
of boats upon the shore--strange boats, with banners that he had never
seen before. Turning to look upon his father's palace, he found it
surrounded by a horde of enemies. Then Inga knew the truth: that tile
island had been invaded by the barbaric warriors from the north. He
grew so faint from the terror of it all that he might have fallen had
he not wound his arms around a limb and clung fast until the dizzy
feeling passed away. Then with his sash he bound himself to the limb
and again ventured to look out through the leaves.

The warriors were now engaged in carrying King Kitticut and Queen Garee
and all their other captives down to the boats, where they were thrown
in and chained one to another. It was a dreadful sight for the Prince
to witness, but he sat very still, concealed from the sight of anyone
below by the bower of leafy branches around him. Inga knew very well
that he could do nothing to help his beloved parents, and that if he
came down he would only be forced to share their cruel fate.

Now a procession of the Northmen passed between the boats and the
palace, bearing the rich furniture, splendid draperies and rare
ornaments of which the royal p