safe-conduct,
Knut Alfson rowed on board. Three hours later, we bore him through
the castle gate----

LADY INGER. A corpse; a corpse!

OLAF SKAKTAVL. The best heart in Norway burst, when Krummedike's
hirelings struck him down. Methinks I still can see the long
procession that passed into the banquet-hall, heavily, two by two.
There he lay on his bier, white as a spring cloud, with the axe-
cleft in his brow. I may safely say that the boldest men in Norway
were gathered there that night. Lady Margrete stood by her dead
husband's head, and we swore as one man to venture lands and life
to avenge this last misdeed and all that had gone before.-- Inger
Gyldenlove,--who was it that burst through the circle of men? A
maiden--then almost a child--with fire in her eyes and her voice
half choked with tears.-- What was it she swore? Shall I repeat
your words?

LADY INGER. And how did the others keep their promise? I speak
not of you, Olaf Skaktavl, but of your friends, all our Norwegian
nobles? Not one of them, in all these years, has had the courage
to be a man; and yet they lay it to my charge that I am a woman.

OLAF SKAKTAVL. I know what you would say. Why have they bent
to the yoke, and not defied the tyrants to the last? 'Tis but
too true; there is base metal enough in our noble houses nowadays.
But had they held together--who knows what might have been? And
you could have held them together, for before you all had bowed.

LADY INGER. My answer were easy enough, but it would scarce
content you. So let us leave speaking of what cannot be changed.
Tell me rather what has brought you to Ostrat. Do you need harbour?
Well, I will try to hide you. If you would have aught else, speak
out; you shall find me ready----

OLAF SKAKTAVL. For twenty years have I been homeless. In the
mountains of Jaemteland my hair has grown grey. My dwelling has
been with wolves and bears.--You see, Lady Inger--_I_ need you
not; but both nobles and people stand in sore need of you.

LADY INGER. The old burden.

OLAF SKAKTAVL. Ay, it sounds but ill in your ears, I know; yet
hear it you must for all that. In brief, then: I come from Sweden:
troubles are at hand: the Dales are ready to rise.

LADY INGER. I know it.

OLAF SKAKTAVL. Peter Kanzler is with us--secretly, you understand.

LADY INGER (starting). Peter Kanzler?

OLAF SKAKTAVL. It is he that has sent me to Ostrat.

LADY INGE