t we will do with the lion's whelp," said
Ralph; "let us keep him in prison, and send a message to his father,
that we have him snug in a den among the mountains, and that, unless he
sends us an immense ransom, we shall kill him." "That will do famously,"
said the robbers; "so off with him!" Then Ralph led the boy down
stairs,--down, down, until he thought they never would stop, and at last
they came to an iron door, with great bars on it, and a large lock, and
he turned to Eric, and said, "I know your father, and I hate him! for he
sends his soldiers after me, and tries to save travellers from me, and
now I have got his son. I will keep you here till you die, or till he
pays!" Then he opened the dungeon door, and thrust Eric in. When it
closed, it echoed like thunder through the passages. Eric cast himself
down on the dungeon floor.

All appeared to be a strange dream. Oh, how he repented having disobeyed
his father! and how he seemed to be as bad as the dreadful robbers in
having done what he pleased, and followed his own will, instead of doing
what was right! About an hour after, he heard some rustling, as if high
up on the wall, and a voice whispered "Eric!" "Who is there?" asked
Eric, and his little heart trembled. "Silence! quiet! it is Wolf. Here
is a small window in your prison, and I have opened it outside; climb
up, get out, and run for your life." Eric heard no more, but scrambled
in the dark up the rough stones in the wall until he reached the window,
where he looked out, and saw the stars and the woods. He soon forced his
way through, and dropped down on the opposite side. Some one caught him
in his arms. It was Wolf. "Here is your gold band, Eric. I got it from
Ralph; for He who was speaking in the thunder has been saying things in
my heart. You were kind to poor Wolf. Now escape! Fly! I shall close the
window again. Ralph will never know how you got out, and he will not
open the prison-door till after breakfast. So you have a long time. Run
as long as you can along that road till you reach a hill, then cross it,
until you reach a stream, which you must follow downwards. The worst of
the storm is over, and the night will soon be calm. Off!" "Bless you,
Wolf!" said Eric; "I shall never forget you." Poor Eric! how he ran,
and ran, beneath the stars! He felt no fatigue for a time. He thought he
heard the robbers after him; every time the wind blew loud, he imagined
it was their wild cry. On he ran till he reac