istinguished nobles should be sent first on board as hostages.
This was agreed to; but no sooner had the young men put off in their
boat than a large Danish vessel cut off their retreat, and they were at
once carried off to Denmark as prisoners.

For one moment it seemed likely that Gustavus would be hanged, and
Sweden remain in slavery for many years longer, and indeed, if his life
was spared, it was only because Christian thought it might be to his own
advantage. Still, spared it was, and the young man was delivered to the
care of a distant relation in Jutland, who was to forfeit 400l. in case
of his escape. Here things were made as pleasant to him as possible, and
he was allowed to hunt and shoot, though always attended by keepers.

One day, after he had behaved with such prudence that his keepers had
almost given up watching him, he managed, while strolling in the great
park, to give them the slip, and to hide himself where there was no
chance of anyone finding him. He contrived somehow to get hold of a
pilgrim's dress; then that of a cattle-driver, and in this disguise he
made his way to the free city of Luebeck, and threw himself on the mercy
of the burgomaster or mayor. By this time his enemies were on his track,
and his noble gaoler, Sir Eric Bauer, claimed him as an escaped
prisoner. But the people of Luebeck, who at that moment had a trade
quarrel with Denmark, declared that the fugitive was not a prisoner who
had broken his parole, but a hostage who had been carried off by
treachery, and refused to give him up, though perhaps their own interest
had more to do with their steadfastness than right and justice. As it
was, Gustavus was held fast in Luebeck for eight months before they would
let him go, and it was not until May 1520 that he crossed the Baltic in
a little fishing-smack, and sailed for Stockholm, then besieged by
Danish ships and defended by the widow of the Regent. But finding the
town closely invested, he made for Calmar, and after a short stay in the
castle he found his way into the heart of the country, learning sadly at
every step how the worst enemies of Sweden were the Swedes themselves,
who betrayed each other to their Danish foes for jealousy and gold. Like
Prince Charlie, however, he was soon to find faithful hearts among his
countrymen, and for every traitor there were at least a hundred who were
true. While hiding on his father's property, he sent some of his tenants
to Stockholm, to find