"It is dishonorable and shameful for the man to swing among the branches, between the sky and the mountain top. And hitherto he has been brave--only he could not be strong enough to bear the weeping of his child. He will die useless to his people, if he hang high aloft on the tree. Well then, we will ask Odin if, perchance, he will forgive him. You all, like the accuser himself, at first wished to let the act pass unpunished. That will not do. To the Lofty One we must offer his right; but--perhaps--he will not take it. I advise that Fiskulf shall venture upon a deed in which, for his people's welfare, he will fall, inevitably fall, unless Odin himself take pity on him and bear him away in his floating mantle." "Speak, speak! What may I do?" cried the fisherman, with sparkling eyes. "All! All! Gladly will I die by the spear. Only not the rope of shame!" "You shall be the first, in advance of all the others, to leap on the proudest Roman galley and--you understand how to kindle flames so well--set fire to its sails." "Yes, yes! That he shall! Hail to the Duke!" shouted thousands of voices. Fiskulf sprang forward to the judge's chair, lifted both hands to him, and cried: "I thank thee, Duke! Ay, thou knowest the will of Odin! The proudest Roman galley--the General's vessel in Arbor, is it not? Well: I do not yet know how I am to reach the ship on the other side of the lake; but I will die, or accomplish it." "I will provide for that," said the Duke. "You need not go to the ship: Odin will bring the galley to you! Then do as I have told you." "Gladly! Gladly! Oh, give me back my weapons!" At a sign from the judge the heralds restored to him the spear and shield marked _F_, which lay on the stone steps, and he returned to the circle of his comrades, many of whom clasped his hand. CHAPTER XXXV. "A joyful duty now awaits you," the Duke began again: "a boy of noble family asks the bestowal of the sword, the first weapon granted. Many of us know him, and all who do, wish him well. True, the young hero is not very large; but I take my oath that I saw him yesterday pierce with his spear, at fifteen paces, a moderately thick linden-wood shield. And great was his courage, bold his daring when, dauntlessly risking his life and liberty, he scaled the wall of the Roman camp, brought back most important information and placed it in the Duke's hand." "Who is it? Who is it?" asked many voices. Adalo stepped forward, leading his brother by the hand: "Sippilo, my brave little brother." Then the Duke spoke: "I ask the assembly: Shall he receive the weapons? Is the young falcon fledged?" A pleasant smile illumined the face which could look so wrathful and threatening. "Hail to him! Hail to the Adeling! Hail to the boy! Give him the weapons." Sippilo flushed like a young girl, but the blush was very becoming.