Then Alfgar, who felt full of divine confidence, took his place at the end nearest the porch. He was given the book of the Gospels. "Swear thy innocence upon the holy Gospels," said the bishop. "I do swear that I am innocent of the crime they lay to my charge;" and he kissed the book; then holy water was sprinkled upon his feet, and given him to drink. The decisive moment approached. He looked round, he saw Ethelgiva, her eyes full of tears, her lips moving in prayer. All fear departed from him. The bishop blindfolded him. "My son, trust in God, and in His strength go forward," he whispered. Alfgar could see nought now. A line of red string was stretched from the bishop's hand to that of a priest at the other extremity, to guide him. Canute advanced, took the end from the priest's hand and held it. Alfgar started one step. The first iron is passed safely--two, the second cleared. The excitement is intense. Three cleared--four, five. Ah, he nears the sixth! No, he misses it!--seven, eight--one more--nine! SAVED BY GOD! Ethelgiva fainted. A deep sound of applause, not even suppressed by the character of the place. Elfwyn received his adopted son in his arms: "Saved, saved!" he cried. "Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory!" replied Alfgar. When the first congratulations were over, and Alfgar had somewhat recovered from the excitement of the shock, and from the congratulations which were heaped upon him upon all sides, he was told that Canute awaited him in the audience chamber, and at once repaired to the presence of his future king with less emotion than may be imagined; for he was worn out by sensation, and becoming callous to impressions. He was formally introduced by the officer in waiting, and the king at once dismissed that functionary. "Alfgar, son of Anlaf, we have met before," observed the monarch. "We have, my lord." "I did not refer to later occasions, when we have met on the battlefield, but to a far earlier one. Need I recall it? Surely there are some moments in one's life never to be forgotten." "There are indeed, my lord. Pardon my confusion. You refer to a scene in Carisbrooke." "Yes. When I asked you, 'What is this Christianity?' you had not much time given you to answer me then, but your deliberate choice of a bitter death, in preference to abandoning it, showed me there was somewhat deeper in it than I had imagined. Alfgar, there are seeds lightly sown which bear fruit hereafter, and your words were of such a character--so that I, your future monarch, owe you already a debt of gratitude, and I had come hither to fulfil it when you saved me the task by appealing to the ordeal. I for one had full faith in the justice of God. But had you not so appealed, I should have stepped in between Edric and his victim." "You did not then, my lord, believe in my guilt?"