He saw the bottom of the sea covered with wreckage. He saw heavy anchors, thick ropes twined about like snakes, ships with their sides riven asunder; golden dragon-heads from the bows of ships stared at him with red, threatening eyes. 'I should like to know who has fought a battle here and left all this as a prey to destruction,' thought the dreamer. Everywhere he saw dead men. They were hanging on the ships' sides, or had sunk into the green seaweed. But he did not give himself time to look at them, for his eyes were obliged to follow the woman, who continued to walk onwards. At last the King saw her stop at the side of a dead man. He was clothed in a red mantle, had a bright helmet on his head, a shield on his arm, and a naked sword in his hand. The woman bent over him and whispered to him, as if awaking someone sleeping: 'King Olaf! King Olaf!' Then he who was dreaming saw that the man at the bottom of the sea was himself. He could distinctly see that he was the dead man. As the dead did not move, the woman knelt by his side and whispered into his ear: 'Now Storräde hath sent her fleet against thee and avenged herself. Dost thou repent what thou hast done, King Olaf?' And again she asked: 'Now thou sufferest the bitterness of death because thou hast chosen me instead of Storräde. Dost thou repent? dost thou repent?' Then at last the dead opened his eyes, and the woman helped him to rise. He leant upon her shoulder, and she walked slowly away with him. Again King Olaf saw her wander and wander, through night and day, over sea and land. At last it seemed to him that they had gone further than the clouds and higher than the stars. Now they entered a garden, where the earth shone as light and the flowers were clear as dewdrops. The King saw that when the woman entered the garden she raised her head, and her step grew lighter. When they had gone a little further into the garden her garments began to shine. He saw that they became, as of themselves, bordered with golden braid, and coloured with the hues of the rainbow. He saw also that a halo surrounded her head that cast a light over her countenance. But the slain man who leant upon her shoulder raised his head, and asked: 'Who art thou?' 'Dost thou not know, King Olaf?' she answered; and an infinite majesty and glory encompassed her. But in the dream King Olaf was filled with a great joy because he had chosen to serve the gentle Queen of Heaven. It was a joy so great that he had never before felt the like of it, and it was so strong that it awoke him. * * * * * When King Olaf awoke his face was bathed in tears, and he lay with his hands folded in prayer. ASTRID I