Sir Palle now rode round to Drost Aage's side, and did not again address himself to the captive maiden. He was silent and gloomy. He had observed with great wrath a repressed smile on the Drost's countenance; and the huntsmen who followed them laughed, and whispered together in a manner which too plainly indicated that Sir Palle and his unfortunate love adventure were the subject of their ridicule. The two younger huntsmen were strongly, attached to Aage; they had remarked how little acceptable Sir Palle's company was to him; and they now, as if to beguile the time, began to hum the well-known ballad of the brave knight Helmer Blaa. In one of the many scenes of violence which were the consequences of the proscription of the outlawed regicides, Helmer Blaa had slain Sir Palle's uncle. On this account he had for a long time been barbarously persecuted by Sir Palle and his six brothers, until he at last vanquished all the six in honourable self-defence, and compelled Palle to give him his sister in marriage, who, before this feud, had been betrothed to the gallant knight. This occurrence (so derogatory to Sir Palle's reputation) had attracted general attention, and almost every young fellow in the country could repeat a ballad in honour of the bold Helmer Blaa, who had not only been acquitted by the king and whole body of knighthood, but stood also high in favour with Eric. The burden of the song,-- "In the saddle he rides so free," fell on Sir Palle's ear. He looked back towards the huntsmen, with a face glowing with rage, but they appeared not to notice it; and one of them sang aloud,-- "Better I cannot counsel thee, That thou tarry not, but hence should'st flee, In the saddle he rides so free." "Your huntsmen, Sir Drost, would drive me hence with vile songs, I perceive," said Sir Palle, turning to Aage. "Is it you, or yonder pretty maiden, who have inspired them with this pleasant conceit?" "You are perhaps not a lover of song, Sir Palle?" answered Aage; "that is unfortunate: the merry fellows wish to beguile the time for us on the road." "If I hear aright," growled Palle, "that song may perhaps shorten the road to heaven for both of them if it is not presently ended." "Think you so?" answered Aage carelessly. "If you will give us your company you must reconcile yourself to our merriment. Haste to sing the song to the end," he called to the huntsmen, "or Sir Palle will be wroth;" and the huntsmen sang gaily,-- "In the town my true love shall ne'er hear it said That I before her brothers have fled. "Full boldly rode Helmer her brothers to meet, His courage was equal to every feat. "First Ove, then Lang, his eye did survey, And then did his sword come quick into play."