Only Riowag remained a few steps from the priestess. Turning towards him she pointed with an imperious gesture towards the wood in which the other black warriors had disappeared. Seeing that the captain did not obey her summons, she raised her voice, and again pointed to the wood. Riowag then obeyed and left in turn. I remained alone with the priestess. I was left bound, lying at the foot of the statue of the under gods. Elwig squatted down upon her haunches near me and asked: "You were sent by Victoria to speak with the Frankish chiefs?" "I said so before." "You are one of Victoria's officers?" "I am one of her soldiers." "Does she cherish you?" "She is my foster-sister, I am as a brother to her." These words seemed to cause Elwig to reflect anew. She remained silent for a while, and then resumed: "Would Victoria weep over your death?" "As one would weep over the death of a faithful servant." "She surely would give much to save your life?" "Is it ransom you want?" Elwig again relapsed into silence, and resumed with a mixture of embarrassment and cunning that struck me forcibly: "Let Victoria come and ask my brother for your life. He will grant it to her.--But listen, Victoria has a great reputation for beauty; handsome women love to deck themselves with the Gallic jewelry that is so celebrated.--Victoria must have superb ornaments, seeing she is the mother of the chief of your country.--Tell her to cover herself with her richest jewelry; it will please my brother's eyes.--He will be all the more gracious, and will grant your life to her." I immediately surmised the snare that the priestess of hell was laying for me with the clumsy cunning natural to barbarians. Wishing to make certain, I observed without referring to her last words: "It seems that your brother is a powerful chief." "He is more than a chief," Elwig answered proudly; "he is a king." "We also, in the days of our barbarism, had kings. What is your brother's name?" "Neroweg, surnamed the Terrible Eagle." "You carry on your arms two figures, one representing a red serpent, the other the talons of a bird of prey. What do those emblems mean?" "The fathers of our fathers in our royal family have always worn these signs of valor and subtlety. The eagle's talons denote valor; the serpent subtlety. But let us drop my brother," added Elwig with somber impatience. My digression seemed to displease her. "Will you induce Victoria to come here?" "One word more on your royal brother.--Does he not carry on his forehead the identical symbols that you carry on your arms?" "Yes," she replied with increasing impatience. "Yes, my brother carries an eagle's talon over each eye-brow, and the red serpent on a head-band over his forehead. Kings wear a head-band. But we have spoken enough of Neroweg--quite enough--" I thought I noticed on Elwig's features an ill dissembled sentiment of hatred when she pronounced his name. She proceeded: