"The Gallic dog is a noble animal for war and for the hunt," I replied to him; "the Frankish wolf, however, is an animal of rapine and carnage. But it will not be long before the brave Gallic dogs will have chased from their frontiers this pack of voracious wolves that have come prowling from the northern forests. Be careful! If you refuse to listen to the message that I have for you from Victoria and her valiant son--be careful! Our army is numerous. It will be a war to the death that will be waged between the Gallic dog and the Frankish wolf--a war of extermination--and the Frankish wolf will be devoured by the Gallic dog." Grinding his teeth with rage, Neroweg seized the axe that hung from his belt, and raising it in both hands was about to let it come crashing down upon my head. I believed my last hour had come, but two of the other kings held the arm of Elwig's brother, into whose ears they whispered a few words that seemed to calm him. He held a short conference with his companions and returned to me: "What is the message that you bring from Victoria for the Frankish kings?" "The messenger of Victorin and Victoria can only speak on his feet, unfettered, his head high--not stretched down on the ground, and bound fast like the ox that expects the butcher's knife. Order my bonds to be removed, and I shall speak--if not, not. You have heard me, brute that you are!" "Speak on the spot--unconditionally, you Gallic dog!--or tremble before my anger!" "No; I shall not speak!" "I shall know how to make you speak!" "Try it! You will find me unshakeable!" Neroweg ordered one of the other kings to fetch a firebrand from under the brass caldron. I was held down by the shoulders and feet, so as to prevent me from making the slightest motion, while the Terrible Eagle placed the firebrand upon my iron cuirass and heaped up others about it. The brasier that he thus built upon my body seemed to amuse him greatly. He laughed out aloud and said to me: "You shall speak, or be broiled like a tortoise in its shell." The iron of my cuirass soon began to heat under the coals which two of the Frankish kings kept alive by blowing upon them. I suffered greatly and cried: "Oh! Neroweg! Neroweg! Cowardly assassin! I would gladly endure these tortures, if I only could see myself once more sword in hand before you, and put my mark upon your other cheek. Oh! You have said it--there is room only for hatred and death between our two races!" "What is Victoria's message?" the Terrible Eagle asked again. I remained silent, despite the intense pain that I suffered. The iron of my cuirass was growing hot all around. "Will you speak?" the Frankish chief cried anew, evidently astonished at my resistance. "Victoria's messenger speaks erect and free," I answered. "If not, not!"