They came accordingly to a cave in the rocks, of which the entrance was sheltered and adorned by the projecting fantastic roots of old oak-trees. Deep in the abyss within, a warm fire was blazing, and as they approached nearer, the light fell on a complete suit of armour, which hung upright on a pole, so that the strange fashion of its ornaments was clearly revealed. They were of burnished silver, contrasting with black steel, and the helmet had a visor representing the hooked bill of an eagle. There was also a glittering sword, but in two pieces, tied together with rushes; and the whole stood there like a monumental trophy, such as one finds in old chapels over the grave of some renowned champion. Sir Arinbiorn thought at first, that there was indeed a warrior thus attired leaning against the wall; but soon after perceived that the head-piece was void; and yet he could not repress certain thoughts of ambuscade and stratagem, in consequence of which perhaps his own armour might ere long be hung up in the cave as this was now! So he grappled at the battle-axe, which he had disengaged from his saddle and brought with him into the cavern. Then said the wild man in the bear’s-skin, “Sir Knight, I pray you, take no care for your safety here. These are but my own weapons and coat-of-mail, or rather what were once mine; for now I shall never wear them more. I am in truth no assassin, nor would do wrong to any one over the wide world.” “Nay, I believe you thoroughly,” said the sea-monarch; “and my fears were indeed very foolish. For, if you had meditated any evil designs against me, wherefore would you have called off your wild angry horse; or wherefore would you have shewn such kindness to mine, laying medicinal herbs to his wounds, and leading him to a fold where the ground was covered with soft moss? For, surely, whoever takes such care for the horse, must also have kind intentions towards his rider. Will my courteous entertainer yet forgive me?” “Enough said,” answered the man in the bear-skin; “I forgive you willingly, as indeed I might, like a good Christian, say to all the world, though to me nothing has been forgiven.” At these words, his voice faultered, and he turned away more perchance that his guest might not then see that he wept, than to search out some store of food which was concealed under a covering of moss. “So may Heaven protect me,” said the sea-monarch, “as I now firmly believe that you of all men are the knight of whom I am now riding in quest. I have been told of a black and silver coat-of-mail, and a visor like an eagle’s head, all such as I now see before me in that corner. Truly I have never yet beheld you in your coat-of-mail, but only in your festival-attire, with your green velvet barret and your embroidered doublet.”