“In what light then do you behold me?” answered the sea-monarch; “you might methinks have guessed without being told, that I dispersed immediately all my followers, in all directions, wherever any one was to be found who had been present at that banquet; and that I pledged my honour and sword thereon, that you were a noble Christian knight, pious and honourable, no less than brave; therefore, free from all the guilt of which you had been accused. Then, too, I rode myself back to the castle, in order to console you; and because I hoped still to find there the best of that illustrious party. You, however, had vanished utterly; also Gabrielle, Blanchefleur, and Folko. My former captives, Heerdegen and Bertha, were also far distant. All that I could do, therefore, was to make known the truth among the squires and sentinels, then to remount my horse, and follow the road which was pointed out to me, as that chosen by the last of the guests who had departed from the castle. On the way, I blew, at frequent intervals, my great hunting-horn, trusting that, if it were heard by Sir Heerdegen, he would attend to the signal; for in France such powerful notes are not usually heard. It befell, as I expected, that once on a time the blast came to his ears, and he said immediately, ‘There sounded the trumpet of the sea-monarch, Arinbiorn! Either he would warn us against some approaching evil, or would himself obtain assistance.’ So he and his sister halted. I overtook them, and related to him the whole truth.” “And did they believe that I was innocent?” said Sir Otto.