“Truly,” answered the sea-monarch, “I can hardly think that she ever dwelt here; and yet, from the situation of this ruined fortress, it must be so!” While the two knights thus stood together, wondering and perplexed, a countryman had, unperceived, taken his station close to them. He now came forward, and respectfully took off his cap. “Ay, ay, noble sirs,” said he, “you are travellers no doubt from a distant land, and you have perchance stood, in better times, on the self-same ground on which you now are placed. I can understand all this. That is, in truth, the castle of the Lady Minnatrost; but she herself is far from hence, and no one can tell whither she is gone. The beautiful white flowers have turned into vile weeds, and the bright gleaming lake within the ramparts into a stagnant swamp; foul birds and beasts of prey inhabit the apartments; it is even said that it is by night also haunted by evil spirits. So it ever happens with whatever is the work of mortal hands. If neglected, it will not stand of itself, but must fall to ruin. It seems also, as if not only this castle, but the peace and welfare of the land, must be ruined since the departure of the Lady Minnatrost; for, during her absence, the princes and vassals have been perpetually at war, so that their swords on both sides have been ever dripping with blood. Nay, people even insist that the mad sea-monarch, Arinbiorn, will again appear on our shores----” “In that respect they are not so far in the wrong,” said Arinbiorn smiling; “but for the present, methinks, he will not do you any harm.” “Well, should it be so,” said the countryman, “we have doubtless to thank the good Lady Minnatrost; for you must know, that, though her castle is thus desolate, she has not yet so wholly forsaken us. More than once the boatmen have seen her by night on the sea-shore, dressed in waving white garments, and with a green veil over her head, as she had been wont to appear, and with her eyes yet gleaming like pale moonshine; but she seemed to weep often, and wring her hands. It is said, that she comes hither in quest of a certain damsel who once dwelt with her in the castle; for she used to make signals, and wave her long veil towards the wide sea; but as no one answered her, she wrapt up her face and went away. It was easy to be perceived that she avoided the castle. Good Heavens!” cried he, interrupting his narrative, “there is another battle already begun in valley! I must not lose a moment, but run to drive my sheep out of their way, otherwise they will ride over, and trample them into the earth.” So the countryman went in all haste down the hill, and the knights remounted their horses. They heard indeed, as the shepherd had said, a great noise of shouting and clashing of arms in the valley, and soon afterwards some troops of horsemen came riding past them at full speed.