“It seemed to me, noble comrade,” said Sir Arinbiorn, “as if but a little while since you wished to visit the Druda’s castle. These clowns that are fighting there must not prevent you therefrom. In half an hour we shall teach them such a lesson, that they will thank Heaven if they escape even with life; for, see, yonder is another of my ships already near the shore, and the rest are surely at no great distance.” “Nay, let us not think of going thither,” answered Sir Otto. “What should I seek forsooth in those desolate halls, where perchance only a wolf, with her young ones, would come howling to meet me, and appear as if forsooth she were the sole owner of the mansion? Or why should I disturb the bats and owls in their secret solitary chambers, only to remember that there has been a time when the same rooms were brightened by the mild moon-like lustre of the Druda’s eyes, and cheered by the soft tones of Bertha’s voice? It must, methinks, be a frightful place; and were I to go thither, I might become mad, and speak to those wild creatures as if they were men and women. We shall, therefore, think no more of the matter, but hasten on shipboard.” “You are in truth quite right,” said the sea-monarch; and thereupon they rode away as fast as possible to the sea-shore, where Sir Arinbiorn’s gigantic soldiers were arranged as if in battle-array, with their strange armour and weapons. The most distinguished among them, who had formerly accompanied the sea-monarch in Normandy, recognised immediately the Knight of Trautwangen. A whispering ran at first through the ranks, which soon changed into a shout of congratulation, and thereafter into a choral ballad, in which they welcomed the young knight as their companion at sea; invited him, as he had before won the Magic Ring from Sir Folko de Montfaucon, to join with them in search of new trophies, which also his valour would doubtless obtain. They concluded with a stanza, praising fervently the delights of their life upon the sea, urging him to dismount from his horse, and embark with them on the foaming waves. Therewith they struck vehemently on their great brass-covered shields, and Sir Arinbiorn, smiling cheerfully, said to his companion, “Such is the custom among these Norwegians. Whenever they are much delighted by any new adventure, they turn it thus into rhymes and ballad-music, which are handed down afterwards from father to son with the story on which they were founded, insignificant as it must often seem when repeated in other countries.” Sir Otto, however, dismounted immediately; and, with his cheeks glowing at the praise which had been bestowed on him, he went through the ranks, and shook all his future comrades by the hand. At the same time, they were so delighted with his courteous and friendly demeanour, that several of them could not help coming forward, and embracing him heartily.