“No,” said the sea-monarch, with a sigh; “for the youth who appeared in the mirror was also at the banquet-table, and they named him Master Aleard. It seemed to me, moreover, as if Blanchefleur often cast on him, though by stealth and fearfully, those looks which to me were dearer than all the treasures of the world. So, in doubt and apprehension, I was forced to keep silence. This Master Aleard was also a minstrel; and methinks, if sweet songs instead of victorious wreaths are the gifts by which Blanchefleur is to be won, I would gladly travel through the whole earth in quest of ballads and music, and, instead of a warlike knight, would be a soft-hearted minstrel---- “But what noise is that in the third vessel?” cried he, starting up; and a captain drew near, announcing that there was a ship in view full of armed men, which they had already hailed, demanding whether her crew were friends or foes; but of this no notice had been taken, and she had set all her sails as if determined on flight. Already she was at a considerable distance. “Have you still the Greek fire-balls that we brought from Constantinople?” said Sir Arinbiorn; and receiving an answer in the affirmative; “Take then some of your arrows, wrap them round with flax or tow, filled with that fire, and shoot them at these mysterious strangers. If they will not hear we shall make them feel.” Accordingly, in a few moments, those fiery arrows flew like meteors through the dusk of the evening against the strange vessel. By their own light it was easy to perceive the devastation which they produced. Some fell on the deck, others on the rigging. The very mariners themselves had their heads covered with the fire. The lights fluttered and whirled through the ship, and at intervals one saw how two winged darts met together, and their fires united; at last the whole vessel from the deck up to the mast-head was enveloped in flames. “Quickly let the boats be prepared,” cried Sir Arinbiorn, “and let us go to their assistance. They have all thrown themselves into the water, and from thence let every one be saved. On your souls and lives, I charge you let them all be brought safely hither!”