thought, as if considering the matter. At last, rousing himself, he
said, "Dear old friend, I would most willingly stay here this evening
all alone with you and your stories and songs, and all the pilgrims
in the world should not entice me from this quiet room. But one
thing must be considered. I feel a kind of dread of that pale, tall
man; and by such fears no knight's son can ever suffer himself to be
overcome. So be not angry, dear Rolf, if I determine to go and look
that strange palmer in the face." And he shut the door of the
chamber behind him, and with firm and echoing steps proceeded to the
hall.

The pilgrim and the knight were sitting opposite to each other at the
great table, on which many lights were burning; and it was fearful,
amongst all the lifeless armour, to see those two tall grim men move,
and eat, and drink.

As the pilgrim looked up on the boy's entrance, Biorn said: "You know
him already: he is my only child, and fellow-traveller this morning."

The palmer fixed an earnest look on Sintram, and answered, shaking
his head, "I know not what you mean."

Then the boy burst forth, impatiently, "It must be confessed that you
deal very unfairly by us! You say that you know my father but too
much, and now it seems that you know me altogether too little. Look
me in the face: who allowed you to ride on his horse, and in return
had his good steed driven almost wild? Speak, if you can!"

Biorn smiled, shaking his head, but well pleased, as was his wont,
with his son's wild behaviour; while the pilgrim shuddered as if