by the wish of bidding defiance to a chieftain whom they detested,
and thus exciting a feud. At that season of the year, when his
winter dreams had just passed off, Sintram was always unusually
fierce and disposed for warlike adventures. And this day he was
enraged at the chieftain for not coming in arms from his castle to
hinder their hunting; and he cursed, in the wildest words, his tame
patience and love of peace. Just then one of his wild young
companions rushed towards him, shouting joyfully: "Be content my dear
young lord! I will wager that all is coming about as we and you
wish; for as I was pursuing a wounded deer down to the sea-shore, I
saw a sail and a vessel filled with armed men making for the shore.
Doubtless your enemy purposes to fall upon you from the coast."

Joyfully and secretly Sintram called all his followers together,
being resolved this time to take the combat on himself alone, and
then to rejoin his father, and astonish him with the sight of
captured foes and other tokens of victory.

The hunters, thoroughly acquainted with every cliff and rock on the
coast, hid themselves round the landing-place; and soon the strange
vessel hove nearer with swelling sails, till at length it came to
anchor, and its crew began to disembark in unsuspicious security.
At the head of them appeared a knight of high degree, in blue steel
armour richly inlaid with gold. His head was bare, for he carried
his costly golden helmet hanging on his left arm. He looked royally
around him; and his countenance, which dark brown locks shaded, was
pleasant to behold; and a well-trimmed moustache fringed his mouth,
from which, as he smiled, gleamed forth two rows of pearl-white
teeth.