were scattered in dismay, while the exhausted knight remained
wounded and alone in the darkness.

Then the golden hair of Aslauga gleamed once more in the
alder-shade; and Froda said, leaning, through weariness, on
his sword, "I think not that I am wounded to death; but
whenever that time shall come, 0 beloved lady, wilt thou not
indeed appear to me in all thy loveliness and brightness?"
A soft "Yes" breathed against his cheek, and the golden light
vanished.

But now Hildegardis came forth from the thicket, half fainting
with terror, and said feebly, "Within is the fair and
frightful spectre of the north--without is the battle. Oh,
merciful heaven! whither shall I go?"

Then Froda approached to sooth the affrighted one, to speak
some words of comfort to her, and to inquire after Edwald; but
wild shouts and the rattling of armour announced the return of
the Bohemian warriors. With haste Froda led the maiden to the
boat, pushed off from the shore, and rowed her with the last
effort of his failing strength towards the island which he had
observed in the midst of the stream. But the pursuers had
already kindled torches, and waved them sparkling here and
there. By this light they soon discovered the boat; they saw
that the dreaded Danish knight was bleeding, and gained fresh
courage for their pursuit. Hardly had Froda pushed the boat
to the shore of the island, before he perceived a Bohemian on
the other side in another skiff, and soon afterwards the
greater number of the enemy embarked to row towards the