desire to make you my wife. You may trust in me, as I am a
gentleman and a soldier."

At that moment Elsalill heard the march of armed men in the square
outside. "If I go with him now," she thought, "he may yet escape.
If I refuse, I drive him to destruction. It is for my sake he
tarries here so long that the watch will lay hands on him. But how
can I go with the man who has murdered all my dear ones?"

"Sir Archie," said Elsalill, and she hoped her words might startle
him, "Do you not hear the tramp of armed men in the square?"

"Oh, yes, I hear it," said Sir Archie; "there has been some
alehouse brawl, I doubt not. Let it not fright you, Elsalill; it
is but some fishermen that have come to clapper-claws over their
cups."

"Sir Archie," said Elsalill, "do you not hear them stand before
the town hall?"

Elsalill was trembling from head to foot, but Sir Archie took no
note of it; he was quite calm.

"Where else would you have them stand?" said Sir Archie. "They
must bring the brawlers here to lay them by the heels in the watch
house. Listen not to them, Elsalill, but to me, who ask you to
follow me over the sea!"

But Elsalill tried once more to put fear into Sir Archie. "Sir
Archie," she said, do you not hear the watch coming down the steps