Elsalill kept still; she felt a sharp pain tearing at her heart.
But Sir Archie hated her and delighted to torment her. "Then we
took our belts and fastened them to the chest and began to draw
it. But as the chest left tracks in the ice, we went ashore and
gathered twigs of spruce and laid them under the chest. Then we
took off our boots and went over the ice without leaving a trace
behind us."

Sir Archie paused to throw a scornful glance at Elsalill.

"Although we had prospered in all this, we were yet in bad case.
Wherever we went our bloodstained clothes would betray us and we
should be seized. But now listen, Elsalill, so that you may tell
all those who would be at the pains to give us chase, that they
may understand we are not of a sort to be lightly taken! Listen to
this: As we came over the ice toward Marstrand here, we met our
comrades and countrymen, who had been banished by King John from
his land. They had not been able to leave Marstrand because of the
ice, and they helped us in our need, so that we got clothes. Since
then we have gone about here in Marstrand and been in no danger.
And no danger would threaten us now, if you had not been faithless
and played me false."

Elsalill sat still. This was too great a grief for her. She could
scarce feel her heart beating.

But Sir Archie sprang up and cried: "And no ill shall befall us
tonight either. Of that you shall be witness, Elsalill!"

In an instant he seized Elsalill in both his arms and raised her