hem, slumbering on cushions, a
female form in white garments.

"Hildegardis!" murmured Edwald to himself, with a smile, and at the
same time he drew his sword in readiness for the combat as soon as the
robbers should awake, and beckoned to Froda to raise the sleeping lady,
and convey her to a place of safety. But at this moment something like
an owl passed whizzing over the dark squadron, and they all started up
with clattering arms and hideous outcries. A wild unequal combat arose
in the darkness of night, for that beaming light had disappeared.
Freda and Edwald were driven asunder, and only at a distance heard each
other's mighty war-cry. Hildegardis, startled from her magic sleep,
uncertain whether she were waking or dreaming, fled bewildered and
weeping bitterly into the deep shades of the alder-thicket.

CHAPTER VI.

Froda felt his arm grow weary, and the warm blood was flowing from two
wounds in his shoulder; he wished so to lie down in death that he might
rise up with honour from his bloody grave to the exalted lady whom he
served. He cast his shield behind him, grasped his sword-hilt with both
hands, and rushed wildly, with a loud war-cry, upon the affrighted foe.
Instantly he heard some voices cry, "It is the rage of the northern
heroes which has come upon him." And the whole troop 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, O 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,