ly to the hermit, "pray that thy God shall send
thee a champion now, for if He does not, as I live thou shalt die."

"I may not pray at thy bidding," said the hermit calmly; "besides, it
needs not that I should, because I have already prayed--before dawn this
morning--that He would grant me His blessing in the form that seemed
best to Himself."

"And hast thou got it?"

"I have--in that I possess a quiet spirit, and do not fear to die, now
that His time has come."

"'Tis something this, I admit," returned the King; "yet methinks 'tis
but a poor blessing, after all, with death as the end of it."

"Death is not the end of it," said the hermit, with a kindling eye, "for
after death is everlasting joy and glory with the Lord. Besides, King
Harald, which were better, think you: to die with a willing spirit and
bright hope, or to live full of restless ambition, disappointment, and
rage, even although victorious and King of Norway?"

The King's countenance grew livid with anger as he turned to the berserk
and said, in a voice of suppressed passion--"Go forward, Hake, and slay
him!"

"Now--the time has come," whispered Erling to Glumm.

"Get as near to Ada as thou canst; for the rest, may Christian's God be
with us!"

As he spoke he sprang into the circle, sword in hand, and stood suddenly
between the astonished Hake and the hermit.

There was a loud murmur of amazement at this unexpected apparition, and
not a few of the spectators were awestricken, supposing that this was
actually a champion sent from the spirit world.

"Harald," cried Erling, for the berserk had shrunk back dismayed, "I do
now accept the challenge, and come here to champion the old man."

At the sound of his voice the King's face lighted up with intelligence.

"Ha!" he exclaimed suddenly; "has the old man's God sent Erling the
Bold?"

"Truly I think he has," replied Erling; "at all events it was not for
this purpose that I came hither to-day. But now that I have come, and
of mine own free will put myself in thy power, I claim the right to do
battle for my old friend with thy stoutest man--so set him forth, King
Harald."

"What sayest thou, Hake?" said the King, turning to his berserk with a
smile; "art willing to join issue with the Bold one?--bold enough,
truly, and insolent as well."

Hake, who had recovered his self-possession the instant he recognised
Erling's voice, and who was by no means wanting in courage, suddenly
uttered one o