thee, the Lord guide thee, the Lord lift thee up! And, Sintram, on the
far-off shores of Normandy I shall bear thee in mind, and I shall hear
how thou strugglest against the curse which weighs down thy unhappy
life; and if thou ever shake it off, and stand as a noble conqueror
over Sin and Death, then thou shalt receive from me a token of love
and reward, more precious then either thou or I can understand at this
moment."

The words flowed prophetically from the baron's lips; he himself was
only half-conscious of what he said. With a kind salutation he turned
his noble steed, and again flew down the valley towards the sea-shore.

"Fool, fool! thrice a fool!" whispered the angry voice of the little
Master in Sintram's ear. But old Rolf was singing his morning hymn in
clear tones within the castle, and the last lines were these:--

"Whom worldlings scorn,
Who lives forlorn,
On God's own word doth rest;
With heavenly light
His path is bright,
His lot among the blest."

Then a holy joy took possession of Sintram's heart, and he looked around
him yet more gladly than in the hour when Gabrielle gave him the scarf
and sword, and Folko dubbed him knight.

CHAPTER 25

The baron and his lovely lady were sailing across the broad sea with
favouring gales of spring, nay the coast of Normandy had already
appeared above the waves; but still was Biorn of the Fiery Eye sitting
gloomy and speechless in his castle. He had taken no leave of his
guests. There was more of proud fear of Montfaucon than of reverential
love for him in his soul, especially since the adventure with the boar's
head; and the thought was bitter to his haughty spirit, that the great
baron, the flower and glory of their whole race, should have come in
peace to visit him, and should now be departing in displeasure, in stern
reproachful displeasure. He had it constantly before his mind, and it
never failed to bring fresh pangs, the remembrance of how all had
come to pass, and how all might have gone otherwise; and he was always
fancying he could hear the songs in which after generations would
recount this voyage of the great Folko, and the worthlessness of the
savage Biorn. At length, full of fierce anger, he cast away the
fetters of his troubled spirit, he burst out of the castle with all his
horsemen, and began to carry on a warfare m