are say, to him, either."

"Cannot you even allow a woman her privilege of the last word?" she
cried indignantly.

Roland's brow cleared, and a smile came to his lips, as he remained
silent, thus bestowing upon her the prerogative she seemed to crave.
Hilda lay back in the prow of the boat between her sleeping women, with
hands clasped behind her head, and her eyes closed. More and more the
light increased, and sturdily with his paddle Roland propelled the boat
towards the shore, bringing it alongside the low bank at last. He sprang
out on the turf, and with the paddle in one hand held the boat to land
with the other.

"We are now," he said, "a short distance above St. Goarhausen, where I
hope to purchase horses. Will you kindly disembark?"

The girl, without moving, or opening her eyes, said quietly:

"Please throw the paddle into the boat again. I shall make for
Nonnenwerth in this craft, which is more comfortable than a saddle."

The paddle came rattling down upon the bottom of the skiff. Roland
stooped, and before she knew what he was about, took Hilda in his arms,
lifted her ashore, and laid her carefully on the grass.

"Come," he cried to the newly-awakened serving-women, "tumble out of
that without further delay," and they obeyed him in haste.

He stepped into the skiff, flung their belongings on the sward, turned
the prow to the west, and, leaping ashore, bestowed a kick upon the boat
that impelled it like an arrow far out into the stream.

Hilda was standing on her feet now, speechless with indignation.

"Come along," urged Roland cheerfully, "breakfast awaits us when we earn
it;" but seeing that she made no move, the frown furrowed his brow
again.

"Madam," he said, "I tell you frankly that to be thwarted by petulance
annoys me. It happens that time is of the utmost importance until we are
much farther from Pfalz. If you think that the ownership of wealth and a
castle gives you the right to flout a plain, ordinary man, you take a
mistaken view of things. I care nothing for your castle, or for your
wealth. You may be a lady of title for aught I know, but even that does
not impress me. We must not stand here like two quarrelsome children. I
will conduct you to the Adler Inn at St. Goarhausen, where I know from
experience you will be taken care of. I shall then purchase four horses,
and return to the inn after you have breakfasted. Three of these horses
are at your disposal, also the fourth and myself