the old man, and the youth hastily added, "and is unknown to you,
hero of the wild-boar's courage."

The guest loosened his grip of the dagger and leaned back proudly.

"But Roman gold does not ensnare you," Adalo continued; "so some magic
blinds you."

"Or _you_ and all our crazy youths. The red drink of Zio, the war-god,
has intoxicated you. Or," he added in a lower, almost timid tone, "He,
Odin the Val-father, wishes again to people his Valhalla with
slaughtered heroes."

A change of expression flashed over the Duke's face. He gently raised
his spear and, unheard by the others, murmured, "Mighty Odin, do not
avenge the words." But Ebarbold went on:

"No matter about the boys! Their only art is war, and they have little
sense; but that you, who have seen sixty winters and almost as many
victories of the men with the high helmets--that you too should desire
war! My friends, I went to Rome; I climbed to the citadel on the
towering rock. It glitters with gold and marble. I served in the great
Valentinian's army. I have seen for years the countless thousands of
Roman warriors with their finest weapons, against which ours are like
children's toys."

The Duke, unnoticed, pressed his spear closer to his breast.

"And the military engines, the huge galleys with three banks of oars
one above another, the treasures of coined and uncoined gold and
silver! The whole extent of the land, all Mittelgard, as far as men
live--white, brown, and black--I've seen them painted on a long, long
strip of hide. The rising and the setting of the sun serve Rome. In his
golden house on one of the seven hills of the Tiber the Imperator has
placed a gold ball: all the provinces are copied on it. It is the work
of a magician. If a foe crosses the boundary in the farthest north or
south, the gold ball echoes and trembles in that spot; the Imperator
hears it, looks, and sends the legions. We will not defy him. The Caesar
is a god on earth."

"Do not hear it. Mighty One!" the old Duke murmured, stroking the runes
on his spear soothingly.

Adalo was about to make a vehement reply, but he involuntarily looked
at the silent man, and controlled himself.

"We have learned that long enough, I think," Ebarbold continued; "from
generation to generation, when each province still fought
independently, long before this name and league of the Alemanni were
heard and invented!"

"You don't like this league?" the Duke now asked suddenly.

The King