to see him; and the younger boy, Torquil, told him how
they had now a tame otter, that fished in the lake, and a fine golden
eagle which they had got young in her nest, that also lived on the
island with them; and how their mother had got another baby since he had
been there, and how happy they all were, and so on, until they arrived
at the island, and there was old Darkeye himself waiting to receive
them; and when he saw who was in the boat, he ran down the stone steps
and grasped the young prince's hand, and drew him to his heart.
"Welcome! welcome!" said he; "I knew you had been in the forest, but
your father would not tell me anything more about you. He only said that
he longed for your coming home. But who is this?" asked Darkeye,
pointing to Wolf. "A friend of mine," said Eric, with a smile. "My name
is Wolf," grunted the swineherd. "I think I have seen him before. But
no! What? Yes!" said Darkeye, examining him; then added, as if he had
discovered some old acquaintance, "Surely I _have_ seen him. Tell me, my
fine fellow, did you"---- It was evident Darkeye had seen Wolf killing
his game, or in some affray with the robbers. Wolf looked sternly at
Darkeye, then at Eric, but said nothing. "Oh, Darkeye, do not trouble
poor Wolf," said Eric, "but let him go into the cottage; and come you
with me, as I wish to tell you all that has happened to me during these
few days." So, while the boys took Wolf to the cottage, and food was
being prepared, Eric told Darkeye all his adventures; and you would
have been sure that the forester was hearing something which surprised
and interested him wonderfully, had you seen his face, and how he
sometimes laughed, or knit his brows and looked angry, or sad and
solemn, or sprung to his feet from the rock on which he was sitting
beside Eric. When Eric came to speak about the old woman and her
daughter, "Ah!" said Darkeye, "there are not worse people in that wicked
country! They say that the old woman is a witch of some kind. But
whether she poisons travellers or drowns them, I know not. No doubt she
is in league with Ralph the robber, and would have robbed you or kept
you fast in some way or other till you were handed over to him. You were
right, my prince, in all you did. The only way of being delivered from
temptation is to be brave, and do what is right, come what may." Then,
grasping Eric by the hand, he led him back to the cottage. There
Darkeye's wife received him like a mother, and