id Beowulf and his warriors to enter."

Guided by the Danish knight, Beowulf and his men went into Hart Hall
and stood before the aged Hrothgar. After friendly words of greeting
Beowulf said, "And now will I fight against Grendel, bearing neither
sword nor shield. With my hands alone will I grapple with the fiend,
and foe to foe we will fight for victory."

That night Beowulf's comrades slept in Hart Hall. Beowulf alone
remained awake. Out of the mists of the moorland the Evil Thing
strode. Loud he laughed as he gazed upon the sleeping warriors.
Beowulf, watchful and angry, curbed his wrath. Grendel seized one of
the men, drank his blood, crushed his bones, and swallowed his horrid
feast. Then Beowulf caught the monster and fought till the noise of
the contest was as of thunder. The knights awoke and tried to plunge
their swords into the hide of Grendel, but in vain. By enchantments he
had made himself safe. At length the fight came to an end. The sinews
in Grendel's shoulder burst, the bones cracked. The ogre tore himself
free, leaving his arm in Beowulf's mighty grip.

Sobbing forth his death-song, Grendel fled till he reached his
dwelling in the lake of the water-dragons, and there plunged in. The
dark waves closed over him and he sank to his home. Loud were the
songs of triumph in Hart Hall, great the rejoicing, for Beowulf had
made good his boast. He had cleansed the hall of the ogre. A splendid
feast was made and much treasure given to Beowulf by the King and
Queen.

Again did the Dane lords sleep in the great hall, but far away in the
water-dragons' lake the mother of Grendel wept over the dead body
of her son, desiring revenge. Very terrible to look upon was this
water-witch. As the darkness fell she crept across the moorland to
Hart Hall. In she rushed eager for slaughter. A wild cry rang through
the hall. The water-witch fled, but in doing so carried off the best
beloved of all the King's warriors.

Quickly was Beowulf called and he rode forth to the dark lake. Down
and down he dived till he came to the cave of the water-witch whom he
killed after a desperate struggle. Hard by on a couch lay the body of
Grendel. Drawing his sword he smote off the ogre's head. Swimming up
with it he reached the surface and sprang to land, and was greeted by
his faithful thanes. Four of them were needed to carry the huge head
back to Hart Hall.

His task being done Beowulf made haste to return to his own land that
he mig