n to the
dragon's hill.

Unwillingly he went with lagging footsteps until at length he came
to the cave hard by the seashore. There by the sounding waves lay the
savage guardian of the treasure. Ready for war and fierce was he. It
was no easy battle that was there prepared for any man, brave though
he might be.

And now on the rocky point above the sea King Beowulf sat himself
down. Here he would bid farewell to all his thanes ere he began the
combat. For what man might tell which from that fight should come
forth victorious?

Beowulf's mind was sad. He was now old. His hair was white, his face
was wrinkled and gray. But still his arm was strong as that of a young
man. Yet something within him warned him that death was not far off.

So upon the rocky point he sat and bade farewell to his dear comrades.

"In my youth," said the aged King, "many battles have I dared, and
yet must I, the guardian of my people, though I be full of years, seek
still another feud. And again will I win glory if the wicked spoiler
of my land will but come forth from his lair."

Much he spoke. With loving words he bade farewell to each one of his
men, greeting his dear comrades for the last time.

"I would not bear a sword or weapon against the winged beast," he said
at length, "if I knew how else I might grapple with the wretch, as of
old I did with Grendel. But I ween this war-fire is hot, fierce, and
poisonous. Therefore I have clad me in a coat of mail, and bear this
shield all of iron. I will not flee a single step from the guardian of
the treasure. But to us upon this rampart it shall be as fate will.

"Now let me make no more vaunting speech. Ready to fight am I. Let me
forth against the winged beast. Await ye here on the mount, clad in
your coats of mail, your arms ready. Abide ye here until ye see which
of us twain in safety cometh forth from the clash of battle.

"It is no enterprise for you, or for any common man. It is mine alone.
Alone I needs must go against the wretch and prove myself a warrior.
I must with courage win the gold, or else deadly, baleful war shall
fiercely snatch me, your lord, from life."

Then Beowulf arose. He was all clad in shining armor, his gold-decked
helmet was upon his head, and taking his shield in hand he strode
under the stony cliffs towards the cavern's mouth. In the strength of
his single arm he trusted against the fiery dragon.

No enterprise this for a coward.

III

HOW BEOWUL