oot to Danube water, and through the water, and beyond, and so
reached the strait doorways of their earth-bound stronghold, the Hring.

Now, seeing that the King of Sarras had left neither child nor brother
to heirship, and that their deliverer was a stalwart champion, young
and nobly statured, and handsome and gracious as he was valiant, frank
too and open-handed, and that moreover he seemed a man skilled in the
mastery of men and in affairs of rule, the fighting men of Sarras
thought that no better fortune could befall them than they should
choose this Talisso for their king. To Sarras therefore they carried
him with them on their merry home-going, and having entered the free
town, called the Council of Elders to say yea or nay. With few words
the Elders confirmed the choice, and the joy-bells were rung, and great
was the rejoicing of all men, gentle and simple, that God had sent them
so goodly a man for their ruler and bulwark.

In a week from that the city was dight and decked for the crowning of
Talisso. Garlands were hung across the streets; windows and walls were
graced with green branches and wreaths of flowers; many-coloured
draperies, variegated carpets and webs of silk and velvet hung from
parapet and balcony; once more the joy-bells were set aswing, and amid
a proud array of nobles and elders and gaily harnessed warriors the new
King walked under a canopy of cloth of gold to the High Church.

There in solemn splendour the new Archbishop administered to him the
kingly oath, and anointed him with the chrism of consecration, and set
the gold of power on his head, and invested him with the mantle of St.
Victor and girt about him the Saint's great iron sword set with many
jewels on the apple and the cross. As the Archbishop was completing
these ordinances, he chanced to look full into the King's face for the
first time, and as the King's eyes met his each stood still as stone
regarding the other for such a space as it would take one to count
four, telling the numbers slowly. Neither spoke, and when they who
were nearest looked to learn the cause of the stillness and the
stoppage they saw with amazement that the new King and the new
Archbishop were as like the one to the other as brothers who are twins.
With a slow and audible drawing of the breath the Archbishop took up
again the words of the ritual, and neither looked at the other any more
at that time.

Now, having been crowned and consecrated, Talisso