Then the host led his guests in front of the hall, and they solemnly ascended the steps in procession; at the entrance they were received by the hostess; near her stood her daughter and the maidens. The men did homage respectfully to the ladies; the Princess extended her hand to all, and duly inquired after their wives and the state of their families; to the men of their kindred she offered her cheek for a kiss. The chiefs of the people took high places on the seats of the gallery, and began earnest converse, while the cupbearer and servants entered in long rows, bearing the welcoming draft in wooden cups, and light dainties, such as white spiced cakes, and smoked meat.

Meanwhile the youths were impatiently preparing, on the lawn in front of the house, the course for the martial games. The village boys began the competition, that they also might win the praise of the warriors; they ran races, sprang over a horse, and shot at a perch with reed arrows. But soon the youths were seized with emulation; they threw the spear, and cast the heavy stone, springing after it; and when Theodulf, with a powerful swing, had thrown the heaviest stone, and made the widest leap, a fathom beyond the others, there burst forth a loud shout reaching to the hall, and even the old and the wise heads of the people could not keep their seats any longer, but hastened to the exhibition on the lawn. Great became the circle of spectators; the women of the village stood there in their festive dresses, separated from the men, and in the surrounding circle the sound of the acclamations and the praises of the victor became ever louder.

Among the spectators stood Ingo, watching these feats of agility and strength. Then Isanbart, an old chief of the district, stepped up to him, and looking at him searchingly, began so solemnly that others ceased speaking:

"Among thy people also, stranger, from whereever thou hast thine origin, the young warriors undoubtedly exercise themselves in leaping and feats of arms; I see by thine arm and eye that thou art not quite unacquainted with sports; perhaps it will please thee to show our young men what the practise is in thy home, even though thou mayest not be as well versed in the art as a chief. If thou art from the east, as I conceive, thou must at least know how to swing the wooden club: this also shows the strength of the man, although my countrymen practise it little. In the hall I saw such a club over the seat of the host."

Ingo answered the good old man, "If the Prince and the chiefs of the people will allow me, I will attempt what I once learned."

The Prince nodded. One of the retinue rushed to the house, and brought with him a weapon of oakwood, curved backward from the handle, with a sharp edge in front. The club was passed from hand to hand, and the men weighed the light tool.

"This weapon is similar to what our swineherd carries to destroy wolves," cried Theodulf, contemptuously; but the old man Isanbart answered reprovingly, "Thou speakest foolishly; I saw a skull broken like a clay jug with a club not so heavy as this." And he laid the club in the hands of the host.

"Any one who has ridden over a field of battle in the eastern marches," said the Prince, "knows well the wounds made by the stroke of this knotted weapon. Yet I have heard from old warriors that a secret lies in the wood, and that it is difficult to master the throw; for it may maliciously strike the incautious one's own head. This wooden club is not unworthy of the hand of a noble, for in former days it was a king's weapon, and my father brought it home from a foreign country."

"Then it shall show its powers to the son," cried out Ingo, joyfully catching hold of it. With a smart swing of the arm he threw the club; it flew in circling curves through the air; but when all thought that it would strike the ground, it came, as if drawn by a cord, back again to him: he caught hold of it in the air by the handle, and threw it again hither and thither, always quicker, and it always returned obediently to his hand. So easy and frolicsome did the game with the oaken club appear that the spectators drew near, and loud laughter went through the circle.

"That is a juggling trick of the traveler," exclaimed Theodulf, contemptuously.

"It is a weapon of defense in a man's hand," retorted the stranger; "thy skull can scarcely be harder than this iron cap."

He spoke to Wolf, who laid an old iron helmet on a pole at the distance of a spear's throw. The stranger measured the distance of the mark, weighed the weapon in his hand, threw it in a curve at the helmet, and sprang after it with a powerful bound. Loud cracked the bursting metal, and yet the club came back again, and again Ingo caught it with a strong hand, and held it on high. A cry of astonishment sounded through the circle, and a curious crowd collected round the shattered helmet.

"Well, then," began Theodulf, condescendingly, "thou hast shown us thy usages, now try our practises. Bring hither the horses for the leapers."

First two horses were placed beside each other, head by head and tail by tail. The leaper drew back, and with a short run sprang over. Almost all were successful in the leap, but with three horses only a few succeeded, and Theodulf alone was able to leap over four, and as he drew back into the crowd behind the horses, he made a gesture with his hand to the attendants. The stranger bowed his head a little, and made the same leap so easily that the field resounded with applause. Then Theodulf called for a fifth horse to be added --- a difficult leap seldom accomplished by the most agile. But the Thuringian was irritated, and determined to do the utmost. He himself disposed the horses differently, that the gray might stand as fifth, then he looked round him, received the acclamations of his friends, and ventured on the mighty leap. He got over, but in coming down he touched the gray with his back. While, however, stepping forward and rejoicing in the hurrahs of the people, a still louder acclamation sounded behind him, and turning round, he saw the stranger, who this time rapidly and easily, without touching, had accomplished the leap. The Thuringian grew pale with rage; he went silently to his place, and endeavored in vain to suppress the jealousy that shone forth from his eyes. The old men, however, went up to the stranger, and praised his agility, and the old Chief said, "I perceive, stranger, if thy bearing does not deceive me, that thou art not ignorant of the leap over six horses also, which is called the King's leap, and in which a hero does not succeed in every generation. I saw it once when I was young, but my people never." And he cried aloud, "Bring the sixth horse thither!"

Then there arose a murmur in the circle, and the more distant pressed nearer, while the youths hastened to place the horse. But the Princess stepped up to Ingo: she was grieved at the discomfiture of her relation, and said in a low tone to the guest: "Consider well, hero; the arrow of the hunter easily hits the mountain cock, when on spreading his wings he raises his voice." But Ingo looked at Irmgard, who was standing in joyful expectation behind her mother, and gave him a friendly smile, and he answered with glowing cheeks:

"Do not be angry with me, Princess. I have been called for; I did not intrude myself into the struggle; unwillingly does a man renounce the offered honor."

He stepped back for the spring, raised himself powerfully in the air, and accomplished the leap, so that all the people shouted; and when he returned, he heeded not the displeased look of the Princess; he rejoiced that he had succeeded, and that Irmgard's face brightened with a rosy tint. The spectators for a long time kept moving about among one another, speaking of the boldness of the stranger, and extolling him, till other objects were placed for the contest of the men. Ingo from thenceforth stood quiet near the chiefs, and no one called him to a new struggle.

The sun was already sinking, when the herald approached the Prince, and invited the company to the repast. The men obeyed the call cheerfully; they returned in procession to the house, and ascended the steps to the hall. The herald and the high steward walked before them, and arranged each one at the tables in the hall according to his rank and position. This was an anxious task, for every one desired the place that suited him --- either at the table of the Chieftain, or near him, and rather on the right side than the left. There was a long row of tables; the seats for the most distinguished had supports for the arms, and those for others of less distinction had high backs; for the younger ones there were good stools. It was difficult to satisfy all with a seat of honor, but the herald understood his office, and knew how to recommend to many their places, on account either of their neighbor, or of being near the ladies, or of having a good view of the hall. Nearest to the door were placed the companions of the master of the house, in a long row; there Theodulf had a place of honor; and on the opposite side, but quite below, sat the stranger. Then, when all were sitting in expectation, the cup-bearer entered with the servants, carrying in beautiful wooden goblets the greeting draft; the host rose, and drank to the good health of the guests, and all stood up and emptied their goblets. Then came the high steward, with his staff, and behind him a long row of servants, who set the first course on the table; then each one took the knife which he carried by his side, and began the meal vigorously.

In the beginning there was silence among the benches, for the talking of all was interrupted by their hunger, and they only praised in a low tone the abundant care of the Princess; yet the older men, near the Prince, entered into serious conversation; they called to mind the past deeds of heroes, and praised the virtues of their horses. The others listened willingly to their words, while eating.

A nobleman by the side of the Prince began in a loud voice:

"Truly the pleasantest thing to me in summer is just such a high feast as this, where fellow-countrymen greet each other in warlike attire in the green meadows, the grayheads remember their old warlike journeys, and the combat-loving youths show in their games that their strength may at some future day add to the honor of their fathers. The sun shines warm, and the face of the host smiles upon the guests, the herds of cattle frisk about, and the ears of corn ripen in the south wind; glad is the heart of man at such a time, and he thinks unwillingly of cares. Yet it befits a man, even at his meals, not to lay aside his sword further than his arm can reach, for all life is full of change in the valleys of men; the heavens may soon be covered by a veil of dark gray clouds, and the earth by a garment of white snow; no happiness is lasting on this earth, and each day may bring a new fate. Thus even now news has spread among the people from the land of the Romans; many are anxious concerning it, and in their thoughts ask our host whether he has received intelligence which it would be well for us to know."

This speech gave the opinion of all, and there was a sound of assent from every table; then there was a great silence.

But the Prince answered cautiously: "We have all heard of the great battle, and are considering whether it will be for our welfare. Yet I do not advise that we forest men, now engaged with our drinking-horns, should cast our eyes downward with anxious looks. As yet we only know what wanderers bring from foreign lands, perhaps what they themselves have beheld, perhaps uncertain rumors. Therefore our messengers are riding through the forest southward for new intelligence. We await their return. Then our wise men will examine whether the news warrants the people in concerning themselves about it."

As these words announced that the host would not give any information concerning the Roman war, there arose a suppressed murmur, and Herr Answald remarked that his guests would gladly have learned more, and were not pleased with his silence.

The Prince therefore gave a quiet sign to the herald, who stepped forward, and called out with a loud voice, "The sword-dancers approach, and beg for your favor." Then all were silent, and arranged themselves for the spectacle, and the women rose from their seats.

A piper and bagpiper stepped forward, behind them twelve dancers, young warriors from the people and of the Chieftain's household, in white underdresses, with colored girdles, and shining swords in their hands; before them walked Wolf as thirteenth, the sword-king, in a red dress. They stopped at the entrance, and saluted, lowering their weapons; then they began the song of the dance, and glided with slow steps up to the open space before the seat of the chiefs. The sword-king stood in the middle, his twelve comrades encircling him solemnly with raised swords. He gave a sign, the pipers blew, the movements became quicker, half of them bounded to the right in an inner circle, the others placed themselves opposite outside, and each one exchanged with all whom he met sword-strokes according to the rule of the stroke. Then the king dived among the shining swords, gliding now to the outer, now to the inner circle; he received and answered with his weapon the strokes of the others. The windings became more skilful, the movements more eager; one after the other turned himself, as in a fight, through the resolving circles of the others. Then they divided themselves into groups, hastening against each other in measure, and with weapons stretched out, till they at the same time, now three and now four, interlaced themselves into a fighting posture. Suddenly they all lowered their swords in a large circle to the ground, and entwined them in a moment in an artistic plait that looked like a shield. The sword-king stood upon it, and his twelve comrades were able to raise him on the shield of swords from the ground up to their shoulders, where he stood, and with his sword greeted the Prince, the guests, and the ladies. In like manner they let him down slowly to the ground, loosened sword from sword, and began anew to attack one another in a circle, now springing about and exchanging sword-blows quick as lightning. Scarcely could the eye follow the single strokes in the whirl; the bright steel sparkled, and the men swung their bodies under the sharp weapons; the pipes sounded shrill, the bagpipes droned wildly; and sparks darted forth from the swords.