"Course words are the coin of homeless beggars," retorted Hadubald; "thou understandest well how to pay them, when, lingering about foreign banks, thou passest through the world. Ye are quite useless on man's earth, and henceforth ye will scarcely trouble foreign courts by your noise."

Then Ingo sprang through the noisy bands, with the King's son in his arms; he rushed on to the steps, and stood among his faithful followers. A loud exclamation from the Vandals sounded about the hall. Ingo called out imperatively to the King's boys: "Retire, valiant heroes of Thuringia! The young King whom I hold bids you keep the peace. If you wish his head to remain uninjured, be careful not to annoy my men. Welcome is the King in the dwelling of his guests," he added, as Bisino came up, "and his presence signifies peace. Enter graciously, oh King, the sleeping-room of thy guests; for it is not by weapons, I think, that we shall end the disturbance this day. Help me to conduct the King, Hermin, my cousin!" He put the boy down on the ground, and stepped, holding the knife over him, toward the King; the child seized the hand of his father, and stood between the Heroes. "Kindle the torches at the flame," cried Ingo to his people. "Let every one leave the room; ye Vandal heroes, watch on the steps while I take counsel with the King."

Morosely did Bisino sign to his retinue to clear the entrance; then he ordered Hadubald, with an equal number of King's men, to occupy the steps. Ingo conducted the King to the high gallery of the hall, where his bed stood, and sat down opposite to him, with his arm round the young King. Bisino seated himself hesitatingly, and looked gloomily before him.

"Thou thinkest to compel me, by the life of my son, to spare thee and thy rovers. But wild anger has arisen between thee and me; and the reconciliation, I fear, would not be lasting. If thou withdraw today from mine anger, yet it will strike thee tomorrow, or some other time; for even if the petition of this boy open my cage to thee, yet know that my power reaches far, and that the King's will besets thee like a snared deer."

"I honor much thy power, oh King," replied Ingo, "and I know that it will be difficult for me to ride over the bridge, and to trot over the heath, if thine anger pursue me in hostility. Yet I know that the King will act honorably, if he keep faith with me as far as his oath reaches. The King has invited me to single combat; praiseworthy was the proffer, and worthy of a hero; and if he can not suffer me to remain upon man's earth, I know well that there can be no higher honor, in the opinion of men, than to fall by the King's weapon; or if I should, instead, send him to the death-halls, to be killed with my followers by the fury of the Thuringians. Yet it is insufferable to me to fight against thee, my lord and host; for thou wast friendly toward me; I have received kindness at thy court; I honor thy wife and thy boy whom I hold here in my arms; and I have gladly hoped to save my life through thy kindness. So, although I consider any combat as honorable, it would wound me to engage in hostile strife with thee for my life."

"Thy words are sensible," replied the King, "and thy feeling is, as I suppose, upright, and unwillingly do I think of thy destruction; but I am compelled by kingcraft, which no one understands except he who rules as father over his people. Know, then, that Caesar demands that I shall deliver thee to his messenger."

"Will the great King of the people obey, like a conquered man, the command of a jealous Roman?"

"He instigated the Catts, who hasten to seize slaves and herds from my people; on thy account the Thuringians sing the battle-song."

"Place me in thy army, oh King," interposed Ingo; "never will I return except as conqueror."

"Dost thou think that thou wouldst be more welcome to me as conqueror than now --- thou, with the inheritress?" asked the King. "The King alone commands in the battles of the Thuringians."

Then Ingo laid his hands on the head of the boy, and said sorrowfully, "Like this child I grew up joyfully under the King's throne; I was innocent as thy son when I was driven away from my home. Think thereon, oh King. The fate of men quickly changes, and thou knowest not what may be the fate of thy boy. For the gods who cast our lots demand of us to be true to our words. Take care, of my lord, that they may not some time revenge on thy son's head the oath that thou hast sworn to the poor Ingo."

"I think of my son, whose kingdom I wish to secure, when I free myself from my oath to thee," replied the King.

"Release thyself from thy guest-oath in such a way that the gods will not be angry with thee," continued Ingo, imploringly; "let me go with my followers uninjured from thy castle, and out of thy country. Thy people do not demand more, and if the Romans desire something worse of thee, it will be a wound to thy honor. Help me, boy, and entreat thy father for me!"

Hermin knelt down, and clasped the knees of the King. "Do my cousin no harm, my father!"

The King looked long at the boy, over whose head Ingo held his armed hand. "Thou knowest not what thou beggest, child," he said at last; then, looking more compassionately at Ingo, he continued, "Wilt thou, Ingo, promise, with a solemn oath, never to revenge this night; never to injure me and my son, and never to seek friendship at the Prince's seat in the forest? If so, I will allow thee to leave my castle and my country."

"I take that oath on my life," said Ingo, in a low tone, "if the King will also promise me, by the head of this boy, to think of the words which he not long since spoke to me, and close his eyes on what I may do, unless compelled by the clamor of the people."

The King smiled gloomily. "I will, if thou wilt confide to me somewhat of thy thoughts." Ingo bent his head assentingly. "Come then, place thyself near to me, as once before, and tell me in a low voice thy secret." The Kings spoke secretly, and the boy sat between them, holding the knees of both with his hands.

The Vandals and the King's boys lay separated on the steps, behind their shields. Above them sat on stools the two sword-holders, Berthar and Hadubald, opposite one another. Then Hadubald began:

"The converse in the hall of our sworn lords will, I think, produce peace. If it pleases thee, Hero, we will extinguish our wrath in a drink, which one of my comrades knows how to prepare quickly, for the night air blows cold."

"Incendiary!" cried Berthar, grimly.

"Thou actest foolishly in blaming the servant, who has done what is profitable to his lord."

"Rogue!" growled out Berthar again; "thou brokest thy faith for the sake of the King's beer; since then the drink has been spoiled which thou offerest."

"He who haughtily disdains to pledge at the beer-tap may take care that his blood is not tapped on the green heath."

"On the green heath and in the dark forest, as also here in our dwelling, thou are sure of bloody blows so soon as the King's peace does not defend thee; content thee with that, Hero!"

Lond did the conference last between the Kings; at length King Bisino called out, "Bring the glasses, cupbearer, for a love-drink before the Hero Ingo departs." Willingly did the men move on the steps; the cupbearer ran and brought a large cup of mead, and the Kings made a vow to one another over the cup and on the head of the boy. "And now we separate, Ingo," said the King. "I am sorry that thou art a traveling Hero, and not one of my race; and yet if thou wast of my kindred, I should perhaps have less confidence in thee."

"Think of me kindly, oh my lord," said Ingo, gratefully; and he joyfully called to the old man, "Prepare for decamping; we depart."

"We came by the light of the sun," replied Berthar, "and my lord and his heroes will not run away like night thieves. If the Chieftain chooses that we should break up before the cock crows, I pray of thee, King Bisino, that thy boys may light us with the torches, which they brought so carefully this evening round this house, that we might not at our departure be without a bright light."

The King at first looked angrily at the bold man, but he said, "I praise thee; thou understandest how to fight for thy master with blows and with words. Mount your horses, ye proud guests, and ye men, light the brands, for the King himself will be their escort to the gate."

On the bridge Ingo parted from the King and his son, and all were astonished when the King, after the farewell, returned once more over the planks, hastened to Ingo, and embraced and kissed him. Berthar looked smilingly at the gloomy countenances of the King's boys, who were lighting them. "Ride at a foot's pace," was his command outside the gate to the Vandals, "that they may not imagine that we fear their greeting on our backs." After a time he called out, "Take the lead, Wolf, and let the horses gallop; the night-air blows fresh, and well has the journey to the King's castle prospered us!"

When the gates closed behind the guests, the King thus commanded his boys: "Whoever, tomorrow or later, prattles about this night, or whoever whispers in drinking with the Romans, as I have heard many today, the King's ax shall cut short the words of the fool."

Then he took the sleepy child in his arms, and carried it to his own room. As he passed by the tower, he looked gloomily at the chamber of the Queen. There sat a disconsolate woman, with her head leaning against the casement of the window, listening to the sound of voices, and to the horses' hoofs which were heard in the distance. But the King thought, "If she were not of such illustrious race it would be better for me and her; for I would willingly give her blows, and then caress her; but she has severed the bond of union between herself and me, and she has striven against my sword. Does she think that I shall forget that? As far as concerns the Roman, I am heartily pleased that he does not get his own way; for it was an unworthy demand, and he was an imperious messenger. Now I will offer the silver instead of the gold that he requires.

On the following morning the King summoned the astonished Harietto, and said to him:

"For great Caesar's sake, I have done and carried out what the honor of a king has permitted me, and nothing more; I have withdrawn my hospitality from the exile, and left him without escort wherewith to leave my country, and he now rides far from home."

When the King went to his treasure-house again, and observed his face in the dishes, he said to himself, sighing:

"One anxiety has passed away, but another greater has come: only one thing I like; it is an honest face that I look at."