“Are we far from this Arbar ruin? "

  “It is close by Lake Miösen. The guide assures ine that we shall be there before noon."

  These words were spoken by two horsemen muffled in brown cloaks, who early one morning were pursuing one of the many narrow, winding paths which run in every direction through the forest lying between Lakes Miösen and Sparbo. A mountain guide, provided with a huntinghorn and an axe, led the way upon his little gray pony, and behind the travellers rode four men armed to the teeth, toward whom these two persons occasionally turned, as if afraid of being overheard.

  “If that Iceland thief is really lurking in Arbar ruin," said one rider, whose steed kept a respectful distance behind the other, " it is a great point gained; for the difficulty hitherto has been to find this mysterious being."

  “Do you think so, Musdœmon? And suppose he declines our offers? "

  “Impossible, your Grace! What brigand could resist gold and a free pardon?"

  “But you know that this is no common scoundrel. Do not judge him by yourself. If he should refuse, how can you keep your promise of night before last to the three leaders of the insurrection? "

  “Well, noble Count, in that case, which I regard as impossible if we are lucky enough to find our man, has your Grace forgotten that a false Hans of Iceland awaits me two days hence at the hour and place appointed for meeting the three chiefs, at Blue Star, a place, moreover, conveniently near Arbar ruin? "

  “You are right, my dear Musdœmon, as usual," said the count; and each resumed his own particular line of thought.

  Musdœmon, whose interest it was to keep his master in good humor, for the purpose of diverting him, asked the guide a question.

  “My good man, what is that ruined stone cross yonder, behind those young oaks? "

  The guide, a man with fixed stare and stupid mien, turned his head and shook it several times, as he said: " Oh, master, that is the oldest gallows in Norway; holy king Olaf had it built for a judge who made a compact with a robber."

  Musdœmon saw by his patron's face that the guide's artless words had produced an effect quite contrary to that which he hoped.

  “It is a curious story," the guide added; " good Mother Osia told it to me. The robber was ordered to hang the judge."

  The poor guide, in his simplicity, did not suppose that the incident with which he meant to entertain his employers was almost an insult to them. Musdœmon stopped him.

  “That will do," said he; " we have heard the story before."

  “Insolent fellow! " muttered the count, " he has heard the story before. Ah, Musdœmon, you shall pay for your impudence yet."

  “Did your Grace speak to me? " obsequiously asked Musdœmon.

  “I was thinking how I could obtain the Order of the Dannebrog for you. The marriage of my daughter Ulrica and Baron Ordener would be an excellent opportunity."

  Musdœmon was profuse in protestations and thanks.

  “By the way," added his Grace, " let us talk business. Do you suppose that the temporary recall which we sent him has reached the Mecklenburger? "

  The reader may remember that the count was in the habit of thus designating General Levin de Knud, who was indeed a native of Mecklenburg.

  “Let us talk business! " thought the injured Musdœmon; " it seems that my affairs are not ' business.' Count," he replied aloud, " I think that the viceroy's messenger must be in Throndhjem by this time, and therefore General Levin must be getting ready to start."

  The count assumed a kindly tone.

  “That recall, my dear fellow, was one of your masterstrokes, one of your best planned and most skilfully executed intrigues."

  “The credit belongs as much to your Grace as to me," replied Musdœmon, careful, as we have already remarked, to mix the count in all his machinations.

  The master understood this secret desire of his confidant, but chose to seem unconscious of it.

  He smiled.

  “My dear private secretary, you are always modest; but nothing can make me depreciate your most eminent services. Elphega's presence and the Mecklenburger's absence assure my triumph in Throndhjem. I am now at the head of the province; and if Hans of Iceland accepts the command of the rebels, which I intend to offer him in person, to me will fall, in the eyes of the king, the glory of putting down this distressing insurrection and capturing this terrible brigand."

  They were chatting thus in low voices when the guide rode back to them.

  "Masters," said he, "here on our left is the hillock upon which Biorn the Just had the double-tongued Vellon beheaded in the presence of his entire army, the traitor having driven off the king's allies and summoned the enemy to the camp, that he might have the appearance of saving Biorn's life."

  All these reminiscences of old Norway did not seem to be to Musdœmon's taste, for he hurriedly interrupted the guide.

  “Come, come, good man, be silent and go your way, without turning back so often. What do we care about the foolish stories of which these ruins and dead trees remind you? You annoy my master with your old wives' tales."

  CHAPTER XXII FRIENDSHIP HAS CLAIMS.

  Now the hungry lion roars.

  And the wolf behowls the moon;

  While the heavy ploughman snores,

  All with weary task foredone.

  Now the wasted brands do glow,

  Whilst the screech-owl, screeching loud,

  Puts the wretch that lies in woe

  In remembrance of a shroud.

  Now it is the time of night,

  That the graves, all gaping wide,

  Every one lets forth his sprite,

  In the church-way paths to glide.

  Shakespeare: Midsummer Night's Dream.

  Let us now retrace our steps. We left Ordener and Spiagudry struggling laboriously up the brow of Oëlmœ cliff by the light of the rising moon. This rock, bare of vegetation at the point where it begins to curve, is, from this peculiarity, called by the Norwegian peasants the Vulture's Neck, a name which gives an excellent idea of the aspect of this huge granite bowlder as seen from a distance.

  As our travellers approached this part of the rock, the forest changed to heather. Grass gave place to moss; wild brier-roses, broom, and holly were substituted for oaks and beeches, a scantier growth, which in mountainous regions always shows that the summit is near, as it indicates the gradual diminution of the stratum of earth covering what may be termed the skeleton of the mountain.

  “Mr. Ordener," said Spiagudry, whose lively mind seemed ever a prey to a varying world of ideas, " this is a very tiresome climb, and it takes all my devotion to follow you. But it seems to me that I see a superb convolrulus yonder to the right; how I should like to examine it. Why is it not broad daylight? Don't you think it was a great piece of impertinence to value a learned man like me at no more than four paltry crowns? 'T is true, the famous Phædrus was a slave, and Æsop, if we are to believe the learned Planudes, was sold at a fair like a beast of burden or household chattel. And who would not be proud to bear any sort of resemblance to the great Æsop? "

  “Or to the celebrated Hans? " added Ordener, with a smile.

  “By Saint Hospitius," replied the keeper, "do not utter that name so lightly; I swear I could readily forego the latter comparison. But wouldn't it be strange if Benignus Spiagudry, his companion in misfortune, should win the reward for his head? Mr. Ordener, you are more generous than Jason, for he did not give the golden fleece to the Argonaut pilot; and I am sure that your mission, although I do not clearly understand its object, is no less perilous than that of Jason."

  “Well," said Ordener, " since you know Hans of Iceland, tell me something about him. You say that he is by no means a giant, as is generally supposed.''

  Spiagudry interrupted him: " Stop, master! Don't you hear footsteps behind us? "

  “Yes," quietly answered the young man; " don't be alarmed; it is some animal frightened at our coming, and brushing against the bushes in its flight."

  "You are right, my young Cæsar; it is so long since these woods have seen the face of man! If we may judge by its heavy tread, it must be a good-sized animal. It may be an elk or a reindeer; this part of Norway abounds in these beasts. Wildcats are also found here; I saw one myself, which was brought to Copenhagen; he was monstrous big. I must give you a description of this ferocious animal."

  “My dear guide," said Ordener, " I would rather that you would give me a description of another and no less ferocious monster, the horrible Hans."

  “Speak lower, sir! How calmly you utter that name! You do not know- Good Heavens, sir! just hear that! "

  As Spiagudry said this, he drew closer to Ordener, who did indeed distinctly hear a cry similar to the growl which, as the reader may remember, had so alarmed the timid keeper on the stormy night of their departure from Throndhjem.

  “Did you hear that? " he whispered, breathless with fright.

  “To be sure I did" said Ordener; " but I don't see why you tremble so violently. It is the howl of some wild beast, possibly the cry of one of those very wildcats of which you were just talking. Did you expect to pass through such a place at this time of night without disturbing any of its inhabitants? I'll warrant you, old man, they are far more frightened than you are."

  Spiagudry, seeing his young companion's composure, was somewhat reassured.

  “Well, it may be, sir, that you are right. But that yell sounded terribly like a voice that I- It was a very poor idea, let me tell you, sir, to insist upon climbing up to this Vermund's castle. I fear we shall meet with some accident on the Vulture's Neck." " Fear nothing while you are with me," answered Ordener. " Oh, nothing disturbs you; but, sir, nobody but the blessed Saint Paul can handle vipers without getting bitten. You did not even notice, when we struck into this confounded footpath, that it seemed to have been recently trodden, and that the grass had not had time to lift its head since it was trampled."

  “I confess that I did not pay much heed to it, and that my peace of mind is not dependent upon the state of a few blades of grass. See, we are now out of the thicket; we shall hear no more from the wild beasts; I need not therefore tell you, rny brave guide, to summon all your courage, but rather bid you muster all your strength, for this path, cut in the rock, will doubtless be even steeper than the one we have left."

  “It is not that it is steeper, sir, but the learned traveller, Snekson, says that it is often impeded by rocks or heavy stones too big to be handled, over which it is not easy to clamber. Among others, there is, just beyond the Maläer postern, which must be close at hand, a huge triangular granite bowlder, which I have always had the greatest desire to see. Schoenning asserts that he discovered the three primitive Runic characters on it."

  The travellers had for some time been climbing the face of the rock; they now reached a small, ruined tower, through which their path led, and to which Spiagudry drew Ordener's attention.

  “This is the Maläer postern, sir. This path hewn in the living rock contains several curious structures, which show the ancient style of fortification used in our Norwegian manor-houses. This postern, which was always guarded by four men- at- arms, was the first outwork of Vermund's fort. Speaking of posterns, the monk Urensius makes an odd remark; he asks whether the word janua, derived from Janus, whose temple doors were so widely celebrated, has any connection with ' Janissary,' a name applied to the troops who guard the sultan's gate. It would be strange enough if the name of the mildest prince known to history should have passed to the most ferocious, soldiers upon earth."

  In the midst of all the keeper's scientific twaddle, they journeyed laboriously along, over loose stones and sharp pebbles, mingled with the short, slippery grass which sometimes grows upon rocks. Ordener beguiled his weariness by thinking how delightful it would be to gaze once more upon distant Muukholm; all at once Spiagudry exclaimed: " Oh, I see it I This sight alone repays me for all my trouble. I see it, sir, I see it! "

  "See what?" said Ordener, who was just then thinking of Ethel.

  “Why, sir, the three- sided pyramid described by Schoenning. I shall be the third scientific man, with Professor Schoenning and Bishop Isleif, to have the pleasure of studying it. Only it is a great pity that there is no moon."

  As they approached the famous bowlder, Spiagudry uttered an exclamation of horror and distress. Ordener, in surprise, asked with some interest the cause of this new emotion; but the archaeologist was for a time unable to reply.

  “You thought," said Ordener, " that this rock blocked the path; on the contrary, you should be grateful to find that it leaves it entirely open."

  “And that is the very thing which provokes me," said Benignus, in piteous accents.

  “What do you mean? " "Why, sir," replied the keeper, "do you not see that the position of the pyramid has been changed; that the base, which rested on the path, is now uppermost; and that the bowlder stands upside down, upon the very side on which Schoenning discovered the primordial Runic letters? I am indeed unfortunate! "

  “It is a pity," said the young man.

  “And besides," hastily added Spiagudry, " the overturning of this mass of stone proves the presence of some superhuman being. Unless it be the work of the Devil, there is but one man in Norway whose arm could

  “My poor guide, there you are, giving way again to your foolish fears. Who knows but this stone has lain thus for more than a hundred years? "

  “It is a hundred and fifty years, it is true," said Spiagudry, more quietly, " since the last scientific man observed it. But it seems to me to have been moved recently; the place which it formerly occupied is still damp. Look, sir."

  Ordener, impatient to reach the ruins, dragged his guide away from the marvellous pyramid, and succeeded, by gentle words, in removing the fresh fears with which this strange displacement inspired the aged scholar.

  “See here, old man, you can take up your abode on the borders of this lake, and devote yourself to your important studies, when you get the thousand crowns reward for Hans's head."

  “You are right, noble sir; but do not speak so lightly of so dubious a victory. I must give you one piece of advice which may help you to overcome the monster."

  Ordener drew eagerly toward Spiagudry. " Advice! what is it? "

  “The robber," said the latter, in a low voice, casting uneasy glances around him, " the robber wears at his belt a skull, from which he usually drinks. It is the skull of his son, of the mutilation of whose corpse I am accused."

  “Speak a little louder, and don't be frightened; I can hardly hear you. Well, this skull? "

  “This skull," said Spiagudry, bending to whisper in the young man's ear, " you must try to obtain. The monster attaches a certain superstitious importance to its possession. His son's skull once yours, you can do what you will with him."

  “That is all very well, my good fellow; but how am I to get this skull? "

  “By some stratagem, sir. While the monster sleeps, perhaps."

  Ordener interrupted him: " Enough. Your good advice is useless. I cannot be supposed to know when my enemy is asleep. My sword is the only weapon which I recognize."

  “Sir, sir! it has never been proved that the archangel Michael did not resort to stratagem to vanquish Satan."

  Here Spiagudry stopped short, and stretching out his hands, exclaimed in scarcely audible tones, " Oh, heavens! Oh, heavens! What do I see? Look, master; is not that a short man walking before us in the path? "

  "Faith," said Ordener, raising his eyes, " I see nothing."

  "Nothing, sir? To be sure, the path bends, and he has disappeared behind that rock. Go no farther, sir, I entreat you."

  “Surely, if the person whom you imagine that you saw disappeared so quickly, it shows that he has no idea of waiting for us; and if he chooses to run away, that is no reason why we should do the same."

  “Watch over us, holy Hospitius! " ejaculated Spiagudry, who in all moments of danger remembered his favorite saint.

  "You must," added Ordener, "have taken the flickering shadow of some startled owl for a man."

  “And yet I really thought I saw a little man; to be sure, the moonlight often produces strange delusions. It was in the moonlight that Baldan, lord of Merueugh, took a white bed-curtain for his mother's ghost; which led him to go next day and confess himself guilty of parricide before the judges of Christiania, who were about to condemn the dead woman's innocent page. So we may say that the moonlight saved that page's life."

  No one was ever more ready than Spiagudry to forget the present in the past. One anecdote from the vast storehouse of his memory was enough to banish all thought of the present. Thus the story of Baldan diverted his fears, and he added in a tranquil voice, " It is quite possible that the moonlight deceived me too."

  Meantime, they gained the top of the Vulture's Xeck, and began to get another glimpse of the ruins, which the steep slope of the rock had hidden from them as they ascended. The reader need not be surprised if we frequently encounter ruins on the topmost peak of Norwegian mountains. No one who has travelled among the mountains of Europe can have failed to notice the remains of fortresses and castles clinging to the top of the loftiest peaks, like the deserted nest of a vulture or the eyrie of some dead eagle. In Norway especially, at the period of which we write, the variety of these aerial structures was as amazing as their number. Sometimes they consisted of long dismantled walls, enclosing a rock, sometimes of slender pointed turrets, surmounting a sharp peak, like a crown; or upon the snowy summit of a lofty mountain might be seen great towers grouped about a massive donjon, looking in the distance like an antique diadem. Here were the graceful pointed arches of a Gothic cloister, side by side with the heavy Egyptian columns of a Saxon church; there, close by some pagan chieftain's citadel with its square towers, stood the crenellated fortress of a Christian lord; or, again, a stronghold crumbling with age, neighbored by a monastery ravaged by war. Of all these edifices a strange medley of architectural styles, now almost forgotten, daringly constructed in apparently inaccessible spots but a few ruins remained to bear witness alike to the power and the impotence of man. Within their walls deeds were perhaps done far worthier of repetition than all the stories which are written now; but time passed; the eyes which witnessed them are closed; the tradition of them died with the lapse of years, like a fire which is not fed; and when that is lost, who can read the secret of the ages?