The Lady is wroth with men who come here at night." "We care for no ladies," said the leading Dane.

"What are you feared of ?" "The White Lady who dwells in the mere.

To look on her in her wrath is death," Brand said--and one might well see that his terror was real.
The Danes looked on one another, and there were white faces among them.

Then, as luck would have it, one said: "This must be the mere of which I have heard strange tales.

Let us go," and he began to edge away towards the fire.
Then the leader said: "Let us find out if these men are worth taking with us," and he came and questioned us again, and again we answered not.
"I will make you speak," he said savagely.