By degrees, they one by one began to disappear from the hall; and at last Biorn stood quite alone opposite to the baron and his followers.

He seemed hardly aware that he had been deserted, but he fell on his knees, stretched out his shining sword, pointed to the broken boar's head, and said, "Do with me as you have done with that; I deserve no better.

I ask but one favour, only one; do not disgrace me, noble baron, by seeking shelter in another castle of Norway." "I fear you not," answered Folko, after some thought; "and, as far as may be, I freely forgive you." Then he drew the sign of the cross over the wild form of Biorn, and left the hall with Gabrielle.

The retainers of the house of Montfaucon followed him proudly and silently.
The hard spirit of the fierce lord of the castle was now quite broken, and he watched with increased humility every look of Folko and Gabrielle.

But they withdrew more and more into the happy solitude of their own apartments, where they enjoyed, in the midst of the sharp winter, a bright spring-tide of happiness.