They went alone, leaving their followers to watch the injured ship.

The castle-gates were thrown open, and they thought all was well.

But on a sudden the court-yard was filled with armed men, who with one accord aimed their sharp iron-pointed spears at the defenceless strangers, whose dignified remonstrances and mild entreaties were only heard in sullen silence or with scornful jeerings.

After a while a knight came down the stairs, with fire-flashing eyes.

They hardly knew whether to think they saw a spectre, or a wild heathen; he gave a signal, and the fatal spears closed around them.