9. Over The Ice

As Sir Archie walked out over the ice he still held Elsalill on

his arm.

Sir Philip and Sir Reginald walked beside him. They tried to tell

him how they had discovered the trap laid for them and how they

had succeeded in getting the heavy treasure chest away to the

gallias and in collecting their countrymen; but Sir Archie paid no

heed to their words. He seemed to be conversing with her he

carried on his arm.

"Who is that you carry there?" asked Sir Reginald.

"It is Elsalill," answered Sir Archie. "I shall take her with me

to Scotland. I will not leave her behind. Here she would never be

aught but a poor fish wench."

"No, that is like enough," said Sir Reginald.

"Here none would give her clothes but of the coarsest wool," said

Sir Archie, "and a narrow bed of hard planks to sleep on. But I

shall spread her couch with the softest cushions, and her

resting-place shall be made of marble. I shall wrap her in the

costliest furs, and on her feet she shall wear jewelled shoes."

"You intend her great honour," said Sir Reginald.

"I cannot let her stay behind here," said Sir Archie, "for who

among them would be mindful of such a poor creature? She would be

forgotten by all ere many months were past. None would visit her

abode, none would relieve her loneliness. But when once I reach

home, I shall rear a stately dwelling for her. There shall her

name stand graven in the hard stone, that none may forget it.

There I myself shall come to her every day, and all shall be so

splendidly devised that folk from far away shall come to visit

her. There shall be lamps and candles burning night and day, and

the sound of music and song shall make it seem a perpetual

festival."

The gale blew violently in their faces as they walked over the

ice. It tore Elsalill's cloak loose and made it flutter like a

banner.

"Will you help me to carry Elsalill a moment," said Sir Archie,

"while I wind her cloak about her?"

Sir Reginald took Elsalill in his arms, but as he did so he was so

terrified that he let her slip between his hands on to the ice. "I

knew not that Elsalill was dead," he said.