But even in that nick of time he drew back a little, and turned his head, as a man listening, toward the door, and said: "Hist! hist! Dost thou hear, maiden ?" She turned deadly pale: "O what is it?
What is it?
Yea, I hear; it is horses drawing nigh, and the sound of hounds baying.

But may it not be thy fellows coming back ?" "Nay, nay," he said; "they rode not in armour.

Hark to it! and these hounds are deep-voiced sleuth-dogs! But come now, there may yet be time." He turned, and caught up axe and shield from off the wall, and drew her toward a window that looked to the north, and peered out of it warily; but turned back straightway, and said: "Nay, it is too late that way, they are all round about the house.

Maiden, get thou up into the solar by this stair, and thou wilt find hiding-place behind the traverse of the bed; and if they go away, and my fellows come in due time, then art thou safe.

But if not, surely they shall do thee no hurt; for I think, indeed, that thou art some great one." And he fell to striding down the hall toward the door; but she ran after him, and caught his arm, and said: "Nay, nay, I will not hide, to be dragged out of my refuge like a thief: thou sayest well that I am of the great; I will stand by thee and command and forbid as a Queen.