CHAPTER IX
OVER THE ICE
As Sir Archie walked out over the ice he still held Elsalill onhis arm.
Sir Philip and Sir Reginald walked beside him. They tried to tellhim how they had discovered the trap laid for them and how theyhad succeeded in getting the heavy treasure chest away to thegallias and in collecting their countrymen; but Sir Archie paid noheed to their words. He seemed to be conversing with her hecarried on his arm.
"Who is that you carry there?" asked Sir Reginald.
"It is Elsalill," answered Sir Archie. "I shall take her with meto Scotland. I will not leave her behind. Here she would never beaught but a poor fish wench."
"No, that is like enough," said Sir Reginald.
"Here none would give her clothes but of the coarsest wool," saidSir Archie, "and a narrow bed of hard planks to sleep on. But Ishall spread her couch with the softest cushions, and herresting-place shall be made of marble. I shall wrap her in thecostliest 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 whoamong them would be mindful of such a poor creature? She would beforgotten by all ere many months were past. None would visit herabode, none would relieve her loneliness. But when once I reachhome, I shall rear a stately dwelling for her. There shall hername stand graven in the hard stone, that none may forget it.There I myself shall come to her every day, and all shall be sosplendidly devised that folk from far away shall come to visither. There shall be lamps and candles burning night and day, andthe sound of music and song shall make it seem a perpetualfestival."
The gale blew violently in their faces as they walked over theice. It tore Elsalill's cloak loose and made it flutter like abanner.
"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 soterrified that he let her slip between his hands on to the ice. "Iknew not that Elsalill was dead," he said.