horror slew her! Ha, ha! she would know, and she hath known; she
would raise the dead and the demon; she hath raised them; she would
read the riddle,--she hath read it. Pale King and dark youth, would
ye learn what Hilda saw, eh? eh? Ask her in the Shadow-World where
she awaits ye! Ha! ye too would be wise in the future; ye too would
climb to heaven through the mysteries of hell. Worms! worms! crawl
back to the clay--to the earth! One such night as the hag ye despise
enjoys as her sport and her glee, would freeze your veins, and sear
the life in your eyeballs, and leave your corpses to terror and
wonder, like the carcase that lies at your feet!"

"Ho!" cried the King, stamping his foot. "Hence, Haco; rouse the
household; summon hither the handmaids; call henchman and ceorl to
guard this foul raven."

Haco obeyed; but when he returned with the shuddering and amazed
attendants, the witch was gone, and the King was leaning against the
altar with downcast eyes, and a face troubled and dark with thought.

The body of the Vala was borne into the house; and the King, waking
from his reverie, bade them send for the priests and ordered masses
for the parted soul. Then kneeling, with pious hand he closed the
eyes and smoothed the features, and left his mournful kiss on the icy
brow. These offices fulfilled, he took Haco's arm, and leaning on it,
returned to the spot on which they had left their steeds. Not
evincing surprise or awe,--emotions that seemed unknown to his gloomy,
settled, impassible nature--Haco said calmly, as they descended the
knoll:

"What evil did the hag predict to thee?"