The White Wolf | Page 6

days after. I
misjudged him, judging him by his father's temper.
On the morrow of the Bride-show the suitors took their leave of
Egeskov, under promise to return again at the month's end and hear

how the lady Mette had chosen. So they went their ways, none
doubting that the fortunate one would be Olaf of Trelde; and, for me, I
blamed myself that we had ever gone to Egeskov.
But on the third morning after the Bride-show I changed this advice
very suddenly; for going at six of the morning to unlock our postern
gate, as my custom was, I found a tall black stallion tethered there and
left without a keeper. His harness was of red leather, and each broad
crimson rein bore certain words embroidered: on the one "A Straight
Quarrel is Soonest Mended "; on the other, "Who Will Dare Learns
Swiftness."
Little time I lost in calling my master to admire, and having read what
was written, he looked in my eyes and said, "I go back to Egeskov."
"That is well done," said I; "may the Almighty God prosper it!"
"But," said he doubtfully, "if I determine on a strange thing, will you
help me, Peter? I may need a dozen men; men without wives to miss
them."
"I can yet find a dozen such along the fiord," I answered.
"And we go on a long journey, perhaps never to return to Nebbegaard."
"Dear master," said I, "what matter where my old bones lie after they
have done serving you?" He kissed me and rode away to Egeskov.
"I thought that the Squire of Nebbe had done with us," Sir Borre began
to sneer, when Ebbe found audience. "But the Bride-show is over, my
man, and I give not my answer for a month yet."
"Your word is long to pledge, and longer to redeem," said Ebbe. "I
know that, were I to wait a twelvemonth, you would not of free will
give me Mette."
"Ah, you know that, do you? Well, then, you are right, Master
Lackland, and the greater your impudence in hoping to wile from me

through my daughter what you could not take by force."
Ebbe replied, "I was prepared to find it difficult, but let that pass. As
touching my lack of land, I have Nebbegaard left; a poor estate and
barren, yet I think you would be glad of it, to add to the lands of which
you robbed us."
"Well," said Borre, "I would give a certain price for it, but not my
daughter, nor anything near so precious to me."
"Give me one long ship," said Ebbe; "the swiftest of your seven which
ride in the strait between Egeskov and Stryb. You shall take
Nebbegaard for her, since I am weary of living at home and care little
to live at all without Mette."
Borre's eyes shone with greed. "I commend you," said he; "for a stout
lad there is nothing like risking his life to win a fortune. Give me the
deeds belonging to Nebbegaard, and you shall have my ship Gold
Mary."
"By your leave," said Ebbe, "I have spent some time in watching your
ships upon the fiord; and the ship in my mind was the White Wolf."
Sir Borre laughed to find himself outwitted, for the White Wolf could
outsail all his fleet. But in any case he had the better of the bargain and
could afford to show some good-humour. Moreover, though he knew
not that Mette had any tenderness for this youth, his spirits rose at the
prospect of getting him out of the way.
So the bargain was struck, and as Nebbe rode homewards to his castle
for the last time, he met the shepherd who had taken his former
message. The man was waiting for him, and (as you guess) by Mette's
orders.
"Tell the lady Mette," said Ebbe, "that I have sold Nebbegaard for the
White Wolf, and that two nights from now my men will be aboard of
her; also that I sup with her father that evening before the boat takes me
off from the Bent Ness."

So it was that two nights later Ebbe supped at Egeskov, and was kept
drinking by the old knight for an hour maybe after the lady Mette had
risen and left the hall for her own room.
And at the end, after the last speeding-cup, needs must Sir Borre (who
had grown friendly beyond all belief) see him to the gate and stand
there bare-headed among his torch-bearers while my master mounted
the black stallion that was to bear him to Bent Ness, three miles away,
where I waited with the boat.
But as Ebbe shook his rein, and moved out of the torchlight, came the
damsel Mette stealing out of