My master Ebbe reached home that night with the mire thick on his boots.  Having fed him, I went to the stables, and finding no Holgar made sure that he had killed the poor beast in wrath for his discomforture at the tilt.  The true reason he gave me many 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.”