Transcriber's Note:
1. Page scan source:
http://www.archive.org/details/kingericandoutl00chapgoog
When the king reached Kallundborg castle, and beheld the drawbridgeraised, and the well fortified castle in a complete state of defence, aflush of anger crossed his cheek, his hand involuntarily clenched thehilt of his sword, and for an instant he was near forgetting hispromise, and drawing it out of the scabbard. Count Henrik reined in hiswar horse impatiently before the outermost fortification, awaiting ananswer to the message he had shouted, in the king's name, to thenearest warder. "Matchless presumption!" exclaimed the king; "know theyI am here myself? and do they still tarry with an answer, when theyhave but to be silent and to obey?"
"They take their time, my liege!" answered Count Henrik. "It isunparalleled impudence.--If you command, the trumpet shall be instantlysounded for storm; the sword burns in my hand."
"Not yet!" answered the king, and took his hand from the hilt of hissword.
At this moment a trumpet sounded from the outer rampart, and a tallwarrior in armour, with closed visor, stepped forth on the battlement.
"The castle opens not to any armed man!" he shouted in a rough tone,which however appeared assumed and tremulous; "it will be defended tothe last, against every attack; this is our noble junker's strict orderand behest."
"Madman!" exclaimed Eric; and Count Henrik seemed about to give animpetuous reply.
"Not a word more!" continued the king, with a stern nod.--"We stoop notto further parley with rebels and traitors.--You will beleaguer thecastle on all sides, and get all in readiness for a storm; untiltwenty-four hours are over, no spear must be thrown--if the rebels dareto enact their impudent threats against the town, we shall have tothink but of saving it and quenching the flames. If aught chances here,I must know it instantly; you will not fail to find me at theFranciscan monastery." So saying, the king turned his horse's head, androde with a great part of his train into the large monastery, close tothe castle. Here stood the guardian and all the fraternity with theirshaven heads uncovered, in two rows before the stone steps in the yardof the monastery. The aged guardian, in common with the rest of hisfraternity, wore an ashen grey cloak with a cowl at the back, and athick cord round the waist. Despite th