It was what we call an old-fashioned Christmas, in all its glory and severity—­a thing easy enough to bear, nay to enjoy, when men have warm fires and plenty of food, but hard enough to endure where these are absent.

At last Alfgar could but conclude it was Christmastide, for Higbald was joined by two comrades, and they sang and rioted below in a way which showed that they had got plenty of intoxicating drink, and were making free with it.

In the evening of the day Higbald brought him up his supper, staggering as he did so, and with it he brought in a bowl of hot mead.

“Drink,” he said, “and drown care.  It is Yuletide, and drink thou must and shalt.”

Alfgar drank moderately, for sooth to say it was invigorating and welcome that cold day, but Higbald finished the bowl then and there, and then staggering down, drew the outer bolt in such a way that it missed the staple, which fact he was too drunk to perceive.

Alfgar watched the action with eager eyes.  It was the first time there had been even a chance of escape.

Meanwhile the evening sped by; and the noisy crew below quarrelled and sang, drank and shouted, while the bright moonlight—­brighter as it was reflected from the snow of that December night—­stole over the scene.

Not till then did Alfgar pass silently through the open door, and listen at the head of the staircase.  Before him was the outer door, the key in the lock.  The question was—­Could he reach it unobserved by men or mastiff?

Liberty was worth the attempt.  He descended the stairs softly.  At the bottom he looked around.  The door was fastened which led into the large hall where the gaolers were drinking.  He advanced to the outer portal, when he heard the growl of the dog from behind the inner door.

The moment was critical.  Evidently his masters did not comprehend the action of the too faithful brute, for they cursed and swore at it.  Even then it growled, and the drunken fools—­drunken they must have been indeed—­threw some heavy missile at it, which caused it to yelp and cease its growling.

Just then something flashed in the ray of moonlight which stole in through an aperture over the door.

It was a sharp double-edged sword.

He grasped it with eagerness.  It was now a case of liberty or death. 
He knew how to wield it full well.

Stealthily he turned the key and the door stood open.  Still his captors sang, and he caught the words: 

“When we cannot get blood we can drink the red wine,
The Sea King sang in his might;
For it maddens the brain, it gives strength to the arm,
And kindles the soul in the fight.”

Now he was on the outer side of the door, and he shut it, and then locked it and tossed the key into the snow.

But which way was he to go?  He could not make out the locality, but it was evident that the hill rose above him, and he knew that from its summit he could discern the bearings of places, so he resolved to ascend.