“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 the shadow upon the far side of the horse.  He reached down a hand, and she took it, and sprang up behind him.

“For this bout, Sir Borre, I came with a fresh horse!” called my master blithely; and so, striking spur, galloped off into the dark.

Little chance had Sir Borre to overtake them.  The stallion was swift, our boat waiting in the lee of the Ness, the wind southerly and fresh, the White Wolf ready for sea, with sail hoisted and but one small anchor to get on board or cut away if need were.  But there was no need.  Before the men of Egeskov reached the Ness and found there the black stallion roaming, its riders were sailing out of the Strait with a merry breeze.  So began our voyage.

My master was minded to sail for Norway and take service under the king.  But first, coming to the island of Laeso, he must put ashore and seek a priest, by whom he and the lady Mette were safely made man and wife.  Two days he spent at the island, and then, with fresh store of provisions, we headed northward again.