304- HIS DEATH. 



bent his bow and sliot at the magician, who at once, and 

 like a dog, fell dead to the ground. At this sight the 

 heathen gnashed their teeth in rage, and howled like so 

 many wolves, for the man was one of their greatest 

 champions. 



The attack now ceased for a time, and the chiefs of 

 the Wendians took counsel together. They were at first 

 undetermined how to act ; and the besieged almost 

 imagined they were about to retreat. One amongst ^the 

 townspeople, however, who understood their language, at 

 length heard the king say: "These people are hard to 

 conquer, and we have already lost so many officers and 

 men, that, even were we to get possession of all they 

 own, it would have been better for us had we never come 

 here. During the early part of the day they defended 

 themselves with spears and arrows ; afterwards they 

 assaulted us with stones, and now they beat us like so 

 many dogs with sticks; but from all this I draw the 

 conclusion that their store of weapons begins to fail them; 

 therefore let us with all our force once more renew the 

 attack, and see how matters will go." 



A fresh and equally desperate combat as the former 

 then ensued ; but the townspeople for a while remained 

 unconquered. This last attack, however, sealed their 

 fate; for their chief, Sajmund Husfreja, fell covered 

 with wounds, and with him died all their hopes of 

 deliverance. For the third time, and after the battle 

 had lasted the whole of the day. King Rettibur 

 promised tliem, not only their lives if they would sur- 

 render, but permission for eAcry man to take away with 

 him from tlie fortress as much as he could carry ; and, 

 as they had now no other resource, these terms were 

 acceded to. But no sooner had the unsuspicious towns- 

 people given themselves up to the enemy, than all the 

 wounded and children were mercilessly put to death ; 



