ROBBED BY HIS ATTENDANT. 177 



collecting together what gold and silver he could obtain, 

 and set forward on horseback on his long and wearisome 

 journey. 



The knight had but a single attendant, to whom he 

 entrusted all his valuables. Hitherto this man had proved 

 faithful ; but as they jogged on the way, the fellow began to 

 cogitate on the dangers to which he and his master were 

 about to expose themselves. On their arrival, therefore, at 

 the ferry of Kolsund, when Gustavus, who had preceded 

 him in the boat, was on the other side of the river, he seized 

 the opportunity, and jumping on his horse, rode off at full 

 speed, with the intention of stealing the animal, as well as 

 the money. The knight, however, who had observed the 

 manoeuvre, lost no time in recrossing the stream, and pur- 

 sued the runaway with such ardour and success, that to 

 prevent being captured he dismounted, and leaving the steed 

 to its fate, concealed himself in the forest. 



Having thus fortunately recovered his property, Gustavus 

 resumed his melancholy journey alone. But his reflections 

 must have been sad in the extreme ; for in place of the 

 courage and fidelity for which the Swedes had always been 

 celebrated, he had as yet met with little besides cowardice 

 and treachery. 



It was the end of November when he arrived in Dale- 

 carlia. Cutting off his flowing locks, he exchanged his 

 knightly attire for the dress of a peasant, which consisted of 

 a round hat, and a short jacket made of vadmal, a kind of 

 coarse cloth. Thus clad like a servant, and with an axe over 

 his shoulder, he went about from house to house, and from 

 village to village, in search of employment. 



His first service was with a rich proprietor of mines, 



VOL. II. N 



