"That day she had brewed a huge tub of Christmas ale. In a second, she thought of a plan.
"'Here, hurry down this ladder.' She pulled up a trap-door in the kitchen floor and he fled into the cellar. By the time the soldiers reached the gate she had pulled the tub of ale over the trap-door. The soldiers never guessed where the prince was."
"I suppose they caught him, at last," said Anna.
"That's the best part," said Sigrid. "After a long time, he gathered an army. Then he fought the Danes and made them give up Sweden for ever."
"Did you ever fight in a real war, Major Lund?" asked Anna, after a minute of silence.
"Not yet," he replied. "Awhile ago, when Norway wanted her own king, many people feared war between Norway and Sweden. But everybody is glad that Haakon, the new King of Norway, was chosen without blood-shed."
"That Frenchman you were talking to this morning, father, called King Oscar a 'Bernadotte.' What did he mean?" asked Sigrid.
"He was only referring to King Oscar's French ancestor. King Karl XIII, who lived a hundred years ago, had no children. So the people tried to decide who should be the next king. Finally they chose a famous French officer, named Bernadotte, who fought under Napoleon. He was elected crown prince."
"I am sure that must be Vadstena in sight now," said Mrs. Lund. "It will be pleasant to go ashore for awhile. Grandmother asked me to buy her some of the lovely lace they make here."
"You will have to be quick, if you want to see the castle, too," said Major Lund.