The King looked at the maiden anxiously, and her face lit up at once.
"I agree to these terms," she said.
Upon this the King gave orders that lists, or open spaces, should be cleared; and then he announced that, following ancient custom, they would rest the issue of Elsa's guilt or innocence upon single combat between champions. The herald once again came forward and blew a long blast upon his trumpet, and proclaimed,
"Let him stand forth by Heaven's right
Who would for Elsa's just cause fight!"
There was a painful silence, while Frederick and Ortrud looked in smiling disdain upon the poor girl.
"O my King!" she cried. "Summon him again! His home is far away and he may not have heard."
"Sound once again!" commanded the King, and again the trumpet call rang out.
Again there was intense silence. Elsa dropped upon her knees and prayed until it seemed as though her very soul would burst with emotion. Suddenly a man nearest the bank of the river startled the silence with a cry,
"A swan! a swan! And in its wake a boat bearing a knight!"
Every eye turned and gazed up the winding stream, and there, sure enough, was a beautiful white bird swimming easily and gracefully along and drawing a little boat with a knight in it.