Page:A book of folk-lore (1913).djvu/63

60 a gigantic toad had lived. It was a nobleman’s son bewitched, and he could only be released by a girl kissing him on the lips. Several went to the cave, but were so repelled by his unsightliness that they fled. One, however, did remain and kiss him, whereupon he recovered his human form and married her.

In the saga of Hrolf Kraki is an account of King Hring of the Uplands in Norway, who had a son named Björn by his wife. The queen died, and Hring took a beautiful Finn girl as his second wife. The king was often away on piratical expeditions, and whilst he was absent Björn and his stepmother had constant quarrels. Björn had been brought up with a well-to-do farmer’s daughter named Bera, and they loved one another dearly. One day, after a sharp contest, the queen struck Björn on the face with a wolf-skin glove and said that he should become a rabid bear, and devour his father’s flocks. After that Björn disappeared, and none knew what had become of him; and men sought but found him not. We must relate how that the king’s sheep were slaughtered, half a score at a time, and it was all the work of a grey bear, both huge and grizzly.

One evening it chanced that the Carle’s daughter saw this savage bear coming towards her, looking tenderly at her, and she recognised the eyes of Björn, the king’s son, so she made but a slight attempt to escape; then the beast retreated, but she followed it,