Page:Early Reminiscences.djvu/238

 i88 EARLY REMINISCENCES Denmark to secure his own election, the Swedish Diet offered the succession to the crown of Bernadotte, in 1810, and on February 5, 1818, he became King of Sweden, under the title of Charles John XIV. What is interesting in the tale told above is that it runs partly on the lines of Aslauga and Ragnar Lodbrog in Scandinavian saga. Aslauga was required to come to Ragnar, having eaten and yet being unfed, clothed yet naked, riding yet walking. She had chewed garlic, but had not swallowed it, she cast about herself a fisherman's net, and she appeared before Ragnar astride on a big dog.