Page:Segnius Irritant or Eight Primitive Folk-lore Stories.pdf/64

 exclaimed: “They have killed someone here! Who has ventured, in my kingdom, to commit such a crime?” At these words, the seer leapt from under the bridge, and with drawn sword rushed at the king, exclaiming: “How darest thou insult me? Defend thyself as best thou canst.” The king fenced and fenced, but after a short tussle expired under the sword of the seer. The seer again lashed the dead body to the horse and whipped up the horse that it might carry its dead master home. After this he retired under the bridge and lurked there until the third evening.

The third evening, just at the set of the sun, sped the youngest king on the Sun-horse, sped fast, for he had been delayed somewhat; but as a pool of blood crimsoned the ground before the bridge, he halted, and observing it, exclaimed: It has been some unheard-of criminal who has dared to kill a man in my kingdom.” Scarcely had these words escaped his lips when the seer posted himself before him with drawn sword, vigorously urging him to defend himself for having cast a slur upon the honour of a seer. I know not how,” responded the king, “unless thou art thyself the criminal.” But as his opponent was already hurrying after him with a sword, he drew his, too, and did his best to defend himself.

To vanquish the first two brothers was mere child’s play for the seer. Not so, this one. Long they fought, their swords were broken, and yet victory did not declare itself for one or the other. “Now we shall never decide the affair with our swords,” says the seer; “but knowest thou what? We will turn ourselves into wheels, and then let ourselves off down yonder hill; the wheel which is broken, he is vanquished.” “Very well,” replied the king; I will be a cart wheel, and thou some lighter wheel.” “Ah, not so; thou shalt be the lighter wheel and I will be the cart wheel,” observed the seer hastily; and the king agreed even to that. Hereupon they set off to the hill, there turned themselves into wheels and let themselves roll down the slope. The cart wheel flew spinning along, and whack! into the lighter one, so that it smashed it all to pieces. The seer immediately emerged in his proper shape from the cart wheel, and exclaimed exultantly: There thou art at last! mine is the victory!” “Ah! not so, worshipful brother,” cried out the king; it is only my finger that thou hast broken as yet. But knowest thou what? We will transform ourselves into flames, and the flame which burns up the other shall be the victor. I will transform myself into a crimson flame, thou into a whitish one.” ‘Ah! not