Page:Stories of Norse Gods and Heroes.djvu/101

Rh They sent Hagen a war-horse as a gift. To the queen and the princess they sent silks and jewels.

The queen called them into the palace to thank them. There they saw the beautiful princess Hilde.

After that they were permitted to stay in the palace.

One evening Horant sang. So sweet was his voice, that the night had passed before they knew it.

When the sun rose, the birds were quiet to hear him. The cattle left their pasture and came into the palace yard. The fish swam to the edge of the fountain.

The next day Hilde called the young man to sing to her alone. Then he told her that King Hetel wished her for his wife.

Hilde said she would go if Horant promised to sing to her every day. Horant told her that King Hetel had twelve better singers than he was, and that the king could sing most sweetly of all.

In a short time the knights were ready to go back to their own country.

Wat went to King Hagen to say good-bye. He asked the king to let Hilde go on board the ship before they started. This the king