Page:Stories of Norse Gods and Heroes.djvu/63

Rh SIGURD THE VOLSUNG. Yule-tide, King Volsung entertained his friends and vassals. All down the great hall burned roaring fires.

King Volsung sat in the high-seat with his guests on either hand. In the middle of the hall grew a large tree, the foliage of which covered the roof. This was called Odin's tree.

As the ale horns passed around, and the hall resounded with the laughter of the warriors, a tall old man strode in with a sword in his hand. With one blow he drove the sword into the roof-tree up to the hilt. Then he exclaimed, "He who draws out this sword shall have it as a gift from me, and he will find that he has never wielded a better sword."

With that he strode out, and no man dared ask his name or whither he went. But the guests whispered that it was Odin himself.

All tried to draw out the sword, but it was immovable.