Page:Stories of Norse Gods and Heroes.djvu/72

 FRITHIOF.

the Northland, among the mountains, lived Hilding, a vassal of King Bele. With him lived Ingeborg, the daughter of the king, and Frithiof, the son of Thorsten Vikingsson. Thorsten Vikingsson was King Bele's best friend and bravest warrior.

The people of the Northland had many enemies, who came in ships. They burned the houses and the harvests, slew the men, and carried the women and children away captive.

King Bele and Thorsten Vikingsson were always fighting battles with them on the land or driving them across the sea to their own country. So Frithiof and Ingeborg were sent away into the mountains to live with old Hilding, where they would be safe.

All day long the two children wandered through the forest. Frithiof held the little Ingeborg's hand and led her along the rough paths.

As they sat on the ground close beside the tiny brook, they heard the soft, sweet notes of the