Page:Stories of Norse Gods and Heroes.djvu/82

76 ships sank. Frithiof 's friend had bored them full of holes.

King Helge swam to the shore. He seized his bow to shoot an arrow at Frithiof, who stood upon the deck and laughed. Helge drew the bow with such strength that it snapped, and Frithiof sailed away.

For three years he sailed the seas. Then he longed to live on land once more. As he sailed northward, he came in sight of King Ring's country.

It was just at Yuletide. King Ring sat in his hall feasting with his vassals. An old man wrapped in a bearskin entered softly and took a seat near the door.

The guests whispered together and looked at the old man with a smile. At that he seized one of them and shook him until all were silent.

King Ring demanded his name. Then the stranger sprang from his seat and threw off the bearskin. And there stood Frithiof dressed in velvet as blue as the sky, and with a silver belt around his waist. His long golden hair fell in waves over his broad shoulders.

Then King Ring swore by the hammer of Thor to overcome Frithiof in fight. But Frithiof only laughed and threw his sword upon the table with