Page:Stories of Norse Gods and Heroes.djvu/88

82 the hillsides into the valleys, where they are found even yet.

Olaf reached his kingdom first. The people received him gladly. They made him king and drove out the army that had come against the kingdom.

Then Olaf called his vassals to a great feast. They feasted all day long. Suddenly the door swung open. On the doorstep stood a tall man, wrapped in a blue cloak.

King Olaf called the stranger to sit beside him. All night long he told them wonderful tales of the gods and of heroes.

The night was almost over before they went to bed.

In the morning the guest was gone. The doors were locked. The guard had seen no one.

Then the king and his men whispered, "It was Odin himself."

Away to the north lived a warlock called Rand the Strong. He worshiped the storm fiends, who often made storms to wreck ships for him.

When Olaf came into his kingdom, he determined to punish Rand. He sailed away to the north. When it was dark Olaf's ship crept softly up the bay.