Page:Stories of Norse Gods and Heroes.djvu/98

92 Suddenly the windows were darkened as if a cloud had come over the sun. A roar that shook the palace sounded through the air.

Out rushed the knights with their swords in their hands. The king and queen followed them. They saw that a huge griffin was carrying away the little prince.

It was too late to do anything. The brave knights could only look after the little Hagen.

The king and queen went away sadly because they never expected to see their son again. The griffin carried Hagen to an island far out in the ocean and gave him to its young ones for food.

As one of the young griffins hopped about in a tree it dropped the little boy. He hid in the bushes and the griffins could not find him. At night he found a cave. In the cave there were three maidens who had been carried away by the griffin.

They were older than Hagen, and took care of him until he was old enough to take care of them.

One day while the griffins were away, Hagen went down to the sea-shore. There he found that a ship had been wrecked.

A dead knight lay upon the sand. Hagen took off the knight's armor and put it upon himself.