Page:The Early Kings of Norway.djvu/30

 20 EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY. there haing risen at a Yule-feast, loud, almost stormful demand that Hakon, like a true man and brother, should drink Yule-beer with them in their sacred hightide, Sigurd persuaded him to comply, for peace's sake, at least in form. Hakon took the cup in his left hand (excellent hot beer), and with his right cut the sign of the cross above it, then drank a draught. "Yes; but what is this with the king's right hand ?" cried the company. " Don't you see ? " answered shifty Sigurd ; "he makes the sign of Thor's hammer before drinking ! " which quenched the mat- ter for the time. Horse-flesh, horse-broth, and the horse ingredient generally, Hakon all but inexorably declined. By Sigurd's pressing exhortation and entreaty, he did once take a kettle of horse-broth by the handle, with a good deal of linen-quilt or towel interposed, and did open his lips for what of steam could insinuate itself. At another time he consented to a particle of horse- liver, intending privately, I guess, to keep it outside the gullet, and smuggle it away without swallowing ; but farther than this not even Sigurd could persuade him to go. At the Things held in regard to this