Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/273

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 265 the punishment if I disclose his faith." The king sagavii. replied that he would not submit his decision to an- other man, but again ordered Dag to reply to what he asked. Dag replies, " The sovereign's order goes before all. I find this disposition in Thorer, as in so many others, that he is too greedy of money." The king : " Is he then a thief, or a robber ?" " He is neither." " What is he then?" " To win money he is a traitor to his sovereign. He has taken money from King Canute the Great for thy head." The king asks, " What proof hast thou of the truth of this?" Dag : " He has upon his right arm, above the elbow, a thick gold ring, which King Canute gave him, and which he lets no man see." This ended their conference, and the king was very wroth. Now as the king sat at table, and the guests had drunk a while with great mirth, and Thorer went round to see the guests well served, the king ordered Thorer to be called to him. He went up before the table, and laid his hands upon it. The king asked, " How old a man art thou, Thorer?" He answered, " I am eighteen years old." " A stout man thou art for those years, and thou hast been fortunate also." Then the king took his right hand, and felt it to- wards the elbow. Thorer said, " Take care, for I have a boil upon my arm." The kino; held his hand there, and felt there was something hard under it. " Hast thou not heard," said he, "that I am a physician? Let me see the boil."