Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/9

 THE

OR,

CHRONICLE OF THE KINGS OF NORWAY,

VII. SAGA OF KING OLAF HARALDSSON THE SAINT.

Olaf, Harald Grsenske's son, was brought up by his stepfather Sigurd Syr and his mother Aasta. Rane the Far-travelled lived in the house of Aasta, and fostered this Olaf Haraldsson. Olaf came early to up. manhood, was handsome in countenance, middlesized in growth, and was even when very young of good understanding and ready speech. Sigurd his stepfather was a careful householder, who kept his people closely to their work, and often went about himself to inspect his corn-rigs and meadow-land, the cattle, and also the smith-work, or whatsoever his people had on hand to do.

It happened one day this King Sigurd wanted to ride from home, but there was nobody about the house; so he told his step-son Olaf to saddle his horse. Olaf went to the goats' pen, took out the he-