Page:The book of wonder voyages (1919).djvu/229

 believe, O best and wisest Emperor, that for your own honor's sake you will help me on the journey for which I am bound in order to fulfil my vow. I am in search of Odainsakr, but I shall never reach it unless you help me."

"Stay with me for the next three years," replied the Emperor, "you and Eric the Dane, then you shall proceed on your journey. It will do you good to stay. After that time I will help you."

And the two promised they would stay.

Afterwards Eric the Thrond asked the Emperor about the different countries he would pass through, the manners and customs of the inhabitants, the seas and rivers. He also asked about the Eastern and Southern parts of the world, the forests, the islands, the deserts; the ways of the different people; the huge serpents, beasts, and birds; the quantity of gold, jewels, and precious stones to be found. And to all his questions the Emperor gave wise, kind, clever answers.

Now when Eric's three years' stay with the Emperor had come to an end, and when he had gained from his sovereign much knowledge about many things, he set off with a company of men for the Land of Syria. And the Emperor of Greece gave him letters sealed with his own seal that the monarchs of other lands might read and welcome and hospitably entertain him. And from Syria he sailed with stranger men on their way eastwards. From there he continued his journey, sometimes on horseback, oftener on foot, until he and his