the swan song sounded louder, like a
warning. He tore himself free and stepped into the boat. Was it the ship
of death and destruction, or only the ship that carried the blessed to
the sacred place of the Grail? No one knew.

Elsa, lonely and sad, did not live long after the separation. Her only
hope was that she would be reunited to her dear husband; and she parted
willingly with her own life, as other children of earth have done when
they have lost all that they held most precious.

FRITHIOF THE BOLD

Frithiof was a Norwegian hero, grandson of Viking, who was the largest
and strongest man of his time. Viking had sailed the sea in a dragon
ship, meeting with many adventures, and Thorsten, Frithiof's father, had
likewise sailed abroad, capturing many priceless treasures and making a
great name for himself.

Frithiof was entrusted to the care of Hilding, his foster father, and in
his care, also, were Halfdan and Helge, King Bele's sons, and, some
years later, their little sister, Ingeborg. Frithiof and Ingeborg became
firm friends, and as the lad increased in bravery and strength, the girl
increased in beauty and loveliness of soul. Hilding, noticing how each
day they became fonder of each other, called Frithiof to him and bade
him remember that he was only a humble subject and could never hope to
wed Ingeborg, the king's only daughter, descended from the great god
Odin. The warning, however, came too late, for Frithiof already loved
the fair maiden, and vowed that he would have her for his bride at any
cost.

Soon after this the king died, leaving his kingdom to his two sons and
giving instructions that his funeral mound should be erected in sight of
that of his dear friend Thorsten, so that their spirits might not be
separated even in death. Then Ingeborg went to live with her brothers,
the Kings of Sogn, while Frithiof retired to his own home at Framnas,
closed in by the mountains and the sea.

Frithiof was now one of the wealthiest and most envied of land-owners.
His treasures were richer by far than those of any king.

In the spring he held a great celebration, which the kings of Sogn and
their sister Ingeborg, among many other guests, attended. Frithiof and
Ingeborg were much together, and Frithiof was very happy to learn that
Ingeborg returned his affection.

Great was his grief when the time came for her to sail away. Not long
had she been gone, however, when he vowed to Bjorn, his chief companio