t with each other in the hall until he killed them with
his sword.

After this Hermod disappeared, and no one knew what had become of him;
the Queen caused search to be made for him, but he could nowhere be
found. One time, when Olof was in the castle beside Hadvor, she asked
the Princess if she knew where Hermod had gone to. At this Hadvor
became very sad, and said that she did not.

'I shall tell you then,' said Olof, 'for I know all about it.

[Illustration: The King Finds the Queen of Hetland]

Hermod has disappeared through the wicked devices of the Queen, for
she is a witch, and so is her daughter, though they have put on these
beautiful forms. Because Hermod would not fall in with the Queen's
plans, and marry her daughter, she has laid a spell on him, to go on
an island and be a lion by day and a man by night, and never be freed
from this until you burn the lion's skin. Besides,' said Olof, 'she
has looked out a match for you; she has a brother in the Under-world,
a three-headed Giant, whom she means to turn into a beautiful prince
and get him married to you. This is no new thing for the Queen; she
took me away from my parents' house and compelled me to serve her; but
she has never done me any harm, for the green cloak I wear protects me
against all mischief.'

Hadvor now became still sadder than before at the thought of the
marriage destined for her, and entreated Olof to think of some plan to
save her.

'I think,' said Olof, 'that your wooer will come up through the floor
of the castle to you, and so you must be prepared when you hear the
noise of his coming and the floor begins to open, and have at hand
blazing pitch, and pour plenty of it into the opening. That will prove
too much for him.'

About this time the King came home from his expedition, and thought it
a great blow that no one knew what had become of Hermod; but the Queen
consoled him as best she could, and after a time the King thought less
about his disappearance.

Hadvor remained in her castle, and had made preparations to receive
her wooer when he came. One night, not long after, a loud noise and
rumbling was heard under the castle. Hadvor at once guessed what it
was, and told her maids to be ready to help her. The noise and
thundering grew louder and louder, until the floor began to open,
whereupon Hadvor made them take the caldron of pitch and pour plenty
of it into the opening. With that the noises grew fainter and fainter,
till at