e will of his people, for his rule
had become a tyranny.

In order to examine this rumour, Roller, who was a great traveller
abroad, and eager to visit unknown parts, made a vow that he would get
into the company of Frode. But Erik declared that, splendid as were his
bodily parts, he had been rash in pronouncing the vow. At last, seeing
him persisting stubbornly in his purpose, Erik bound himself under a
similar vow; and the king promised them that he would give them for
companions whomsoever they approved by their choice. The brethren,
therefore, first resolved to visit their father and beg for the stores
and the necessaries that were wanted for so long a journey. He welcomed
them paternally, and on the morrow took them to the forest to inspect
the herd, for the old man was wealthy in cattle. Also he revealed to
them treasures which had long lain hid in caverns of the earth; and they
were suffered to gather up whatsoever of these they would. The boon was
accepted as heartily as it was offered: so they took the riches out of
the ground, and bore away what pleased them.

Their rowers meanwhile were either refreshing themselves or exercising
their skill with casting weights. Some sped leaping, some running;
others tried their strength by sturdily hurling stones; others tested
their archery by drawing the bow. Thus they essayed to strengthen
themselves with divers exercises. Some again tried to drink themselves
into a drowse. Roller was sent by his father to find out what had passed
at home in the meanwhile. And when he saw smoke coming from his mother's
hut he went up outside, and, stealthily applying his eye, saw through
the little chink and into the house, where he perceived his mother
stirring a cooked mess in an ugly-looking pot. Also he looked up at
three snakes hanging from above by a thin cord, from whose mouths flowed
a slaver which dribbled drops of moisture on the meal. Now two of these
were pitchy of hue, while the third seemed to have whitish scales, and
was hung somewhat higher than the others. This last had a fastening
on its tail, while the others were held by a cord round their bellies.
Roller thought the affair looked like magic, but was silent on what
he had seen, that he might not be thought to charge his mother with
sorcery. For he did not know that the snakes were naturally harmless, or
how much strength was being brewed for that meal. Then Ragnar and Erik
came up, and, when they saw the smoke issuin