urn the way he came, for Bur
and Harald, your friends, my prince, have vowed to slay him there, and
at one blow rid the land of a tyrant and give it a just and good king."

When Sigurd heard this he turned white and red with wrath and fear.
Fiercely he summoned his guards, and bade them seize the spy and cast
him into the dungeon.

Then, as soon as words came, he turned to the company and said--

"You hear what this knave says?"

"Yes, we hear," cried some, "and we rejoice that Sigurd's day has come
at last. Long live King Sigurd!"

Then Sigurd struck the table with his fist as he started to his feet and
glared at the rash companions.

"Villains!" he shouted, with a voice that made the room itself tremble.
"Yes, Sigurd's day has come--the day for teaching cowards like you the
duty of a knight and a brother. Ulf, at his bridal, unarmed, slain by
traitors' hands. Is that the chivalry ye praise? If so, begone from my
sight and reach of this arm! But 'tis no time for talk. Without there,
my arms! and saddle my horse!"

"What means this!" cried all. "Where go you, Sigurd?"

"I go to my brother," he said.

"Your brother! Ulf is eight days' sail from here!"

"'Tis but five days across the forest," said the hero.

At this the ladies shrieked, and all looked on Sigurd as a man that is
mad.

"The forest, said you?" cried one. "It swarms with wolves, Sigurd, and
where the wolves are not, the robbers lurk."

Sigurd smiled scornfully. "It is wolves and robbers I go to seek," he
said.

"If thou wilt go," they said then, "we will go with thee."

"No!" cried Sigurd. "I go alone. Let him who loves me remain here and
guard my lady. I can trust you to be true to a lady--but ye have yet to
learn to be loyal to a prince."

At this many hung their heads and were silent.

Sigurd meanwhile put on his armour, and turned hurriedly to bid farewell
to his wife. The hero's voice trembled as he prayed Heaven to guard
over her.

They all accompanied him to the courtyard, where, quickly mounting, he
departed, and rode slowly forward into the forest.

Sigurd rode slowly forward into the forest, and as he entered it he
turned for one last look at the brave old castle which held within its
walls the joy of his life--and a soft voice at his ear whispered
"Return!"

Yet he halted not, nor did his courage waver, for another voice, louder
than the other, cried "Onward!" It seemed like his brother's voice, as
he had k