ht them when they least expected it.
But blow, I pray you, the bellows harder, or I shall never be
finished.'

Banvilda did as she was told, but soon grew tired and thirsty, and
begged Wayland to give her something to drink. He mixed something
sweet in a cup, which she swallowed hastily, and soon fell fast asleep
on a bench. Then Wayland bound her hands, and placed her in the boat,
after which he cut the rope that held it and let it drift out to sea.
This done, he shut the door of the tower, and, taking a piece of gold,
he engraved on it the history of all that had happened and put it
where it must meet the King's eye when next he came. 'Now is my hour
come,' he cried with joy, snatching his spear from the wall, but
before he could throw himself on it he heard a distant song and the
notes of a lute.

By this time the sun was high in the heavens, yet its brightness did
not hinder Wayland from seeing a large star, which was floating
towards him, and a brilliant rainbow spanned the sky. The flowers on
the island unfolded themselves as the star drew near, and he could
smell the smell of the roses on the shore. And now Wayland saw it was
no star, but the golden chariot of Freya the goddess, whose blue
mantle floated behind her till it was lost in the blue of the sky. On
her left was a maiden dressed in garlands of fresh green leaves, and
on her right was one clad in a garment of red. At the sight Wayland's
heart beat high, for he thought of the lump of gold set with jewels
which he and his brothers had found in the mountain so long ago.
Fairies fluttered round them, mermaids rose from the depths of the sea
to welcome them, and as Freya and her maidens entered the prison
Wayland saw that she who wore the red garment was really Alvilda.
'Wayland,' said the goddess, 'your time of woe is past. You have
suffered much and have avenged your wrongs, and now Odin has granted
my prayer that Alvilda shall stay by you for the rest of your life,
and when you die she shall carry you in her arms to the country of
Walhalla, where you shall forge golden armour and fashion drinking
horns for the gods.'

[Illustration: THE CHARIOT OF FREYA]

When Freya had spoken, she beckoned to the green maiden, who held in
her hand a root and a knife. She cut pieces off the root and laid them
on Wayland's feet, and on his eye, then, placing some leaves from her
garland over the whole, she breathed gently on it. 'Eyr the physician
has healed me,' cried