the
flames spreading rapidly on every side, the whole temple was soon a
smoldering heap of ruins.

Then Frithiof sought his ship. He vowed that he would lead a viking's
life, and leave forever a land where he had suffered so much sorrow.
And he put out to sea.

But no sooner were his sails spread than he saw ten vessels in chase
of him, and on the deck of one stood Helgi, who had been rescued from
the burning temple, and had come in chase of him.

Yet Frithiof was rescued from the danger as if by miracle; for one by
one the ships sank down as though some water-giant had stretched out
his strong arm, and dragged them below, and Helgi only saved himself
by swimming ashore.

Loud laughed Bjorn.

"I bored holes in the ships last night," said he; "it is a rare ending
to Helgi's fleet."

"And now," said Frithiof, "I will forever lead a viking's life. I care
not for aught upon the land. The sea shall be my home. And I will seek
climes far away from here."

So he steered the good ship "Ellide" southward, and among the isles of
Greece strove to forget the memories of bygone days.

VII

In and out of the sunny islands that lay like studs of emerald on a
silver shield sailed Frithiof, and on the deck of the dragon-ship
he rested through the summer nights, looking up at the moon, and
wondering what she could tell him of the northern land.

Sometimes he dreamed of his home as it was before the wartime.
Sometimes he dreamed of the days when he and Ingebjorg roamed through
the fields and woods together, or listened to old Hilding's stories by
the blazing hearth; and then he would wake up with a start and stroke
his faithful hound, who was ever near him, saying, "Thou alone knowest
no change; to thee all is alike, so long as thy master is with thee."

One night, however, as Frithiof was musing on the deck of his vessel,
gazing into the cloudless sky, a vision of the past rose up before
him: old familiar faces crowded round him, and in their midst he
marked one, best beloved of all, pale, sad, with sorrowful eyes; and
her lips moved, and he seemed to hear her say, "I am very sad without
thee, Frithiof."

Then a great longing came upon Frithiof to see Ingebjorg once more.
He would go northward, even to the country of King Ring; he must see
Ingebjorg. What did he care for danger? He must go.

To the cold, dark north.

Yet he dared not go openly, for King Ring looked upon him as an enemy,
and would seize him at