the wars and was killed, and the Battle Maidens carried him away to
Odin and the festal halls of Valhalla.

The young Volsung grew mightily in valour and in strength, so that
when he had come to man's estate his renown was greater than that of
his father or grandfather, and all men knew him to be a true son of
the race of Odin.

So in due time he became the founder of a great family, and the
builder of a mighty house. The walls of his dwelling were hung with
battle shields taken from the foe, and in the midst of the floor

"Sprang up a mighty tree
That reared its blessings roofward, and wreathed the roof-tree dear
With the glory of the summer and the garland of the year."

Underneath the branches of this gigantic "Branstock," as the tree was
named, dwelt Volsung and his wife and their eleven children. Ten
stalwart sons had he and one fair daughter, Signy by name.

Now when Signy was become a tall and stately maiden, it came to pass
that Siggeir, King of the Goths, sent messages to beg that she might
be given to him in marriage. And because Volsung had heard a good
report of his success in war, he promised his daughter to him without
setting eyes upon his face.

But when he came to claim the promise, Signy saw that her bridegroom
was small and dark and evil of countenance, different indeed from the
tall, fair, open-faced Northmen, and her heart sank within her.

The sacred pledge had been given, however, and no Northland maiden
could draw back from the plighted word.

True to her hero-blood, Signy went through the marriage ceremony with
seeming cheerfulness, and none but her twin-brother Sigmund knew her
grief.

The wedding feast was celebrated with magnificence. Great fires burned
brightly along the hall, and the flickering flames cast a lurid glow
upon the huge oak which upreared its massive and fantastic shape in
the centre.

Now, while the merry-making was at its height, there suddenly entered
a tall, old man with hat slouched over his eyes and huge grey cloak
around his majestic shoulders.

Advancing to the Branstock, he drew his sword, and plunged it to the
very hilt in the great trunk.

Then, as the assembled guests gazed at him in awe-struck silence, he
said: "Whoso draweth the sword from this stock shall have the same as
a gift from me, and it shall give him victory in every battle."

There was something so attractive in the voice and mien of the speaker
t