id came to the kingdom of Prince Alf, they
were treated with all honour and goodwill. But soon the queen-mother
of Prince Alf called him to her and said:

"Tell me, my son, why the fairer of these women has the fewer rings
and the commoner garments? For methinks that she whom you have held of
least account is the nobler of the two."

And he answered: "I, too, have had my doubts, since she is little like
a bond-servant, and when we first met she greeted me in noble wise.
But let us make trial of the matter."

So it came to pass that, as they sat at table, the prince said: "How
is it that you know the hour for rising in the winter mornings, seeing
that there are then no lights in heaven?"

And the handmaid, who was playing the part of mistress, forgot
herself, and answered: "At a certain hour I was ever wont to drink
milk before wending to feed the cows; and now that I no longer do
this, I still awake thereby at that self-same time."

At this the prince laughed aloud, saying: "That is ill manners for a
king's daughter."

Then he turned to Hiordis and asked her the same question, and she
answered unthinkingly: "My father once gave me a little gold ring of
such a nature that it grows cold on my finger in the day-dawning; and
that is the sign by which I know it is time to rise."

Then the prince sprang up, saying: "Gold rings for a bond-maid! Come
now, thou has deceived me, for I perceive that thou art a king's
daughter."

So the queen told him the whole truth, and then was she held in the
greatest honour.

Soon after, Prince Alf succeeded to his father's throne and became
King of Denmark, and about this time a fair son was given to Hiordis,
as had been foretold by Sigmund, his father. His hair was fair as the
morning light and his eyes were keen and blue.

And when, as happened shortly afterwards, the king married Hiordis,
the young Sigurd, as he was named, was brought up at the palace, with
all care and love, as the king's foster-son. Tall and straight did he
grow, and very comely of countenance; and there was no man but loved
him.

In due time the young prince was sent to Regin, the wisest man in that
realm, to be taught by him.

So old was he that none could recall his first coming to the land, and
his wisdom embraced all things known to men. He had great skill in all
the arts of peace, but chiefly was he famed for the mighty works he
had wrought at the forge and upon the anvil.

"The Master of the