in the boat and rest. And
he himself took two oars at the prow and rowed onwards with his mighty
strength till they came to land; and finding that his followers were
still weak and weary he carried them over the surf on his shoulders
and set them safely on shore.

Now the island on which they had landed was part of the domain of that
Jarl Angantyr, and soon a message him:

"Tidings, my jarl. Men have come ashore, but they seem weary and
helpless enough. Yet one of them is so strong and fresh that he
carries all the others to land."

"Surely," said the jarl, "that man must be Frithiof, son of my old
friend Thorsten, a man renowned for all good deeds."

Then Angantyr sent messengers to bid Frithiof welcome and to bring him
to his hall. And he prevailed upon his guest to pass the winter with
him, and showed high hospitality to him and to all his men. But when
Frithiof spoke of the errand on which he had come, the jarl said
proudly: "No tribute shall King Helge have of me, but thou, my friend,
shall take back such treasure as thou wilt, and tribute thou mayest
call it, or any other name, as thou desirest. For now it is clear to
me that Helge hath laid a trap for thee, and such kings are but
ill-esteemed in this land."

CHAPTER XXIV

Balder Forgives

_This is the tale the Northmen tell of how Frithiof
the Bold was wedded to Ingeborg the Fair._

Now while Frithiof was absent in the Western Isles there came Ring,
that good old chieftain, northward to the land of the two young
rulers, Helge and Halfdan.

Sorely grieved was Ingeborg when she knew that she must wed the
stranger king, but she knew naught of what had happened to Frithiof,
and was obliged to obey her brothers' will.

And as they sat at the marriage feast, Ring saw the bracelet upon her
arm and knew that it had been Frithiof's; and he bade her take it off
and give it to the wife of Helge that she might give it to the
wanderer on his return.

In the following spring came Frithiof back again to Norway, having
parted from Angantyr with much love and goodwill. But as he neared his
home, one met him whom he knew, who said: "Black have grown the
buildings here, and traces there are none of the hands of friends."

Then Frithiof held counsel with his men and they shaped their course
to the hall of the kings. But upon arrival there he heard that they
were away at Balder's grove offering a sacrifice. So he set off
thither with Bjoern, leaving the rest