with orders to make holes in all
the ships, both large and small, that lay in that harbour. When they
came to the entrance of the temple, Frithiof bade Bjoern stay outside
and, entering alone, stood silent in the shadows watching where King
Helge stood, crowned, by the altar of fire, whose flickering flames
painted the great wooden image of Balder with a golden glory. Around
the walls were ranged the ancient priests, silver-bearded, some with
burning brands and others with flint knives for the sacrifice.

Up to King Helge then strode Frithiof and, taking from his girdle the
bag of silver which he had received from Angantyr, he flung it in the
face of the king, saying: "Receive thy tribute thus!" And so hard did
he fling the money that it struck out two of Helge's teeth, and he
fell senseless on the floor.

Now there were few but old men in the temple hall, and they were awed
by the sight of Frithiof's gleaming blade.

So for a time he stood unmolested, but as he turned to go the arm-ring
he had given to Ingeborg caught his eye, for it had been placed upon
Balder's arm. "Pardon, O Balder," he said, "but thou wilt no claim a
stolen jewel!" As he spoke he tugged at the ring, but it seemed to
have grown fast to the wooden arm. Frithiof put forth all his
strength, and suddenly the ring came away, but the great figure of the
god fell prone across the altar, whose flames immediately enveloped
it and leapt up as though in triumph to the rafters of the hall.

Then was there great confusion as the flames spread rapidly. Frithiof
stayed to render what aid was possible, but when it was seen that the
temple was doomed to utter destruction he turned grief-stricken away,
and rejoining his companions they put out to sea.

When King Helge came to his senses again his first thought was
vengeance, and he summoned his men to pursue after Frithiof. But his
ships had barely got under way when they began to sink, so that they
had to put back quickly into harbour. Then in his fury did Helge
snatch his bow to shoot an arrow after Frithiof, but so strongly did
he pull it that the string broke and the bow fell useless from his
hand.

Meantime, Frithiof sailed merrily out to sea; and when Bjoern
questioned him as to what he meant to do next he replied: "Since I may
no longer stay in Norway, I will learn the customs of the sea-chief,
and will rove as a Viking."

So all through the summer they sailed to distant islands and far-off
countrie