The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1905-02-09
NORWEGIAN SAGAS

. Ed
to see her in the 'ElIida,' tho there was
law that whoever ventured to ap-
proach the grove by water should be
put to death. Now Ingeborg had
always loved him and she agreed to be
betrothed to him, and taking leave of
her, Frithjof went with all haste to
tell her brothers. This time also there
was great assembly at Bele's grave,
and again Frithjof asked for the hand
of Ingeborg, and promised that, if
Helge would consent to their betroth-
al, he would fight for him. But Helge,
instead of answering him, asked him
if he had not been to the sacred grove
of Balder contrary to law. Then all
the people shouted to him, Say no,
Frithjof! Say no, and Ingeborg is
yours But Frithjof said that tho his
happiness hung on that one word he
would not tell lie, that in truth he had
been to Balder's temple, but that his
presence had not defiIed it, that he and
Ingeborg had prayed together and had
planned this offer of peace.
"But the people forsook him, and
King Helge banished him until he
should bring back the tribute due from
Angantyr of the Western Isles; and
every one knew that if he escaped with
his life on such an errand it would be
wonder.
"Once again Frithjof saw Ingeborg,
and he begged her to come with him in
his ship, the Ellida,' but Ingeborg, tho
she loved him, thought that she owed
obedience to her brothers, and they
bade each other farewell; but before he
went Frithjof clasped on her arm the
wonderful bracelet. So then they
parted, and Frithjof sailed away and
had more adventures than l can tell
you, but at last he returned with the
tribute money, and now he thought
Ingeborg would indeed be his. But
when he came in sight of Framness, he
found that his house and everything
belonging to him had been burned to
the ground. Worst of all, Ingeborg,
they told him, had been forced by her
brothers to marry King Ring, who, if
she had not become his wife, would
have taken the kingdom from Hedge
and Halvdan. Then Frithjof was in
despair, and cried out, 'Who dare speak
to me of the fidelity of womenp' And
it so happened that the very day was
midsummer day, and he knew that
King Hedge, Ingeborg's brother, would
be in the temple of Balder. He sought
him out, and went straight to him an6
said, you sent me for the lost tribute
and 1 have gained it, but either you Of
1 must die. Come, fight me! Think o1
Framness that you burned! Think ol
Ingeborg whose life you have spoiled!
And then in great wrath he flung tn,
tribute money At Helge's head, ant
Helge fell down senseless. Just thel
Frithjof caught sight of the bracelet hi
, had given Ingeborg on the image o
. Balder, and he tore it off, but in so do
+ ing upset the image, which fell into tn
q flames on the altar. The fire spread
and spread so that at last the who'll
+ temple was burned, and all the trees 0
\ the grove.
s "Next day Helge gave chase to Firth
: jof, but luckily in the night Frithjof'
/, friend had scuttled all the kings ships
J. and so his efforts failed, and Frithjo
8 sailed out to sea in the 'Ellida.' The
d he became Viking, and lived a har
f, life, and won many victories. At las
o he came home to Norway and went t
b King Rings court at Yuletide, dii
b guised as an old man, but they 500
found out that he was young an
# beautiful, and he doffed his disguis
Q, and Ingeborg trembled as she recoi
|; nlzed him. Ring knew him not, br
is liked him well, and made him his gues
D. "One day he saved Ring when b
10 horse and sledge had fallen into tt
is water. But another day it so happene
% that they went out hunting togethe
y and Ring being tired fell asleep, whi
y Frithjof kept guard over him.
1T "As he watched, raven came an