The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-07

sigurd WAS a mighty northern war
frfor OF the Volsung race. He was the
son of Sigmund. who. with his nine
brothers, was taken prisoner by .
Gothic king and chained to great
oak in the forest for the Wild beasts
TO eat. Every one Of the Volsungs
per,shed save Sigmund, who slew the
beast who had devoured his brothers.
II was not until years afterwaro, now
ever. that he regained his Kingdom.
Sigurd's mother was the lovely
Htordis. who. from place OF hldinE'
saw her husbands sword broken IN
fierce battle. Knowing that he was
al the mercy OF the enemy. Hiordis
rushed from her hiding place TO bend
over her husband aud hear his last
words Stgrnund baae her gather TO-
rether tbs. fragments Of his sword ana
keen them for the child who would
be born. saying that this son would
avengo his death and be more famed
for his heroisin than he himself had
ever been.
Now, the beautiful Hiordis. after
this. married Elf. q viking. and when
Sigmuad's little son wax born, Elf was
very kind to him, treating him as his
own son and naming him stgurd.
The training Of kings son at this
time WAS always Entrusted TO
stranger rather than to amy one ut
home. Therefore, WAS sigurd in
trusted to Regia, who was thought
10 know all things, even his own
destiny. Sigurd learned great deal
from his wise instructor, and rot the
least among them was how to be a
brave, dauntless warrior.
hood he asked the king for horse
which would be fit for battle. At
once Elf granted his request. and he
was told 10 choose the horse he liked
best among all those in the royal
keeping. He was GU the way TO pick
out his steed when he met a stranger
having but one eye. who said ~ him:
III thou art wise. thou wilt drive
the horses into the water and choose
hat one which breasts the waves most
braveIy"
sigurd listened tc this advice and
Huttced that ODE horse showed aot
sign CT fatigue after crossing the river,
fr!sking about happily on the ether
aide and soon returning to his pas
ture. 1t was thin Ateed that Sigurd
selected and named Greyfeil
Not 40 long after this incident, while
the teacher and his warrior pupil
sat tosether. Regin took up his harp
and sang &c its notes the tale OF his
life. As was the custom Of the time.
And his song was something like
this:
Once there was king OF the
dwarfs. or brownies. who had three
aons Fafnir. Otter and ReKin. The
king was possessed OF beautiful
house lined with gold and precious
stones. which his youthful son. Regin,
had made for him and which Fafair.
WAS was very strong. guarded.
Now II CHANGED that Odin Hoenir
and Loki took the form of humans,
and no visited tho earth 10 try the
hearts Of men.
They had not gone very far before
they came to the place where dwelt
the dwarf king. Lcki observed an
otter. which was tho second son OF
the dwarf. sleeping In the su1. Hs
slew the beast. throwing the dead body
OF the animal over his shoulder When
Lodi. with his comrad dec, went inside
tho house Of tho dwarf king, he care
lessly threw tho body Of tho otter on
the floor.
When the dwarf king saw what had
osen done no was very angry. indeed,
and ordered that tho three gods--
~Noht LtoUAsN anu loASO0Ouia uOI
be set at liberty unless they brought
him gold enough to cover tho otter
skin--inside and outside a. well.
Strange as II may seem. this otter
skin had the power to stretch to a
most surprising sise. and IT would
have taken great deal Of treasure
70 cover Ii.
I.oki was granted his liberty to gst
the treasure. and he hurled at once
to the waterfall whore dwelt the
dwarf Andvari. who was known 10
hoard gold by magic. Everywhere
he sarched for the dwarf without
success, until he suddenly bethought
him that he might have turned into
the salmon which he saw playing In
this water. In this Loki was right,
and very grudsingly the dwarf brought
forth his treasure, which included
fhe Helmet Of Dread and the coat
of golden mail giving It al to Lokt
in sSohsngs fos III frssdon and
Is s.9