den."

But three days after Raedwald had sailed a storm broke over the Tower of
the North-West Wind. The summer sea lashed furiously against the rocks,
and far up the fiord the angry breakers rushed in, so that no boat could
live upon their surface for an hour.

That night as Sigurd sat heedless of the hurricane without and feasted
with his lords and ladies, they came and told him that a raft had been
driven ashore at the foot of the castle, with a man upon it half dead.
Sigurd bade them instantly bring him to the castle, and give him fire
and clothing and food, to revive him in his unhappy plight.

This they did, and presently came to the hero with the hews that the man
lived and desired to speak with his deliverer. So Sigurd ordered him to
be brought up. And as the tempest raged without, his heart rejoiced to
know that one man at least had been saved from its ravages.

The man was of the common order, and though clothed in a rough woodman's
suit it was plain to see he was a soldier.

He fell at the feet of the prince and poured forth his thanks for the
shelter given him that night.

"And who art thou?" asked Sigurd, to whom such thanks were never
welcome.

"I am a servant of King Ulf thy brother."

At the mention of the king's name the faces of those present fell, and
Sigurd asked, sternly--

"And what is thy errand here?"

"I was sent," said the man, "with two others, to spy into your state
here. The king has heard of your merrymakings and of your alliance with
the English king. He bade us see how you were armed and how prepared
for a sudden assault, and then return secretly and report it to him."

"And is it thus you perform your errand?" cried Sigurd. "Where are thy
companions?"

"Drowned, my liege, in the fiord, as I had been but for your gracious
help."

"And when is the king coming to assault this tower?" demanded an English
noble who sat near.

"Never," said the man, shortly.

"And why?" asked Sigurd.

"Oh, my liege," said the man, dropping once more on his knees, "please
Heaven, in a week's time there will be no king in all this land but
Sigurd."

The hero started from his seat and seized the man roughly.

"What is it you say?" he cried. "Speak out, and that plainly, or it
will be worse for you!"

"On this day week," said the trembling serf, "Ulf is to visit his castle
of Niflheim. He goes there alone, as you, my liege, came hither, to
receive his bride. But he will never ret