either, and again that which was hard around her heart became harder.

And every day the watcher came and he told her what had befallen her
brothers. And it came to the time when but one of her brothers was left
alive, Sigmund, the youngest.

Then said Signy: "Not without device are we left at the end. I have
thought of what is to be done. Take a pot of honey to where he is
chained and smear Sigmund's face with the honey."

The watcher did as Signy bade him.

Again the great wolf came along the forest-ways to where Sigmund was
chained. When she snuffed over him she found the honey upon his face.
She put down her tongue to lick over his face. Then, with his strong
teeth Sigmund seized the tongue of the wolf. She fought and she
struggled with all her might, but Sigmund did not let go of her tongue.
The struggle with the beast broke the beam to which he was chained. Then
Sigmund seized the wolf with his hands and tore her jaws apart.

The watcher saw this happening and told of it to Signy. A fierce joy
went through her, and she said: "One of the Volsungs lives, and
vengeance will be wrought upon King Siggeir and upon his house."

Still the watcher stayed in the ways of the forest, and he marked where
Sigmund built for himself a hidden hut. Often he bore tokens from Signy
to Sigmund. Sigmund took to the ways of the hunter and the outlaw, but
he did not forsake the forest. And King Siggeir knew not that one of the
Volsungs lived and was near him.

[Illustration]

THE STORY OF SIGMUND AND SINFIOTLI

As Sigurd rode the ways of the forest he thought upon Sigmund, his
father, on his life and his death, according to what Hiordis, his
mother, had told him. Sigmund lived for long the life of the hunter and
the outlaw, but he never strayed far from the forest that was in King
Siggeir's dominion. Often did he get a token from Signy. They two, the
last of the Volsungs, knew that King Siggeir and his house would have to
perish for the treason he had wrought on their father and their
brothers.

Sigmund knew that his sister would send her son to help him. One morning
there came to his hut a boy of ten years. He knew that this was one of
Signy's sons, and that she would have him train him into being a
warrior worthy of the Volsung breed.

Sigmund hardly looked and hardly spoke to the lad. He was going hunting,
and as he took down his spear from the wall he said:

"There is the mealbag, boy. Mix the meal and make th