"Well," said he, "we must be content with things as they are,
foster-brother."

Therewith so great a sea smote them, that the bulwark was broken and
both the sheets, and four men were washed overboard and all lost.

Then sang Frithiof:

"Both sheets are bursten
Amid the great billows,
Four swains are sunk
In the fathomless sea?

"Now, meseems," said Frithiof, "it may well be that some of us will
go to the house of Ran, nor shall we deem us well sped if we come not
thither in glorious array; wherefore it seems good to me that each man
of us here should have somewhat of gold on him."

Then he smote asunder the ring, Ingibiorg's gift, and shared it between
all his men, and sang a stave withal:

"The red ring here I hew me
Once owned of Halfdan's father,
The wealthy lord of erewhile,
Or the sea waves undo us,
So on the guests shall gold be,
If we have need of guesting;
Meet so for mighty men-folk
Amid Ran's hall to hold them."

"Not all so sure is it that we come there," said Biorn; "and yet it may
well be so."

Now Frithiof and his folk found that the ship had great way on her, and
they knew not what lay ahead, for all was mirk on either board, so that
none might see the stem or stern from amidships; and therewith was there
great drift of spray amid the furious wind, and frost, and snow, and
deadly cold.

Now Frithiof went up to the masthead, and when he came down he said to
his fellows: "A sight exceeding wondrous have I seen, for a great whale
went in a ring about the ship, and I misdoubt me that we come nigh to
some land, and that he is keeping the shore against us; for certes
King Helgi has dealt with us in no friendly wise, neither will this
his messenger be friendly. Moreover I saw two women on the back of the
whale, and they it is who will have brought this great storm on us
with the worst of spells and witchcraft; but now we shall try which may
prevail, my fortune or their devilry, so steer ye at your straightest,
and I will smite these evil things with beams."

Therewith he sang a stave:
"See I troll women
Twain on the billows,
Een they whom Helgi
Hither hath sent.
Ellidi now
Or ever her way stop
Shall smile the backs
Of these asunder."

So tells the tale that this wonder went with th