nswer for it
to me.'

Then the beasts were frightened, and they all three ran back into the
wood, and the Musician played the woodman one of his best tunes, by way
of thanks, and then continued his way.(32)

(32) Grimm.

THE STORY OF SIGURD

(This is a very old story: the Danes who used to fight with the English
in King Alfred's time knew this story. They have carved on the rocks
pictures of some of the things that happen in the tale, and those
carvings may still be seen. Because it is so old and so beautiful the
story is told here again, but it has a sad ending--indeed it is all
sad, and all about fighting and killing, as might be expected from the
Danes.)

ONCE upon a time there was a King in the North who had won many wars,
but now he was old. Yet he took a new wife, and then another Prince, who
wanted to have married her, came up against him with a great army. The
old King went out and fought bravely, but at last his sword broke, and
he was wounded and his men fled. But in the night, when the battle was
over, his young wife came out and searched for him among the slain, and
at last she found him, and asked whether he might be healed. But he said
'No,' his luck was gone, his sword was broken, and he must die. And
he told her that she would have a son, and that son would be a great
warrior, and would avenge him on the other King, his enemy. And he bade
her keep the broken pieces of the sword, to make a new sword for his
son, and that blade should be called Gram.

Then he died. And his wife called her maid to her and said, 'Let us
change clothes, and you shall be called by my name, and I by yours, lest
the enemy finds us.'

So this was done, and they hid in a wood, but there some strangers
met them and carried them off in a ship to Denmark. And when they were
brought before the King, he thought the maid looked like a Queen, and
the Queen like a maid. So he asked the Queen, 'How do you know in the
dark of night whether the hours are wearing to the morning?'

And she said:

'I know because, when I was younger, I used to have to rise and light
the fires, and still I waken at the same time.'

'A strange Queen to light the fires,' thought the King.

Then he asked the Queen, who was dressed like a maid, 'How do you know
in the dark of night whether the hours are wearing near the dawn?'

'My father gave me a gold ring,' said she, 'and always, ere the dawning,
it grows cold on my finger.'

'A rich house