t land of earth; now a
higher duty calls me."

Weeping, Elsa clung to him; but the swan song sounded louder, like a
warning. He tore himself free and stepped into the boat. Was it the
ship of death and destruction, or only the ship that carried the
blessed to the sacred place of the Grail? No one knew.

Elsa, lonely and sad, did not live long after the separation. Her only
hope was that she would be reunited to her dear husband; and she
parted willingly with her own life, as other children of earth have
done when they have lost all that they held most precious.

FRITHIOF THE BOLD

Frithiof was a Norwegian hero, grandson of Viking, who was the largest
and strongest man of his time. Viking had sailed the sea in a dragon
ship, meeting with many adventures, and Thorsten, Frithiof's father,
had likewise sailed abroad, capturing many priceless treasures and
making a great name for himself.

Frithiof was entrusted to the care of Hilding, his foster father, and
in his care, also, were Halfdan and Helge, King Bele's sons, and, some
years later, their little sister, Ingeborg. Frithiof and Ingeborg
became firm friends, and as the lad increased in bravery and strength,
the girl increased in beauty and loveliness of soul. Hilding, noticing
how each day they became fonder of each other, called Frithiof to him
and bade him remember that he was only a humble subject and could
never hope to wed Ingeborg, the king's only daughter, descended from
the great god Odin. The warning, however, came too late, for Frithiof
already loved the fair maiden, and vowed that he would have her for
his bride at any cost.

Soon after this the king died, leaving his kingdom to his two sons and
giving instructions that his funeral mound should be erected in sight
of that of his dear friend Thorsten, so that their spirits might not
be separated even in death. Then Ingeborg went to live with her
brothers, the Kings of Sogn, while Frithiof retired to his own home at
Framnas, closed in by the mountains and the sea.

Frithiof was now one of the wealthiest and most envied of land-owners.
His treasures were richer by far than those of any king.

In the spring he held a great celebration, which the kings of Sogn
and their sister Ingeborg, among many other guests, attended. Frithiof
and Ingeborg were much together, and Frithiof was very happy to learn
that Ingeborg returned his affection.

Great was his grief when the time came for her to sail away