all and rolled behind the casks
of ale, and the little ones ran after it and discovered the two big,
grim men with helmets on their heads and swords in their hands.

Screaming with fright the children rushed to their father with news of
what they had seen.

Then the king summoned his warriors, and a rush was made to where
Sigmund and Sinfiotli lay hidden. They were quickly surrounded; and
though they fought desperately, they were taken and fast bound.

That night the king pondered what would be the worst and most
lingering death he could mete out to them; and when morning came he
ordered a great hollow mound of stones and turf to be made, with a
large flat stone, extending from wall to wall, in the midst; and he
ordered the prisoners to be buried alive, one on each side of this
stone, so that they could hear each other speak but might in nowise
pass through to one another.

Now, while the servants were closing in the mound, came Signy along
with a bundle of straw in her arms, and this she cast down to
Sinfiotli, bidding the men say nothing of this to the king; and they
promised, and set the topmost stones, and left the two to die.

Presently Sinfiotli called to Sigmund and said: "I at anyrate shall
not starve for awhile, for the queen has thrown in a lump of swine's
flesh wrapped in straw."

A moment later he gave a shout of joy, for hidden in the meat he found
the magic sword of Sigmund, which he knew by the hilt, for Sigmund had
often talked to him of this weapon.

He now drove the point with all his strength into the big stone, and
it passed quite through, so that Sigmund caught the point and pulled
to and fro; and in this wise they sawed right through that mighty
stone, and stood together in the mound. But they stayed not there, for
with that good sword they soon cut their way through stones and iron
and turf.

Then, very softly, they crept to the king's hall where all men slept,
and set wood around it; and having secured the door they set fire to
the wood.

It was not long ere the folk within were awakened by the smoke and
flames, and the king cried out: "Who kindled this fire in which I
burn?"

"I," replied Sigmund, "with Sinfiotli, my sister's son, that you may
know well that all the Volsungs are not yet dead."

Then he entreated his sister to come out into a place of safety; but
she would not. "Merrily now will I die with King Siggeir, though I was
not merry to wed him," said she, and she perished