beloved Sigmund.
Presently she found him lying, and the life was still in him; and
taking him in her arms she thought to staunch his wounds. But with
faint voice he said: "War have I waged as long as it was Odin's will,
but never will I draw sword again, since the blade he gave me has
broken in two. My good fortune has departed, and I will not suffer
myself to be healed."

Then Hiordis wept sore and answered: "Naught would I care if but one
Volsung was left to avenge thee and my father."

And Sigmund said: "A son shall be born to thee who shall be mightier
than I. Our boy shall be the noblest and most famed of all the Volsung
race. See to it that thou keep the pieces of my good sword, for from
it he shall fashion a goodly blade, and shall work many a great work
therewith, and his name shall abide and flourish as long as the world
shall endure.

"But now am I weary, and would fain go to join my kindred that have
gone before me."

All through the night Hiordis kept watch beside him, till, at the
dawn, he died.

And as the queen mourned over the lifeless body she heard the sound of
many ships upon the seashore, and she said to her handmaid: "Let us
now exchange garments and flee into the woods, and do thou play the
part of king's daughter, and I will be thy handmaid."

Then there came up a great band of Vikings from the shore, and their
leader was Alf, son of the King of Denmark. And they saw how a great
company of men lay slain, and also how two women had escaped into the
woods.

So Alf bade his followers go seek the maidens, and bring them before
him. This they did, and when he questioned them, the handmaid spoke as
though she were queen, and answered for both, and told of the fall of
King Sigmund, and who it was who had brought the war trouble into the
land.

Then the prince asked if they knew where the wealth of the king was
hidden, and the maiden replied: "Ay, we know full well where it is
laid."

And she guided them to the place, and this pleased the prince, and he
put the treasure aboard his ships, and took the women also with him.
But first he gave ear to the tale of Sigmund, and it won his
admiration, and he caused the king to be buried as beseemed his rank
and valour.

Then did Hiordis and the handmaid sail away with Alf to his own land.

CHAPTER XVII

The Story of the Magic Gold

_This is the tale the Northmen tell of how
Sigurd was nurtured in Denmark._

When Hiordis and her handma