URUSUND, STOCKHOLM 230

SKANSEN RIVER 242

THE FAMOUS XVI. CENTURY CASTLE AT UPSALA, SWEDEN 256

NORWEGIAN CARRIAGE CALLED STOLKJAEM 285

ARMORY AND COSTUME HALL OF THE ROYAL MUSEUM, SWEDEN 300

STATUE OF GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS 312

THE RETURN OF CHARLES XII. OF SWEDEN 340

KRONBERG CASTLE ON THE SOUND, DENMARK 348

THE BOURSE, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK 360

_HOW KING ROLF WON HIS BRIDE._

At one time very many centuries ago, we cannot say just when, for this
was in the days of the early legends, there reigned over Upsala in Sweden
a king named Erik. He had no son and only one daughter, but this girl was
worth a dozen sons and daughters of some kings. Torborg she was named,
and there were few women so wise and beautiful and few men so strong and
valiant. She cared nothing for women's work, but was the equal of any man
of the court in riding, fighting with sword and shield, and other
athletic sports. This troubled King Erik very much, for he thought that
the princess should sit in her maiden chamber like other kings'
daughters; but she told him that when she came to succeed him on the
throne she would need to know how to defend her kingdom, and now was the
time for her to learn.

That she might become the better fitted to rule, she asked him to give
her some province to govern, and this he did, making her queen of a third
of his kingdom, and giving her an army of stout and bold warriors. Her
court was held at Ulleraker in Upland, and here she would not let any one
treat her as a woman, dressing always in men's clothing and bidding her
men to call her King Torborg. To fail in this would be at risk of their
heads. As her fame spread abroad, there were many who came to court her,
for she was at once very beautiful and the heiress of a great kingdom.
But she treated all such with laughter and contempt. It is even said that
she put out the eyes of some, and cut off the hands and feet of others,
but this we do not like to believe. At any rate, she drove away those who
troubled her too much with lance and spear. So it was plain that only a
strong and bold man could win this warlike maiden for his wife.

At that time King Goetrik who ruled in Gothland, a country in southern
Sweden, had sent his younger son Rol