IO UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



result. Then he sought out magicians who had proved themselves 

 able to guess all riddles if they chose, and they told him that "the 

 boys are not being brought up in the land, but they are not far from 

 the king." "It would indeed be strange if they were near, when 

 we have sought in vain so far," said Fr69i. 



Then they set out to search Vifill 's island, with a great and mighty 

 force of men. "Rise, Halfdann's sons," cried the peasant when he 

 saw the king's men, "keep to my woods today." They ran off to 

 the forest and the king's men searched the island, but without find- 

 ing a trace of the boys. Fr68i 's men were dissatisfied with the result 

 of their expedition, the peasant seemed "shadowy" to them, but 

 there was nothing to do but go back to Fr63i and tell him they could 

 not find his nephews. "Then you've not looked in the right place, " 

 answered the king, "that peasant is too clever for you. Now go 

 back again, and in such a way that he will see you too late to get 

 them out of sight, if they are there." The king's men did exactly 

 as he had bidden them, and went a second time to the island. The 

 peasant also spoke again with the lads. "This is no safe place for 

 you. Get to the woods the quickest you can." And the boys did 

 as they were told. After that, the king's men swooped down sud- 

 denly upon the island, ransacked the house, opened every door and 

 drawer, but found no one. 



"Now," said the king, "there shall be no more trifling with this 

 peasant. I will go to the island early tomorrow morning. " 



And so it happened that the king went himself. But the peasant 

 was, for the third time, awake earlier than the king. "This you 

 must bear in mind, my lads, when I call my dogs quite loud — so, 

 ' Hopp and Ho ! ' — you are to betake yourselves with all speed to the 

 cave, and mark this, you will have no further peace on this island, 

 but must save yourselves as best you can; for Fr63i, your kinsman, 

 leads now in the search, he who seeks your life with every kind of 

 stratagem and trick, and I see no way that I can conceal you longer. " 



When the peasant on the strand saw the king's ship coming in, 

 he did as if he saw nothing, and went on watching his flock so closely 

 that he never once looked up at the king or his men. "Bring that 



