THE BOY IN THE GERMANIC HERO-SAGAS 1 1 



man to me," commanded the king. "You are a very clever rascal, 

 my man, very sly indeed. Tell where the sons of Halfdann are, for 

 that you surely know." "Let me go, Sire," cried the peasant, 

 "do not detain me, or the wolf will tear my flock asunder." Then 

 he shouted at the top of his voice, "Hopp and Ho, save the flock, 

 I cannot!" 



Once more the boys escaped, and the king went back home, 

 baffled, but not convinced, having accomplished nothing more than 

 his men by all his questioning and searching. After he had gone, 

 the peasant, Vifill, lost no time in getting rid of the boys. He sent 

 them forthwith to Saevil, Iarl, the husband of their sister, Signy. 

 "Your only safety now is with your kinsman, Saevil. Farewell, 

 my lads, you will grow up to be great men, if you live. " 



Hroarr was twelve years old at this time and Helgi ten. They 

 were both large and strong from their rude out-of-door life, more like 

 wild men than like kings 's sons. They remained with Saevil nearly 

 three winters, without disclosing their identity, what sort of men they 

 were, or even to what class they belonged. They wore cowled cloaks, 

 which they never laid aside, and called themselves Ham and Hrani 

 instead of Hroarr and Helgi, their right names. At length FroSi, 

 the king, began to suspect that Saevil knew something of the where- 

 abouts of his young brothers-in-law, and he sent for the Iarl to come 

 to a banquet. When the boys saw the preparations for the journey, 

 they begged to be allowed to go too. This being denied them, they 

 secured unbroken colts and followed, unseen, in the rear of the train. 



The Iarl soon discovered them, and saw at once that they could 

 not ride well. The wild colts plunged and reared under the inex- 

 perienced riders. And Hrani 's hood fell back from his head. Be- 

 fore he had time to replace it, Signy, who was riding with her husband, 

 happened to glance that way, and recognized her brother at once. 

 Thereupon she began to weep bitterly. When Saevil, the Iarl, 

 heard who the boys were, he rode back to them and bade them stay 

 behind, saying that such wild youths would be a disgrace to a com- 

 pany of good men. They did not leave the train, however, but fol- 

 lowed on with the others to the banquet-hall. Sometimes they 



