THE BOY IN THE GERMANIC HERO-SAGAS 13 



Sharp are the eyes 

 Of Ham and Hrani, 

 The noble ones. 



On hearing this the boys rushed out of the hall in great fear. 

 Reginn, their foster-father, alarmed to learn that his wards were in 

 the hall, pondered much as to how he might aid them and still not 

 break his oath of allegiance to the king. He now put out all the 

 lights in the hall, thus giving the boys a chance to make good their 

 escape in the confusion. Fr65i and his men then gave up the chase 

 for the time being, and were soon fast asleep after the drinking bout 

 was ended. 



When the boys had been in the wood for some time, they saw 

 with joy their foster-father riding toward them. They went out to 

 meet him, but to their surprise, he took no notice of them. He 

 turned his horse's head, and rode back toward the hall. Greatly 

 wondering at this, they took counsel together as to what could be 

 the meaning of their friend's strange conduct. Now Reginn turned 

 again in the direction of the boys, and looked frowningly about as if 

 he wished to fight someone. "I have it," exclaimed Helgi, "so 

 means my foster-father. He will not break the letter of his oath 

 to Fr68i, our uncle, by speaking with us, but he means to help us." 



They mounted their horses and kept near to Reginn as he rode 

 back to the hall, at the same time watching carefully for further 

 signs. As Reginn rode along they heard him muttering, "If I had 

 a feud with King Fr65i, I should burn up this wood." In a moment 

 they had dismounted and were gathering wood to burn the king's 

 hall. They had understood what Reginn meant them to understand. 

 Thereupon Saevil, the Iarl, and all his followers came out to help 

 them. "I am bound by no oath to King FroSi, " said Saevil, and 

 preparations were soon made. 



That night King FroSi had a bad dream, and wakened in alarm. 

 His men tried to reassure him, but in vain. He rose up and went 

 to the door of the hall and there was a great uproar without. The 

 house was in flames. Then the king offered to make peace with 

 Hroarr and Helgi, urging them not to stain their hands with the 



