Olaf the Glorious | Page 9

to
you that you take all men to be your enemies?"
"Enmity comes so often in the guise of friendship," said Olaf, "that it is
well to be wary. I had been wiser last night if I had refused to speak
with you."
"The time will soon come," said Sigurd, "when you will not be sorry
that you so spoke. But I will warn you that it may go very ill with you
if you tell your story to all strangers as you told it to me."
Olaf was perplexed. He looked into the man's face and saw only
kindness there, and yet there was something very suspicious in the
stranger's eagerness to possess him.
"If you are indeed my friend," said the boy, "why do you keep this
chain about my neck? Why do you drag me after you like a dog?"
"Because I am not willing that you should escape me," answered
Sigurd. "But if you will shake my hand and tell me that you will not run
away, then I will take off your chain and you shall ride in front of me
on my horse. You are King Triggvi's son, and I know that, once spoken,
your word will be sacred."
Now, Olaf had never taken any man's hand since he swore foster
brotherhood with Thorgils Thoralf son. He looked upon handshaking as
a most solemn covenant, only to be made when great matters were at

stake. Also, he had never yet told or acted a lie, or been false to anyone.
He answered promptly:
"No, I will not take your hand. Neither will I give you my word that I
shall not escape from you very soon. You may keep the chain about my
neck. It is more easily broken than my promise."
Sigurd looked at the lad and smiled.
"I think," he said, "that I would admire you even more if you were a
little cleaner. Here is a stream of water. Get in and wash yourself."
"I cannot take off my clothes without removing the chain," said Olaf,
"and if the chain be removed I shall run away to where even your horse
cannot follow me. But if you will give me one boon I will promise you
that I will wash myself clean and then come back to the chain."
"What is your boon?" asked Sigurd.
"It is," said Olaf, "that since I am now your lawful thrall, and must go
with you wheresoever you wish, you will go to Biorn the merchant and
buy from him my foster brother Thorgils."
Sigurd leapt from his horse and at once unfastened the chain from
Olaf's neck, and even helped him to draw off his kirtle and woollen
sark. And when Olaf stood before him naked, Sigurd drew back
amazed at the pure fairness of his skin, the firmness of his well knitted
muscles, and the perfect beauty of his form.
In the stream near which they had halted there was a deep, clear pool of
water, with a high cascade tumbling into it in creamy foam. Olaf ran
lightly over the mossy boulders and plunged into the pool, as though he
knew it well. Sigurd watched him rolling and splashing there in
childish delight. Sometimes the boy seemed lost in the brown depths of
the water, but soon his white body would be seen gliding smoothly
along under the surface, and then emerging amid the spray of the
waterfall, where the shafts of sunlight made a rainbow arc. And at last
Olaf came out and ran swiftly backward and forward on the grassy
level until he was dry. Then returning to his new master he took up his
woollen sark. But his kirtle was gone.
Sigurd said: "I have thrown it away, for it is not well that a king's son
should wear a garment that is sullied by the marks of slavery."
He took off from his own shoulders a riding cloak of scarlet cloth and
added, "Take this cloak and wear it. And when we reach the town I will
buy you more fitting clothes, with sandals for your feet, and a cap to

shield your head from the sun."
Olaf blushed, and took the cloak and put it over him, saying nothing.
Then he caught up an end of the chain and signed to his master to
fasten it about his neck. Signed fastened it and then remounted his
horse.
They had gone a little distance seaward down the dale when they were
met by three armed horsemen, who seemed to have been waiting for
them. Sigurd gave Olaf into their keeping, bidding them guard him well,
and himself rode on in advance. Soon from the top of a hill they came
in sight of the blue sea, and then the little