Story Hour Readings: Seventh Year | Page 9

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"There speaks a good man and true," cried the king. "You shall do as
you most desire; but wait a little while till a ship is ready."
So Audun waited. And one day when spring was at its best, King
Sweyn went with him down to the waterside, 15 where many men were
busy freighting ships for foreign lands. They walked till they came to a
merchant vessel of fine size.
"What do you think of this ship, Audun?" asked the king. 20
"She is fine enough, surely," answered the Icelander.
"Well," said the king, "I will now repay you for the bear. This ship and
all the goods on board of it are yours."
Audun thanked the king as well as he could. And when 25 the day
came for the ship to sail, the two walked down to the waterside again.
"I have heard much of the perils of the sea," said King Sweyn, "and if
this fair ship should be wrecked, all your goods will doubtless be lost
and little will be left to show 30 that you have met the king of
Denmark."
As he said this, the king put into Audun's hand a leather bag, full of
silver, saying, "Take this, and even if your ship goes down, you will not
be entirely penniless."

Audun was so filled with gratitude that he could not speak. But the king
had still another surprise for him. He drew a ring of gold, very costly,
from his arm and put 5 it upon the arm of the Icelander.
"Take this," he said. "Even though you should lose ship and goods and
money, you will still not be penniless, for the gold will be around your
arm."
What could Audun do? What could he say? 10
The king shook his hand at parting, and said: "I have this to ask of you:
Keep the gold ring on your arm and do not part with it on any account,
unless it be to some great man to whom you feel yourself bound to give
your best treasure in return for a great favor and much goodness. 15
And now, farewell, and may good luck follow your voyage."
Then Audun, in his fair, rich ship, put to sea.
On his way to Iceland he stopped for a time in a haven of Norway,
where he heard that King Harold was holding his court. He was
desirous of seeing the king, as he had 20 given his word.
King Harold remembered him well and received him kindly.
"Sit here and tell me how it fared with you in Denmark," he said. 25
Audun told him a part of his story.
"But how did King Sweyn repay you for the white bear?" asked Harold.
"In this wise, my lord," answered Audun: "He took it and thanked me
when I offered it." 30
"I would have repaid you as well myself," said Harold, "What more did
he give you?"
"He asked me to abide in his house, and he gave me his friendship. He
offered me still greater honor if I would stay longer with him."

"That was good; but I would have done as much. He must have given
you something more." 5
"Yes. He gave me a merchant ship filled with rich goods for trade in
northern ports."
"That was a noble gift," said the king; "but I would have equaled it. Did
he give you anything more?"
Audun answered, "Yes, he gave me a leather bag full of 10 silver; for
he said that if the ship and her cargo should be lost in the sea, yet
would I not go penniless."
"That was nobly thought of," said Harold; "and it is more than I would
have done. But what else did he give?"
Then Audun took the gold ring from his arm and put 15 it upon King
Harold's arm, saying, "He gave me as a farewell gift this priceless ring;
and he bade me never to part with it save to some great man to whom I
felt myself indebted for his goodness. And now I have found that man.
For it was in your power to take away not only the bear 20 but my life
also, and yet you allowed me to go in peace to Denmark."
The king looked at the ring and then at the man; for both were of very
great worth. "I thank you, Audun," he said; and they had much pleasant
talk before they parted. 25
And when Audun at length came with his ship to Iceland, everybody
welcomed him as the luckiest man in the world; and he made his poor
mother comfortable for the rest of her life.
1. What was the noblest thing Audun did? Why do you admire the