登陆注册
15316000000089

第89章 The Horse Gullfaxi And The Sword Gunnfoder(3)

They played the whole day, and Sigurd taught Helga all sorts of games she had never even heard of.As they walked home in the evening she said: 'We shall be able to play better still to-morrow, for my father will have to go to the town, so we can stay at home.'

When they were near the house Helga again held her glove over Sigurd, and once more he was turned into a bundle of wool, and she carried him in without his being seen.

Very early next morning Helga's father went to the town, and as soon as he was well out of the way the girl held up her glove and Sigurd was himself again.Then she took him all over the house to amuse him, and opened every room, for her father had given her the keys before he left; but when they came to the last room Sigurd noticed one key on the bunch which had not been used and asked which room it belonged to.'

Helga grew red and did not answer.

'I suppose you don't mind my seeing the room which it opens?'

asked Sigurd, and as he spoke he saw a heavy iron door and begged Helga to unlock it for him.But she told him she dared not do so, at least if she did open the door it must only be a very tiny chink; and Sigurd declared that would do quite well.

The door was so heavy, that it took Helga some time to open it, and Sigurd grew so impatient that he pushed it wide open and walked in.There he saw a splendid horse, all ready saddled, and just above it hung a richly ornamented sword on the handle of which was engraved these words: 'He who rides this horse and wears this sword will find happiness.'

At the sight of the horse Sigurd was so filled with wonder that he was not able to speak, but at last he gasped out: 'Oh, do let me mount him and ride him round the house! Just once; I promise not to ask any more.'

'Ride him round the house! ' cried Helga, growing pale at the mere idea.'Ride Gullfaxi! Why father would never, never forgive me, if Ilet you do that.'

'But it can't do him any harm,' argued Sigurd; 'you don't know how careful I will be.I have ridden all sorts of horses at home, and have never fallen off not once.Oh, Helga, do!'

'Well, perhaps, if you come back directly,' replied Helga, doubtfully;'but you must be very quick, or father will find out!'

But, instead of mounting Gullfaxi, as she expected, Sigurd stood still.

'And the sword,' he said, looking fondly up to the place where it hung.'My father is a king, but he has not got any sword so beautiful as that.Why, the jewels in the scabbard are more splendid than the big ruby in his crown! Has it got a name? Some swords have, you know.'

'It is called "Gunnfjoder," the "Battle Plume,"' answered Helga, 'and "Gullfaxi" means "Golden Mane." I don't suppose, if you are to get on the horse at all, it would matter your taking the sword too.And if you take the sword you will have to carry the stick and the stone and the twig as well.'

'They are easily carried,' said Sigurd, gazing at them with scorn;'what wretched dried-up things! Why in the world do you keep them?'

'Bather says that he would rather lose Gullfaxi than lose them,'

replied Helga, 'for if the man who rides the horse is pursued he has only to throw the twig behind him and it will turn into a forest, so thick that even a bird could hardly fly through.But if his enemy happens to know magic, and can throw down the forest, the man has only to strike the stone with the stick, and hailstones as large as pigeons' eggs will rain down from the sky and will kill every one for twenty miles round.'

Having said all this she allowed Sigurd to ride 'just once' round the house, taking the sword and other things with him.But when he had ridden round, instead of dismounting, he suddenly turned the horse's head and galloped away.

Soon after this Helga's father came home and found his daughter in tears.He asked what was the matter, and when he heard all that had happened, he rushed off as fast as he could to pursue Sigurd.

Now, as Sigurd happened to look behind him he saw the giant coming after him with great strides, and in all haste he threw the twig behind him.Immediately such a thick wood sprang up at once between him and his enemy that the giant was obliged to run home for an axe with which to cut his way through.

The next time Sigurd glanced round, the giant was so near that he almost touched Gullfaxi's tail.In an agony of fear Sigurd turned quickly in his saddle and hit the stone with the stick.No sooner had he done this than a terrible hailstorm burst behind, and the giant was killed on the spot.

But had Sigurd struck the stone without turning round, the hail would have driven right into his face and killed him instead.

After the giant was dead Sigurd rode on towards his own home, and on the way he suddenly met his stepmother's little dog, running to meet him, with tears pouring down its face.He galloped on as hard as he could, and on arriving found nine men-servants in the act of tying Queen Ingiborg to a post in the courtyard of the palace, where they intended to burn her.

Wild with anger Prince Sigurd sprang from his horse and, sword in hand, fell on the men and killed them all.Then he released his stepmother, and went in with her to see his father.

The king lay in bed sick with sorrow, and neither eating nor drinking, for he thought that his son had been killed by the queen.

1

After that Prince Sigurd rode back to fetch Helga, and a great feast was made which lasted three days; and every one said no bride was ever seen so beautiful as Helga, and they lived happily for many, many years, and everybody loved them.

[From Islandische Mahrchen.]

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 情错仙魔劫

    情错仙魔劫

    一场有违天道的惊世爱恋,引发的一系列的逆天之举。各路仙魔齐聚魔宫之巅,一场仙魔间的较量拉开了序幕。(本文纯属虚构,请勿模仿。)
  • 聪明人的俱乐部

    聪明人的俱乐部

    本书是各种各样的经典思维游戏的汇总,是形形色色的终极智力挑战的集合。其中有图形、数字、问答、计算、拼图、迷宫等多种类型的智力训练。引导读者打破常规思路,学会变换角度地进行思考,从而全面地提升思维,用特殊的洞察力与创造力解决问题。
  • 剑神叶潇

    剑神叶潇

    “不屈服于鬼神的妨碍,一如既往地修炼自己的宝剑,这不是武道的极限吗?”一代传奇剑神叶潇的成长经历!
  • 梦一回修仙1

    梦一回修仙1

    在异世他以为爱可以永恒但最后带给他的伤痛是永无止境、突遭背叛让他觉悟、他发誓要让自己强大、强大到可以掌控自己的命运、他逆天而修、在他的世界里不允许任何人伤害他的逆鳞、敢问等我足够强大踏六道、寻轮回有何不可!
  • 血色的帝王业

    血色的帝王业

    她是大胤柔弱多病的剩女公主,还是喋血战场,叱咤风云的碧海少将?他是抵抗匈奴的九原铁骑,百姓的守护神,还是颠覆王朝的罪人?他是带领族人奋起的摩拉王子,还是谄媚迎合君王身下的玉流芳?九原大军苦守匈奴数十载,真的可以一朝打败剽悍的匈奴骑兵?江山更迭,谁执牛耳?阴谋中,能否守住初衷,找到真爱?痴心守护,能否换得真相大白?
  • 穿越水浒传

    穿越水浒传

    一个现代青年,出了车祸,谁知,这个车祸竟然把他带到了大宋王朝,意外的是,他居然拥有了召唤各种武器的能力,而且结识了《水浒传》中的好汉,最后改写历史,让108将虽然接受招安,却都安然的活了下来······
  • 落日大陆

    落日大陆

    在他出生的时候,就被赋予了一个使命,保护他所在大陆的人,可伤害他的人就是他拼尽一切要保护的人。他该保护吗?
  • 生存法则

    生存法则

    一把刀,一个人,一个伙伴,孤苦的生世,生死一线间。挣扎求存。张彬如何凭借一把嗜血魔刀一步步成长最终站在巅峰俯瞰着大地,回想曾经……新书需要大家的关注,求点击,求收藏,求关爱,求书评,各种求!
  • 豪门杀手

    豪门杀手

    天生五感超常的杀手——江岚,在一次华夏国的任务中因为偶然发现了和自己身世有关的东西而留在了这里,并用自己的能力闯出了一片天地。任何人的生命,价值都是同等的——江岚
  • 追寻爱的节奏

    追寻爱的节奏

    他和她是在网上认识的,他们有一个承诺,六年之后,他们就做情侣。她为了追寻他,转到了他的学校。他们发生了什么呢?他们是否能在一起呢?请你们自己观看哦!