Six Sagas of Adventure Read Online Free PDF Page B

threw it straight at the hawk’s back. The hawk flew up sharply when the whetstone hit it. The king felt that he had done well, and he didn’t want the one who had done him this service to lack what was rightfully his. He passed a gold ring behind his back, without looking at Ref. Ref took the ring and went to meet the jarl. He asked how it had gone. Ref told him and showed him the ring. The jarl said, “This is a fine treasure. Sitting around isn’t more useful than winning such a thing.”
    Ref stayed there over the winter. When spring came, the jarl said, “What will you accomplish now?”
    Ref said, “That’s an easy decision. Now I can sell the ring for cash.”
    The jarl said, “I’ll give you some more help. There is a king named Ælle. He rules over England. You must give the ring to him, and you won’t lose money from it. But come to me in the autumn. I won’t withhold food or advice from you, though it won’t amount to another payment for the ox.”
    Ref said, “I wish you wouldn’t mention that.”
    Then he traveled to England and came before King Ælle and greeted him fittingly. Ref was well fitted out with both weapons and clothing. The king asked who this man was. He answered, “My name is Ref, and I want you to accept this gold ring from me,” and he laid it on the table before the king.
    The king looked at it and said, “This is a great treasure. But who gave it to you?”
    Ref answered, “King Gautrek gave me the ring.”
    The king said, “What did you give him?”
    Ref answered, “A little whetstone.”
    The king said, “Great is King Gautrek’s generosity, since he gives gold for pebbles. I will accept the ring, and I invite you to stay here.”
    Ref said, “Thank you for your invitation, my lord! But I intend to return to Jarl Neri, my foster-father.”
    The king said, “You must stay here for a while.” He had a ship made ready, and one day he asked Ref to go with him. The king said, “Here is a ship which I want to give you, with all the cargo that’s best for you, along with as many men as you need. I don’t want you to be someone else’s passenger in order to go where you like. Yet this is a small thing, compared to how King Gautrek rewarded you for the whetstone.”
    Ref said, “This is a magnificent reward.” Then Ref made ready to board his ship with his lavish cargo, and he thanked the king with many fair words.
    The king said, “Here are two dogs that I will give you.” They were quite small and pretty, and Ref had never seen anything like them. They had on golden harnesses, and a gold ring was clasped around the neck of each one, with seven little rings on the leash between them. No one thought he’d ever seen such treasures of this sort.
    Then Ref departed, and came to Jarl Neri’s realm. The jarl went to meet him and welcomed him—“and come to me with all your men.”
    Ref said, “I have enough goods to pay our way.”
    The jarl said, “That is well, but you mustn’t diminish those goods of yours. You must eat at our table, though it’s not a great reward for the ox.”
    Ref said, “The only thing that bothers me is that you mention that.”
    Now Ref stayed with the jarl for the winter and became popular, and many men chose to follow him. When spring came, the jarl spoke with Ref: “What will you do now?”
    Ref said, “Wouldn’t it be easiest to set out raiding or trading, since there’s no lack of money?”
    The jarl said, “That’s true, but I will meddle in your affairs again. You must now go south to Denmark to meet King Hrolf Kraki, [35] and bring him the dogs, because they aren’t possessions for a commoner. Once again, you won’t lose money from it, if he will accept them.”
    Ref said, “It’s up to you, but I’m not short of money now.”

    CHAPTER X

    Now Ref made ready and sailed to Denmark. He met King Hrolf and came before him and greeted him. The king asked him who he might be. He said that he was named Ref.
    The king asked,