up, while he goes to fetch firing; so he gave him the meal-sack,
and then went after the wood, and by then he came back had
Sinfjotli made an end of his baking. Then asked Sigmund if he
had found nothing in the meal.

"I misdoubted me that there was something quick in the meal when
I first fell to kneading of it, but I have kneaded it all up
together, both the meal and that which was therein, whatsoever it
was."

Then Sigmund laughed out, he said --

"Naught wilt thou eat of this bread to-night, for the most deadly
of worms (1) hast thou kneaded up therewith."

Now Sigmund was so mighty a man that he might eat venom and have
no hurt therefrom; but Sinfjotli might abide whatso venom came on
the outside of him, but might neither eat nor drink thereof.


ENDNOTES:
(1) Serpents.



CHAPTER VIII.
The Death of King Siggeir and of Stigny.

The tale tells that Sigmund thought Sinfjotli over young to help
him to his revenge, and will first of all harden him with manly