what will give him strength and courage; he props up the dead dragon in
order that, as the sequel shows, Hott may gain the reputation of being
what he now really is, a brave man; and while, of the two achievements
with which Bjarki is credited, the killing of the dragon is passed over
lightly, his having made a brave man of Hott is strongly emphasized. But
there can be no doubt that the saga-man planned that Bjarki should get
credit for killing the dragon; for Bjarki does get such credit, and it
must be presumed that, what the author permits to occur, he planned
should occur. It is also natural that more emphasis is laid on his
having made a hero of Hott than on his having slain the monster. Now
that the beast is dead, the killing of it proved not to be an impossible
feat, and Bjarki has shown before, that he possesses the qualities
necessary for such a deed. But that he possesses the ability to make a
hero out of the miserable, cowardly wretch, Hott, is a revelation of a
new and uncommon power. He has not only dispatched the king's most
dangerous foe, he has added another brave man to the number of the
king's retainers. This naturally attracts the king's particular
attention, and he gives Bjarki special credit for the achievement.

But when Bjarki is known to have killed the beast, what becomes of
Hott's display of bravery, or even the appearance of bravery? His whole
demeanor, from the moment he accedes to Bjarki's request to attack the
beast, reveals the change in his nature. But the proof of this change
consists, not in knocking over the dragon, but in his ability to wield
the sword which the king himself says can "only be borne by a man who is
both brave and daring." This must be conclusive proof to the king and to
all present. It is not accidental that it is the king's sword that Hott
uses and that it is the king himself who makes the remark about it which
he does. The king, above all men, must be convinced of Hott's bravery,
and in view of the manner in which Hott's bravery is displayed, the king