my mother took me on board a trading ship that was eastward bound
for Gardarike; for in that land her brother was a great man, and
she knew that he would gladly succour us until I should be of an
age to avenge my father's death and claim my rightful heritage."

At these words Sigurd grew very grave, and he put his hand gently
on Olaf's arm, and asked to know what ill had befallen Queen Astrid,
and whether she had reached her journey's end.

"Alas!" answered Olaf. "You ask me what I cannot tell. Would that
I knew her to be still living! But never once have I seen her or
heard tidings of her since the dread day when we were brought into
this land and sold into bondage."

As he spoke the lad looked sadly over the sea to where the viking
ship was slowly drifting into the shadow of the holms. Sigurd's
eyes dwelt upon him with curious intentness.

"We set sail across the Eastern Sea," Olaf went on "and there
were many merchants on our ship with great store of money and rich
merchandise. And, as always, Thoralf and his son Thorgils were with
us. Now, scarcely was our vessel beyond the sight of land when we
were met by a great viking ship, that bore down quickly upon us,
and attacked our seamen, first with arrows and stones, and then
with spear and sword, and there was great fighting. So the vikings
killed many of our people, and took our ship and all that was in it.
When we had been made captives the rovers took and shared us among
themselves as their bond slaves, and it befell that my mother and
I were parted. An Esthonian named Klerkon Flatface got me as his
portion, along with Thoralf and Thorgils. Klerkon deemed Thoralf