watched him always, with her mind fixed upon the thought of his
nobility, and the glory that had been promised him. In all that he
did she was well pleased, for already she had found that he excelled
all others of his age, not only in personal beauty but in skilful
handling of all warlike weapons, in the training of dogs and horses,
in wrestling and riding, in racing on snowshoes, and in all other
exercises. Often she would have spoken with him, but, saving at
the time of a great feast, he was never to be seen in the hall.

Throughout the long, cold winter months, Olaf saw nothing of his
foster brother or of Egbert the Briton, for they had both been
taken across the river to labour on one of the king's farmsteads.
There they remained until the early summer, when they brought over
their flocks and herds for the sheep meeting. At that time there
was held a great fair in Holmgard, with sports and games and manly
contests. Many parties of men came into the town from distant parts
of the kingdom.

On the second morning of the fair, Sigurd Erikson entered the
room in which Olaf slept. The boy was dressing himself in his fine
clothes, and girding on his leather belt with its small war axe,
which Sigurd had had made for his young kinsman.

"My boy," said Sigurd, "there is little need for you to dress
yourself in this holiday attire, for it is my will that you do not
attend the games. You must not show yourself amid the crowd."

Now, Olaf had engaged to take part in a great wrestling bout with
three young champions from Livonia. Also, he was to have run in a
footrace, for which the prize was a silver hilted sword, awarded