by the queen. So at hearing his uncle thus forbid him to appear,
he became very indignant.

"It is too late for you to try to keep me within doors," he protested.
"I have given my word to the wrestlers, and I cannot now withdraw.
Do you wish me to be jeered at as a coward? Why do you deny me the
honour of taking all the prizes that I may so easily win?"

"It is for your own happiness that I forbid you to show yourself
before strangers," returned Sigurd. "But, more than all, I wish
you to keep in hiding for this great reason. There has come into
Holmgard a man whom I met many months ago. I engaged with him to
pit my best horse against his in the horse ring, and the prize was
to be --"

"What was the prize?" asked Olaf, seeing that his uncle had paused.

"The prize was to be yourself, my son," said Sigurd gravely. "The
man coveted you, and would have bought you from your old master
Reas."

"And why did you agree to this, knowing that I am your own kinsman
and your sister's son?" asked Olaf.

"I did not then know that you were of my kin," answered Sigurd.
"But having given my word, I cannot go back from it. I have seen
this man's horse, and I judge it to be a finer animal than mine.
Therefore do I fear that I must lose you. But if you will keep
within the house, I will tell the man that you are dead, and will
offer him the young Englander Egbert in your stead."