How Steingerd Was Married Again.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.   Cormac's Voyage To Norway.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.   How Cormac Fought In Ireland, And Went Home

CHAPTER TWENTY.   Of A Spiteful Song That Cormac Never Made

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE.   How Thorvard Would Not Fight

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO.   What The Witch Did For Them In Their Fights.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE.   How Cormac Beat Thorvard Again.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR.   How They All Went Out To Norway.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE.   How They Cruised With The King's Fleet

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX.   How Cormac Saved Steingerd Once More From Pirates

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN.     The Swan-Songs of Cormac.

CHAPTER ONE. Cormac's Fore-Elders.

Harald Fairhair was king of Norway when this tale begins. There was a chief in the kingdom in those days and his name was Cormac; one of the Vik-folk by kindred, a great man of high birth. He was the mightiest of champions, and had been with King Harald in many battles.

He had a son called Ogmund, a very hopeful lad; big and sturdy even as a child; who when he was grown of age and come to his full strength, took to sea-roving in summer and served in the king's household in winter. So he earned for himself a good name and great riches.

One summer he went roving about the British Isles and there he fell in with a man named Asmund Ashenside, who also was a great champion and had worsted many vikings and men of war. These two heard tell of one another and challenges passed between them. They came together and fought. Asmund had the greater following, but he withheld some of his men from the battle: and so for the length of four days they fought, until many of Asmund's people were fallen, and at last he himself fled. Ogmund won the victory and came home again with wealth and worship.

His father said that he could get no greater glory in war,—"And now," said he, "I will find thee a wife. What sayest thou to Helga, daughter of Earl Frodi?"

"So be it," said Ogmund.

Upon this they set off to Earl Frodi's house, and were welcomed with all honour. They made known their errand, and he took it kindly, although he feared that the fight with Asmund was likely to bring trouble. Nevertheless this match was made, and then they went their ways home. A feast was got ready for the wedding and to that feast a very great company