45-hermod and hadvor-第2章

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When　evening　came　she　heard　the　noise　of　footsteps　outside；　and

became　aware　that　the　lion　had　come　to　the　mouth　of　the　cave；　and

shook　itself　there；　after　which　she　heard　a　man　coming　towards

the　couch。　　She　was　sure　this　was　Hermod；　because　she　heard　him

speaking　to　himself　about　his　own　condition；　and　calling　to　mind

Hadvor　and　other　things　in　the　old　days。　　Hadvor　made　no　sign；

but　waited　till　he　had　fallen　asleep；　and　then　crept　out　and

burned　the　lion's　skin；　which　he　had　left　outside。　　Then　she　went

back　into　the　cave　and　wakened　Hermod；　and　they　had　a　most　joyful

meeting。



In　the　morning　they　talked　over　their　plans；　and　were　most　at　a

loss　to　know　how　to　get　out　of　the　island。　　Hadvor　told　Hermod

her　dream；　and　said　she　suspected　there　was　some　one　in　the

island　who　would　be　able　to　help　them。　　Hermod　said　he　knew　of　a

Witch　there；　who　was　very　ready　to　help　anyone；　and　that　the　only

plan　was　to　go　to　her。　　So　they　went　to　the　Witch's　cave；　and

found　her　there　with　her　fifteen　young　sons；　and　asked　her　to

help　them　to　get　to　the　mainland。



'There　are　other　things　easier　than　that；'　said　she；　'for　the

Giant　that　was　buried　will　be　waiting　for　you；　and　will　attack

you　on　the　way；　as　he　has　turned　himself　into　a　big　whale。　　I

shall　lend　you　a　boat；　however；　and　if　you　meet　the　whale　and

think　your　lives　are　in　danger；　then　you　can　name　me　by　name。'



They　thanked　her　greatly　for　her　help　and　advice；　and　set　out

from　the　island；　but　on　the　way　they　saw　a　huge　fish　coming

towards　them；　with　great　splashing　and　dashing　of　waves。　　They

were　sure　of　what　it　was；　and　thought　they　had　as　good　reason　as

ever　they　would　have　to　call　on　the　Witch；　and　so　they　did。　　The

next　minute　they　saw　coming　after　them　another　huge　whale；

followed　by　fifteen　smaller　ones。　　All　of　these　swam　past　the

boat　and　went　on　to　meet　the　whale。　　There　was　a　fierce　battle

then；　and　the　sea　became　so　stormy　that　it　was　not　very　easy　to

keep　the　boat　from　being　filled　by　the　waves。　　After　this　fight

had　gone　on　for　some　time；　they　saw　that　the　sea　was　dyed　with

blood；　the　big　whale　and　the　fifteen　smaller　ones　disappeared；

and　they　got　to　land　safe　and　sound。



Now　the　story　goes　back　to　the　King's　hall；　where　strange　things

had　happened　in　the　meantime。　　The　Queen　and　her　daughter　had

disappeared；　but　a　rat　and　a　mouse　were　always　fighting　with　each

other　there。　　Ever　so　many　people　had　tried　to　drive　them　away；

but　no　one　could　manage　it。　　Thus　some　time　went　on；　while　the

King　was　almost　beside　himself　with　sorrow　and　care　for　the　loss

of　his　Queen；　and　because　these　monsters　destroyed　all　mirth　in

the　hall。



One　evening；　however；　while　they　all　sat　dull　and　down…hearted；

in　came　Hermod　with　a　sword　by　his　side；　and　saluted　the　King；

who　received　him　with　the　greatest　joy；　as　if　he　had　come　back

from　the　dead。　　Before　Hermod　sat　down；　however；　he　went　to　where

the　rat　and　the　mouse　were　fighting；　and　cut　them　in　two　with　his

sword。　　All　were　astonished　then　by　seeing　two　witches　lying　dead

on　the　floor　of　the　hall。



Hermod　now　told　the　whole　story　to　the　King；　who　was　very　glad　to

be　rid　of　such　vile　creatures。　　Next　he　asked　for　the　hand　of

Hadvor；　which　the　King　readily　gave　him；　and　being　now　an　old

man；　gave　the　kingdom　to　him　as　well；　and　so　Hermod　became　King。



Olof　married　a　good…looking　nobleman；　and　that　is　the　end　of　the

story。