Now “Ellida,” show us Whether, as ’tis boasted, Hero-wood thy bosom holds! Listen! Art thou truly Ægir’s God-sprung daughter? Dash with thy strong keel, and Cleave yon spell-charmed whale! With one bound the dragon clove the Troll-whale’s body, and down it sank beneath the waves. Then, at once, the Hero hurleth Two sharp spears; the ice-bear’s hide Pierceth one—the other springeth Through the pitch-black eagle’s side! Instantly the storm subsided. The sun broke through the clouds and the waves no longer swept the deck. Soon the sea was as smooth as glass, and there before them lay the islands ruled by Augantyr. But the weary rowers could no longer move their arms, the warriors were forced to lean for support upon their swords. When the ship touched land, Björn carried four and Frithiof eight of the exhausted men ashore. Food and drink were then brought from the ship, and all refreshed themselves with a hearty meal. Chapter XI Frithiof at the Court of Augantyr In his great hall near the sea sat Augantyr at wassail with his champions, while outside the window Halvar kept watch. A good swordsman and stout drinker was he, and often as his horn was empty he silently thrust it through the lattice to be refilled. Suddenly he flung it far into the hall and shouted: “I see a ship making to land! On it pale warriors totter helplessly about; but so strong and fresh are two of them that they carry the others to the shore.” Augantyr strode to the window and gazed out toward the sea. Then he said: “That, methinks, hath the look of ‘Ellida,’ Thorsten’s dragon ship, and in one of yonder two stout warriors I seem to see old Thorsten’s form and bearing. Hath he not the air of a prince of all the land?” When the black-bearded Atle heard this, the Berserk fury seized him. He sprang from the board with eyes rolling and shouted—“If this be Frithiof, now will I prove the truth of what is said, that he hath power to render harmless every blade, and never is the first to sue for peace.” He rushed from the hall, followed by twelve of the warriors. Hewing and thrusting furiously at the air with their swords, they stormed down to the shore, where Frithiof had built a fire to cheer his men. From afar, Atle shouted: “Easy were it now for me to slay thee; but rather shalt thou have thy choice—to do battle with me here, or fly. But if thou wilt yield and sue for peace, then in friendly guise I’ll lead thee to our lord.”