Soon after, Prince Alf succeeded to his father's throne and became King of Denmark, and about this time a fair son was given to Hiordis, as had been foretold by Sigmund, his father. His hair was fair as the morning light and his eyes were keen and blue. And when, as happened shortly afterwards, the king married Hiordis, the young Sigurd, as he was named, was brought up at the palace, with all care and love, as the king's foster-son. Tall and straight did he grow, and very comely of countenance; and there was no man but loved him. In due time the young prince was sent to Regin, the wisest man in that realm, to be taught by him. So old was he that none could recall his first coming to the land, and his wisdom embraced all things known to men. He had great skill in all the arts of peace, but chiefly was he famed for the mighty works he had wrought at the forge and upon the anvil. "The Master of the Masters in the smithying craft was he; And he dealt with the wind and the weather and the stilling of the sea." But though he was so wise, he had an evil heart, and he soon determined to use the young Sigurd for his own ends. So one day he began to instil a spirit of discontent within the lad, asking him if he knew how much wealth his father Sigmund had and who now had it in charge. And the boy answered: "The king himself has it in charge." "Dost thou then trust him so utterly?" sneered Regin. "It is but right he should have it so," answered Sigurd, "for he knows better how to guard it than I." So Regin waited awhile, and then tried again, saying: "Surely it is a marvellous thing that thou, a king's son, should run about on thy feet like a horse-boy, and do the bidding of King Alf!" "That is not so," said Sigurd, "for I have my way in all things, and whatever I desire is granted to me." "Well, then," said Regin, "ask for a horse for thyself." "Yes," said the boy; "and that shall I have when I have need of such a thing." After this Sigurd went to the king, who smiled on him and said: "What wilt thou of me?" And Sigurd said: "I would have a horse of my very own." To which the king replied: "Choose for thyself a horse from any part of the kingdom it seems good to thee." So Sigurd went away to the wild woods to consider where he should search for the finest steed in all the world; and as he pondered he met in the way a tall, old man, with a grey hat drawn over his forehead and a grey-blue cloak about his shoulders, who asked him where he was going. "I want to choose a horse," said Sigurd. "Come thou with me, old man, and give me thy counsel." So they went together to a meadow where all the finest horses in the king's dominions were feeding, in charge of the royal grooms. And the stranger said: "See now, let us drive all these horses into the deeps of the river and choose the one that best can cross the foaming tide."