“I am he,” said the lad.
“Then I am your brother,” said the river-drinker, and followed the lad.
They soon met a shepherd who was blowing his horn, and lo! hills and valleys, plains and forests, men and beasts were dancing.
“Aha! what a man!” exclaimed the lad, “all the world is dancing to his music.”
“Man!” returned the shepherd, “a man is he who pierced the steel shield.”
“I am he,” said the lad.
“Then I am your brother,” said the shepherd, and he followed the lad. Now they were seven.
“Brother Steel-shield-steel-spear,” said the six adopted brothers to the lad, “where shall we go now?”
“We shall go and bring the daughter of the King of the East,” answered the lad.
“You are worthy of her,” said his six companions.