So they went on their ways, and had to cross a certain frozen water. Then said Thief: “I deem this ice untrustworthy; meseemeth ye fare unwarily.”
Quoth the king: “It is often shown how heedful in thine heart thou wilt be to us.”
So a little after the ice broke in beneath them, and Thief ran thereto, and dragged the wain to him, with all that was therein; and the king and the queen both sat in the same: so Thief drew it all up on to the ice, with the horses that were yoked to the wain.
Then spake King Ring: “Right well drawn, Thief! Frithiof the Bold himself would have drawn no stronger had he been here; doughty followers are such as thou!”
So they came to the feast, and there is nought to tell thereof, and the king went back again with seemly gifts.
CHAPTER XIII. The King sleeps before Frithiof.
Now weareth away the mid-winter, and when spring cometh, the weather groweth fair, the wood bloometh, the grass groweth, and ships may glide betwixt land and land. So on a day the king says to his folk: “I will that ye come with us for our disport out into the woods, that we may look upon the fairness of the earth.”
So did they, and went flock-meal with the king into the woods; but so it befell, that the king and Frithiof were gotten alone together afar from other men, and the king said he was heavy, and would fain sleep. Then said Thief: “Get thee home, then, lord, for it better beseemeth men of high estate to lie at home than abroad.”
“Nay,” said the king, “so will I not do.” And he laid him down therewith, and slept fast, snoring loud.