"This is the last of your miracles, brother," he said, "or the last but one. You had no need of us."
Gunnar turned upon him in wonderment. "Ah, it is you, Sigurd! I cry you hail!" Then they shook hands and embraced each other with great joy.
Gunnar told Sigurd that he had had suspicions of some such thing, "since the people on this side of the river have no love for Frey," and knew what a treasure he had in his wagon. He had prepared himself beforehand with a tolerable company; but the marauders were in greater force than he had thought for. "So it was needful for Frey himself to make an example of them."
Then Sigurd asked to be shown the treasure; "And they tell me, Gunnar, that you have more than gold and silver with you."
"So I have," said Gunnar, "as you shall see." He called Sigrid, who then came down from the cart and greeted Sigurd with gravity and timidity mingled. She stood very close to Gunnar all the time. Sigurd approved highly of her, and "I see that the crowning wonder of Frey's life on earth is to be accomplished in her." This he said to Gunnar when they were alone, and Gunnar did not deny it.
When they had eaten, drunken and rested themselves, Gunnar desired to know what had brought his brother adventuring into these wilds. Sigurd said, Well! he had heard rumours of Frey's doings which put him in mind of Gunnar. These had been spoken of in the king's council, and authority given to him to go out and satisfy himself. "And I may tell you," he continued, "that King Olaf's anger with you is over, and that you need not fear the sight of a tree any more. But we will talk about that another time. Let me see this fine treasure of yours which your magic has drawn from the Swedes."
Gunnar said, "I don't know that there was much magic about it. I gave them what they wanted, they gave me what I wanted. It seems a fair barter. And let me tell you, it is no light matter for me to be silent when men are feasting; and to fill up your nostrils with red paint every morning—that is worth its price also."
"But you had a pretty wife to talk with," said Sigurd.
"To be sure I had," Gunnar replied, "and a great to-do before I had her."