King Ring had set forth a banquet for his queen in a palace far over
the lake. The ice on the lake was glistening in the sun, and the king
ordered his sleigh and his swiftest horse.
"Do not go on the ice," urged the stranger; "it may break, and the
water below is deep and cold." Then the old king laughed. "A king,"
said he, "is not easily drowned. If any one is afraid let him go
round!"
The scornful laugh of the king angered the bold stranger, and he
frowned. Soon, however, he bound his good skates to his feet. The
servants meantime had brought out the sleigh-horse, strong and free,
and his nostrils flamed as he breathed the bright, cold air.
"On," cried the king; "on, my brave steed and show if you are of famed
Sleipner's brood!"
[Illustration: King Ring's Sleigh]
As swift was his speed as a storm at sea. The queen grew fearful as
the mighty steed flew on, but the king had no fear and paid no heed to
the queen's cries.
The stranger skated, now fast, now slow, passing Ingeborg and the king
whenever he wished. He made letters and figures on the sparkling ice,
writing often the name of the queen. Onward swiftly they glided across
the lake, but the treacherous ice-maidens were hiding below. Suddenly
they made a hole in the silvery ice and caught the sleigh of the king
with its precious load. The queen turned pale and called for help.
Like a whirlwind came the skater, strong and brave.
He buried his skate in the ice and clasped the flowing mane of the
steed with a grasp of iron. With one strong swing of his arm he
brought horse and sleigh to the firm ice.
"Well done!" said King Ring; "that was a noble stroke. Not Frithiof,
the strong, could have done better!"
Then they all returned to the palace, rejoicing in the safety of the
good king and queen.