The tale tells that on a time King Ring and the queen, and a great
company, would go to a feast. So the king spake to Thief: “Wilt thou
fare with us, or abide at home?”
He said he had liefer go; and the king said: “Then am I the more
content.”
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.