asked Sigurd, if he knew how much wealth his father had owned, and who had the ward thereof; Sigurd answered, and said that the kings kept the ward thereof.
Said Regin, “Dost thou trust them all utterly?”
Sigurd said, “It is seemly that they keep it till I may do somewhat therewith, for better they wot how to guard it than I do.”
Another time came Regin to talk to Sigurd, and said—
“A marvellous thing truly that thou must needs be a horse-boy to the kings, and go about like a running knave.”
“Nay,” said Sigurd, “it is not so, for in all things I have my will, and whatso thing I desire is granted me with good will.”
“Well, then,” said Regin, “ask for a horse of them.”
“Yea,” quoth Sigurd, “and that shall I have, whenso I have need thereof.”
Thereafter Sigurd went to the king, and the king said—
“What wilt thou have of us?”
Then said Sigurd, “I would even a horse of thee for my disport.”
Then said the king, “Choose for thyself a horse, and whatso thing else thou desirest among my matters.”
So the next day went Sigurd to the wood, and met on the way an old man, long-bearded, that he knew not, who asked him whither away.
Sigurd said, “I am minded to choose me a horse; come thou, and counsel me thereon.”
“Well then,” said he, “go we and drive them to the river which is called Busil-tarn.”
They did so, and drave the horses down into the deeps of the river, and all swam back to land but one horse; and that horse Sigurd chose for himself; grey he was of hue,
