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Her prow was a dragon's head, a dragon's tail formed her stern, and dragon's wings bore her along swifter than an eagle before the storm. The green-haired stranger was a sea-god, and the dragon-ship "Ellide" was his thank-gift. Thus Frithiof, though only the son of a thane, had treasures that might have been coveted by kings and princes.
And when he looked out, he saw the storm-fiends riding on a whale. One was in form like to a great white bear, the other like unto a terrible eagle. "Now help me, O gift of the sea-god! Help me, my gallant 'Ellide'!" cried Frithiof.
"Take also this purse of gold in token of friendship," continued the jarl, "and remain with us, for I knew thy father." Thus Frithiof and the jarl became good friends, and Frithiof consented to stay for a while in the Orkney Islands; but after a time he ordered out his good ship "Ellide," and set sail for his native land. But fearful things had come to pass since he had left his home!
But King Helgi standing on a rock repented that he had suffered the noble Frithiof to escape his malice; and as he watched the good ship "Ellide" riding over the sea, he prayed loudly to the ocean-fiends that they would trouble the waters and raise a fierce tempest to swallow up Frithiof and the dragon-ship.
The third great thing that Frithiof inherited was the dragon-ship "Ellide," which his forefathers had won in the following manner: One of them, a rough, rude viking, with a tender heart, was out at sea, and on a wreck that was fast sinking saw an old man with green locks sitting disconsolately.
"And now," said Frithiof, "I will forever lead a viking's life. I care not for aught upon the land. The sea shall be my home. And I will seek climes far away from here." So he steered the good ship "Ellide" southward, and among the isles of Greece strove to forget the memories of bygone days.
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