escapes, is told of Eormenric, the mighty Gothic King of Kings, who,
like Walter of Aquitaine, Theodoric of Varona, Ecgherht, and Arminius,
was an exile in his youth. This traditional escape of the two lads from
the Scyths should be compared with the true story in Paul the Deacon
of his little ancestor's captivity and bold and successful stroke for
freedom.

"Disguise" plays a great part in the folk-tales used by Saxo. Woden
disguises himself in a cowl on his earthly travels, and heroes do the
same; a king disguises himself as a slave at his rival's court, to try
and find occasion of slaying him; a hero wraps himself up in skins, like
Alleleirah.

"Escaped recognition" is accordingly a feature in many of these simple
but artistic plots. A son is not known by his mother in the story of
Hrolf.

Other "Devices" are exemplified, such as the "booby-trap" loaded with
a millstone, which slays a hateful and despised tyrant, imposed by
a foreign conqueror; evasion by secret passages, and concealment in
underground vaults or earth-houses. The feigning of madness to escape
death occurs, as well as in the better-known Hamlet story. These
stratagems are universal in folk-history.

To Eric, the clever and quick of speech, is ascribed an excellent
sailor's smuggling trick to hide slaughtered cattle, by sinking them
till the search is over.

The "Hero's Mighty Childhood" (like David's) of course occurs when
he binds a bear with his girdle. Sciold is full grown at fifteen, and