CHAPTER XVII.
Of Sigurd's Avenging of Sigmund his Father.

Now Sigurd went to the kings, and spake thus --

"Here have I abode a space with you, and I owe you thanks and
reward, for great love and many gifts and all due honour; but now
will I away from the land and go meet the sons of Hunding, and do
them to wit that the Volsungs are not all dead; and your might
would I have to strengthen me therein."

So the kings said that they would give him all things soever that
he desired, and therewith was a great army got ready, and all
things wrought in the most heedful wise, ships and all war-gear,
so that his journey might be of the stateliest: but Sigurd
himself steered the dragon-keel which was the greatest and
noblest; richly wrought were their sails, and glorious to look
on.

So they sail and have wind at will; but when a few days were
overpast, there arose a great storm on the sea, and the waves
were to behold even as the foam of men's blood; but Sigurd bade
take in no sail, howsoever they might be riven, but rather to lay
on higher than heretofore. But as they sailed past the rocks of
a ness, a certain man hailed the ships, and asked who was captain
over that navy; then was it told him that the chief and lord was
Sigurd, the son of Sigmund, the most famed of all the young men
who now are.