“Tired indeed are all on board,
    All the crew of Frithiofs men,
    Scarce supported by a sword,
    Can they raise themselves again. 
    Bjoern takes four of them ashore,
    On his mighty shoulders wide,
    Frithiof singly takes twice four,
    Places them the fire beside. 
    ’Blush not, ye pale ones,
    The sea’s a valiant viking;
    ’Tis hard indeed to fight
    Against the rough sea waves. 
    Lo! there comes the mead horn
    On golden feet descending,
    To warm our frozen limbs. 
    Hail to Ingeborg!’”
                 TEGNER, Frithiof Saga (Spalding’s tr.).

The arrival of Frithiof and his men had been seen by the watchman of Angantyr’s castle, who immediately informed his master of all he had seen.  The jarl exclaimed that the ship which had weathered such a gale could be none but Ellida, and that its captain was doubtless Frithiof, Thorsten’s gallant son.  At these words one of his Berserkers, Atle, caught up his weapons and strode out of the hall, vowing that he would challenge Frithiof, and thus satisfy himself concerning the veracity of the tales he had heard of the young hero’s courage.

[Sidenote:  Atle’s challenge.] Although still greatly exhausted, Frithiof immediately accepted Atle’s challenge, and, after a sharp encounter, threw his antagonist, whom he would have slain then and there had his sword been within reach.  Atle saw his intention, and bade him go in search of a weapon, promising to remain motionless during his absence.  Frithiof, knowing that such a warrior’s promise was inviolable, immediately obeyed; but when he returned with his sword, and found his antagonist calmly awaiting death, he relented, and bade Atle rise and live.

“With patience long not gifted,
Frithiof the foe would kill,
And Angurvadel lifted,
But Atle yet lay still. 
This touched the hero’s soul;
He stayed the sweeping brand
Before it reached its goal,
And took the fall’n one’s hand.” 

                                      TEGNER, Frithiof Saga(Spalding’s tr.).

Together these doughty warriors then wended their way to Angantyr’s halls, where they found a festal board awaiting them, and there they ate and drank, sang songs, and recounted stories of thrilling adventure by land and by sea.

At last, however, Frithiof made known his errand.  Angantyr said that he owed no tribute to Helge, and would pay him none; but that he would give the required sum as a free gift to his old friend Thorsten’s son, leaving him at liberty to dispose of it as he pleased.  Then, since the season was unpropitious, and storms continually swept over the sea, the king invited Frithiof to tarry with him; and it was only when the gentle spring breezes were blowing once more that he at last allowed him to depart.