So wrought is the will of King Siggeir, and he weareth Odin’s sword
  And it lies on his knees in the council and hath no other lord: 
  And he sendeth earls o’er the sea-flood to take King Volsung’s land,
  And those scattered and shepherdless sheep must come beneath his hand. 
  And he holdeth the milk-white Signy as his handmaid and his wife,
  And nought but his will she doeth, nor raiseth a word of strife;
  So his heart is praising his wisdom, and he deems him of most avail
  Of all the lords of the cunning that teacheth how to prevail.

Now Sigmund dwelt long in the wild-wood, abiding in a strong cave deep hidden in a thicket by the river-side.

And now and again he fell upon the folk of Siggeir as they journeyed, and slew them, and thus he had war-gear and gold as much as he would.  Also he became a master of masters in the smithying craft, and the folk who beheld the gleam of his forge by night, deemed that a king of the Giants was awakened from death to dwell there, and they durst not wander near the cavern.

So passed the years till on a springtide morning Signy sent forth to Sigmund a damsel leading her eldest son, a child of ten summers, and bearing a word of her mouth to bid him foster the child for his helper, if he should prove worthy and bold-hearted.  And Sigmund heeded her words and fostered the child for the space of three months even though he could give no love to a son of Siggeir.

At last he was minded to try the boy’s courage, to which end he set a deadly ash-grey adder in the meal-sack, and bade the child bake bread.  But he feared when he found something that moved in the meal and had not courage to do the task.  Then would Sigmund foster him no longer, but thrust him out from the woods to return to his father’s hall.

So ten years won over again, and Signy sent another son to the wild-wood, and the lad was called Sinfiotli.  Sigmund thrust him into many dangers, and burdened him with heavy loads, and he bore all passing well.

Now after a year Sigmund deemed that the time for his testing was come, and once again he set an adder in the meal-sack and bade the lad bake bread.  And the boy feared not the worm, but kneaded it with the dough and baked all together.  So Sigmund cherished him as his own son, and he grew strong and valiant and loved Sigmund as his father.

Now Sigmund began to ponder how he might at last take vengeance on Siggeir, and gladly did Sinfiotli hear him, for all his love was given to Sigmund, so that he no longer deemed himself the Goth-king’s son.

At last when the long mirk nights of winter were come, Sigmund and his foster-son went their way to the home of Siggeir and sought to lurk therein.  Then Sinfiotli led the way to a storehouse where lay great wine-casks, and whence they could see the lighted feast-hall, and hear the clamour of Siggeir’s folk.  There they had to abide the time when the feasters should be hushed in sleep.  Long seemed the hours to Sinfiotli, but Sigmund was calm and clear-eyed.