A very little while afterwards Odin routed the enemy single-handed, and returned, at once the messenger and the doer of the deed.

All marvelled that the strength of one man could deal such slaughter upon a countless host.

Trusting in these services, he privily let the king into the secret of his love, and was refreshed by his most gracious favour; but when he sought a kiss from the maiden, he received a cuff.

But he was not driven from his purpose either by anger at the slight or by the odiousness of the insult.
Next year, loth to quit ignobly the quest he had taken up so eagerly, he put on the dress of a foreigner and went back to dwell with the king.

It was hard for those who met him to recognise him; for his assumed filth obliterated his true features, and new grime hid his ancient aspect.