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THE ^SIE A9 OBJECTS OF WOESHIP. 169
Vikarr, Kingof HorSaland, it seems, was consecrated
or given to Odin from his birtli.* He became a
mighty and Tictorious king, but was slain at last by
bis foster-brother StarkaS, at the instigation of Odin.
It happened that V|karr and StarkaS, on one of
their Sea-roving expeditions, were delayed by a
head-wind, and when the cause came to be inquired
into, they learned that- Odin required a man from
among their hosts. Lots were therefore drawn, and
the lot fell upon Vikarr. All were struck with
terror, and it was resolved to reconsider the matter
on the following day. But in the night Odin ap-
peared to StarkaS in the guise of his foster-brother
Hrosshars-Grani, bade him send Vikarr to him, and
gave him a spear which seemed to be the stalk of a
reed. On the next day they held a consultation on
the sacrifice of Vikarr, and - at the suggestion of
StarkaS it was- concluded to undertake it for the
sake of appearances; The king mounted the stump
of a tree, and StarkaS laid about his neck a piece of
calf-gut, the other end of which was fastened to a
tender fir-twig. Then StarkaS touched him with
the reed, and said, " Now do t give thee unto Odin !"
But in the same instant' ihe- stump tumbled away
from under Vikarr's feet, the intestine around his
neck became a withe, the twig, which sprang upward
with force,, swung him up into the tree, and
the reed in StarkaS's hand was transformed into a
spear, which pierced through the body of the king.f
According to the Sagas, when Odin revealed
* Hdlfs s. 1.
GautrekB •f S. 1,