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243。　OF　KALF　ARNASON'S　BROTHERS。

Kalf　Arnason　searched　for　his　brothers　who　had　fallen；　and　found　Thorberg　and　Fin。　　It　is　related　that　Fin　threw　his　dagger　at　him；　and　wanted　to　kill　him；　giving　him　hard　words；　and　calling　him　a　faithless　villain；　and　a　traitor　to　his　king。　　Kalf　did　not　regard　it；　but　ordered　Fin　and　Thorberg　to　be　carried　away　from　the　field。　　When　their　wounds　were　examined　they　were　found　not　to　be　deadly；　and　they　had　fallen　from　fatigue；　and　under　the　weight　of　their　weapons。　　Thereafter　Kalf　tried　to　bring　his　brothers　down　to　a　ship；　and　went　himself　with　them。　　As　soon　as　he　was　gone　the　whole　bonde…army；　having　their　homes　in　the　neighbourhood；　went　off　also；　excepting　those　who　had　friends　or　relations　to　look　after；　or　the　bodies　of　the　slain　to　take　care　of。　　The　wounded　were　taken　home　to　the　farms；　so　that　every　house　was　full　of　them；　and　tents　were　erected　over　some。　　But　wonderful　as　was　the　number　collected　in　the　bonde…army；　no　less　wonderful　was　the　haste　with　which　this　vast　body　was　dispersed　when　it　was　once　free；　and　the　cause　of　this　was；　that　the　most　of　the　people　gathered　together　from　the　country　places　were　longing　for　their　homes。



244。　OF　THE　BONDES　OF　VERADAL。

The　bondes　who　had　their　homes　in　Veradal　went　to　the　chiefs　Harek　and　Thorer；　and　complained　of　their　distress；　saying；　〃The　fugitives　who　have　escaped　from　the　battle　have　proceeded　up　over　the　valley　of　Veradal；　and　are　destroying　our　habitations；　and　there　is　no　safety　for　us　to　travel　home　so　long　as　they　are　in　the　valley。　　Go　after　them　with　war…force；　and　let　no　mother's　son　of　them　escape　with　life；　for　that　is　what　they　intended　for　us　if　they　had　got　the　upper　hand　in　the　battle；　and　the　same　they　would　do　now　if　they　met　us　hereafter；　and　had　better　luck　than　we。　　It　may　also　be　that　they　will　linger　in　the　valley　if　they　have　nothing　to　be　frightened　for；　and　then　they　would　not　proceed　very　gently　in　the　inhabited　country。〃　　The　bondes　made　many　words　about　this；　urging　the　chiefs　to　advance　directly；　and　kill　those　who　had　escaped。　　Now　when　the　chiefs　talked　over　this　matter　among　themselves；　they　thought　there　was　much　truth　in　what　the　bondes　said。　　They　resolved；　therefore；　that　Thorer　Hund　should　undertake　this　expedition　through　Veradal；　with　600　men　of　his　own　troops。　　Then；　towards　evening；　he　set　out　with　his　men；　and　Thorer　continued　his　march　without　halt　until　he　came　in　the　night　to　Sula；　where　he　heard　the　news　that　Dag　Hringson　had　come　there　in　the　evening；　with　many　other　flocks　of　the　king's　men；　and　had　halted　there　until　they　took　supper；　but　were　afterwards　gone　up　to　the　mountains。　　Then　Thorer　said　he　did　not　care　to　pursue　them　up　through　the　mountains；　and　he　returned　down　the　valley　again；　and　they　did　not　kill　many　of　them　this　time。　　The　bondes　then　returned　to　their　homes；　and　the　following　day　Thorer；　with　his　people；　went　to　their　ships。　　The　part　of　the　king's　men　who　were　still　on　their　legs　concealed　themselves　in　the　forests；　and　some　got　help　from　the　people。



245。　OF　THE　KING'S　BROTHER；　HARALD　SIGURDSON。

Harald　Sigurdson　was　severely　wounded；　but　Ragnvald　Brusason　brought　him　to　a　bonde's　the　night　after　the　battle；　and　the　bonde　took　in　Harald；　and　healed　his　wound　in　secret；　and　afterwards　gave　him　his　son　to　attend　him。　　They　went　secretly　over　the　mountains；　and　through　the　waste　forests；　and　came　out　in　Jamtaland。　　Harald　Sigurdson　was　fifteen　years　old　when　King　Olaf　fell。　　In　Jamtaland　Harald　found　Ragnvald　Brusason；　and　they　went　both　east　to　King　Jarisleif　in　Russia；　as　is　related　in　the　Saga　of　Harald　Sigurdson。



246。　OF　THORMOD　KOLBRUNARSKALD。

Thormod　Kolbrunarskald　was　under　King　Olaf's　banner　in　the　battle；　but　when　the　king　had　fallen；　the　battle　was　raging　so　that　of　the　king's　men　the　one　fell　by　the　side　of　the　other；　and　the　most　of　those　who　stood　on　their　legs　were　wounded。　　Thormod　was　also　severely　wounded；　and　retired；　as　all　the　others　did；　back　from　where　there　was　most　danger　of　life；　and　some　even　fled。　　Now　when　the　onset　began　which　is　called　Dag's　storm；　all　of　the　king's　men　who　were　able　to　combat　went　there；　but　Thormod　did　not　come　into　that　combat；　being　unable　to　fight；　both　from　his　wound　and　from　weariness；　but　he　stood　by　the　side　of　his　comrade　in　the　ranks；　although　he　could　do　nothing。　　There　he　was　struck　by　an　arrow　in　the　left　side；　but　he　broke　off　the　shaft　of　the　arrow；　went　out　of　the　battle；　and　up　towards　the　houses；　where　he　came　to　a　barn　which　was　a　large　building。　　Thormod　had　his　drawn　sword　in　his　hand；　and　as　he　went　in　a　man　met　him；　coming　out；　and　said；　〃It　is　very　bad　there　with　howling　and　screaming；　and　a　great　shame　it　is　that　brisk　young　fellows　cannot　bear　their　wounds：　it　may　be　that　the　king's　men　have　done　bravely　to…day；　but　they　certainly　bear　their　wounds　very　ill。〃　

Thormod　asks。　〃What　is　thy　name？〃

He　called　himself　Kimbe。

Thormod：　〃Wast　thou　in　the　battle；　too？〃

〃I　was　with　the　bondes；　which　was　the　best　side；〃　says　he。

〃And　art　thou　wounded　any　way？〃　says　Thormod。

〃A　little；〃　said　Kimbe。　　〃And　hast　thou　been　in　the　battle　too？〃

Thormod　replied；　〃I　was　with　them　who　had　the　best。〃

〃Art　thou　wounded？〃　says　Kimbe。

〃Not　much　to　signify；〃　replies　Thormod。

As　Kimbe　saw　that　Thormod　had　a　gold　ring　on　his　arm；　he　said；　〃Thou　art　certainly　a　king's　man。　　Give　me　thy　gold　ring；　and　I　will　hide　thee。　　The　bondes　will　kill　thee　if　thou　fallest　in　their　way。〃

Thormod　says；　〃Take　the　ring　if　thou　canst　get　it：　I　have　lost　that　which　is　more　worth。〃

Kimbe　stretched　out　his　hand；　and　wanted　to　take　the　ring；　but　Thormod；　swinging　his　sword；　cut　off　his　hand；　and　it　is　related　that　Kimbe　behaved　himself　no　better　under　his　wound　than　those　he　had　been　blaming　just　before。　　Kimbe　went　off；　and　Thormod　sat　down　in　the　barn；　and　listened　to　what　people　were　saying。　　The　conversation　was　mostly　about　what　each　had　seen　in　the　battle；　and　about　the　valour　of　the　combatants。　　Some　praised　most　King　Olaf's　courage；　and　some　named　others　who　stood　nowise　behind　him　in　bravery。　　Then　Thormod　sang　these　verses：　

　　　　　〃Olaf　was　brave　beyond　all　doubt；　　　　　　　At　Stiklestad　was　none　so　stout；　　　　　　Spattered　with　blood；　the　king；　unsparing；　　　　　　Cheered　on　his　men　with　deed　and　daring。　　　　　　But　I　have　heard　that　some　were　there　　　　　　Who　in　the　fight　themselves　would　spare；　　　　　　Though；　in　the　arrow…storm；　the　most　　　　　　Had　perils　quite　enough　to　boast。〃



247。　THORMOD'S　DEATH。

Thormod　went　out；　and　entered　into　a　chamber　apart；　in　which　there　were　many　wounded　men；　and　with　them　a　woman　binding　their　wounds。　　There　was　fire　upon　the　floor；　at　which　she　warmed　water　to　wash　and　clean　their　wounds。　　Thormod　sat　himself　down　beside　the　door；　and　one　came　in；　and　another　went　out；　of　those　who　were　busy　about　the　wounded　men。　　One　of　them　turned　to　Thormod；　looked　at　him；　and　said；　〃Why　art　thou　so　dead…pale？　　Art　thou　wounded？　　Why　dost　thou　not　call　for　the　help　of　the　wound…　healers？〃　　Thormod　then　sang　these　verses：　

　　　　　〃I　am　not　blooming；　and　the　fair　　　　　　And　slender　girl　loves　to　care　　　　　　For　blooming　youths　　few　care　for　me；　　　　　　With　Fenja's　meal　I　cannot　fee。　　　　　　This　is　the　reason　why　I　feel　　　　　　The　slash　and　thrust　of　Danish　steel；　　　　　　And　pale　and　faint；　and　bent　with　pain；　　　　　　Return　from　yonder　battle…plain。〃

Then　Thormod　stood　up　and　went　in　towards　the　fire；　and　stood　there　awhile。　　The　young　woman　said　to　him；　〃Go　out；　man；　and　bring　in　some　of　the　split　firewood　which　lies　close　beside　the　door。〃　　He　went　out　and　brought　in　an　armful　of　wood；　which　he　threw　down　upon　the　floor。　　Then　the　nurse…girl　looked　him　in　the　face；　and　said；　〃Dreadfully　pale　is　this　man　　why　art　thou　so？〃　Then　Thormod　sang：　

　　　　　〃Thou　wonderest；　sweet　sprig；　at　me；　　　　　　A　man　so　hideous　to　see：　　　　　　Deep　wounds　but　rarely　mend　the　face；　　　　　　The　crippling　blow　gives　little　grace。　　　　　　The　arrow…drift　o'ertook　me；　girl；　　　　　　　A　fine…ground　arrow　in　the　whirl　　　　　　Went　through　me；　and　I　feel　the　dart　　　　　　Sits；　lovely　girl；　too　near　my　heart。〃

The　girl　said；　〃Let　me　see　thy　wound；　and　I　will　bind　it。〃　　Thereupon　Thormod　sat　down；　cast　off　his　clothes；　and　the　girl　saw　his　wounds；　and　examined　that　which　was　in　his　side；　and　felt　that　a　piece　of　iron　was　in　it；　but　could　not　find　where　the　iron　had　gone　in。　　In　a　stone　pot　she　had　stirred　together　leeks　and　other　herbs；　and　boiled　them；　and　gave　the　wounded　men　of　it　to　eat；　by　which　she　discovered　if　the　wounds　had　penetrated　into　the　belly；　for　if　the　wound　had　gone　so　deep；　it　would　smell　of　leek。　　She　brought　some　of　this　now　to　Thormod；　and　told　him　to　eat　of　it。　　He　replied；　〃Take　it　away；　I　have　no　appetite　for　my　broth。〃　　Then　she　took　a　large　pair　of　tongs；　and　tried　to　pull　out　the　iron；　but　it　sat　too　fast；　and　would　in　no　way　come；　and　as　the　wound　was　swelled；　little　of　it　stood　out　to　lay　hold　of。　Now　said　Thormod；　〃Cut　so　deep　in　that　thou　canst　get　at　the　iron　with　the　tongs；　and　give　me　the　tongs　and　let　me　pull。〃　　She　did　as　he　said。　　Then　Thormod　took　a　gold　ring　from　his　hand；　gave　it　to　the　nurse…woman；　and　told　her　to　do　with　it　what　she　liked。　　〃It　is　a　good　man's　gift；〃　said　he：　〃King　Olaf　gave　me　the　ring　this　morning。〃　　Then　Thormod　took　the　tongs；　and　pulled　the　iron　out；　but　on　the　iron　there　was　a　hook；　at　which　there　hung　some　morsels　of　flesh　from　the　heart；　　some　white；　some　red。　　When　he　saw　that；　he　said；　〃The　king　has　fed　us　well。　　I　am　fat；　even　at　the　heart…roots；〃　and　so　saying　he　leant　back；　and　was　dead。　And　with　this　ends　what　we　have　to　say　about　Thormod。



248。　OF　SOME　CIRCUMSTANCES　OF　THE　BATTLE。

King　Olaf　fell　on　Wednesday；　the　29th　of　July　（A。D。　1030）。　　It　was　near　mid…day　when　the　two　armies　met；　and　the　battle　began　before　half…past　one；　and　before　three　the　king　fell。　　The　darkness　continued　from　about　half…past　one　to　three　also。　　Sigvat　the　skald　speaks　thus　of　the　result　of　the　battle：　

　　　　　〃The　loss　was　great　to　England's　foes；　　　　　　When　their　chief　fell　beneath　the　blows　　　　　　By　his　own　thoughtless　people　given；　　　　　　　When　the　king's　shield　in　two　was　riven。　　　　　　The　people's　sovereign　took　the　field；　　　　　　The　people　clove　the　sovereign's