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had　proposed　by　his　ambassadors；　and　it　was　resolved　at　the　Thing　that　Ingegerd；　the　king's　daughter；　should　be　married　to　Olaf　Haraldson。　　The　king　left　it　to　the　earl　to　make　the　contract　feast；　and　gave　him　full　powers　to　conclude　this　marriage　affair；　and　after　this　was　settled　at　the　Thing；　they　separated。　　When　the　earl　returned　homewards；　he　and　the　king's　daughter　Ingegerd　had　a　meeting；　at　which　they　talked　between　themselves　over　this　matter。　　She　sent　Olaf　a　long　cloak　of　fine　linen　richly　embroidered　with　gold；　and　with　silk　points。　　The　earl　returned　to　Gautland；　and　Bjorn　with　him；　and　after　staying　with　him　a　short　time；　Bjorn　and　his　company　returned　to　Norway。　　When　he　came　to　King　Olaf　he　told　him　the　result　of　his　errand；　and　the　king　returned　him　many　thanks　for　his　conduct；　and　said　Bjorn　had　had　great　success　in　bringing　his　errand　to　so　favourabie　a　conclusion　against　such　animosity。



82。　OF　KING　HROREK'S　TREACHERY。

On　the　approach　of　spring　（A。D。　1018）　King　Olaf　went　down　to　the　coast；　had　his　ships　rigged　out；　summoned　troops　to　him；　and　proceeded　in　spring　out　from　Viken　to　the　Naze；　and　so　north　to　Hordaland。　　He　then　sent　messages　to　all　the　lendermen；　selected　the　most　considerable　men　in　each　district；　and　made　the　most　splendid　preparations　to　meet　his　bride。　　The　wedding…feast　was　to　be　in　autumn；　at　the　Gaut　river；　on　the　frontiers　of　the　two　countries。　　King　Olaf　had　with　him　the　blind　king　Hrorek。　　When　his　wound　was　healed；　the　king　gave　him　two　men　to　serve　him；　let　him　sit　in　the　high…seat　by　his　side；　and　kept　him　in　meat　and　clothes　in　no　respect　Norse　than　he　had　kept　himself　before。　Hrorek　　was　taciturn；　and　answered　short　and　cross　when　any　one　spoke　to　him。　　It　was　his　custom　to　make　his　footboy；　when　he　went　out　in　the　daytime；　lead　him　away　from　people；　and　then　to　beat　the　lad　until　he　ran　away。　　He　would　then　complain　to　King　Olaf　that　the　lad　would　not　serve　him。　　The　king　changed　his　servants；　but　it　was　as　before；　no　servant　would　hold　it　out　with　King　Hrorek。　　Then　the　king　appointed　a　man　called　Svein　to　wait　upon　and　serve　King　Hrorek。　　He　was　Hrorek's　relation；　and　had　formerly　been　in　his　service。　　Hrorek　continued　with　his　habits　of　moroseness；　and　of　solitary　walks；　but　when　he　and　Svein　were　alone　together；　he　was　merry　and　talkative。　　He　used　to　bring　up　many　things　which　had　happened　in　former　days　when　he　was　king。　He　alluded；　too；　to　the　man　who　had；　in　his　former　days；　torn　him　from　his　kingdom　and　happiness；　and　made　him　live　on　alms。　　〃It　is　hardest　of　all；〃　says　he；　〃that　thou　and　my　other　relations；　who　ought　to　be　men　of　bravery；　are　so　degenerated　that　thou　wilt　not　avenge　the　shame　and　disgrace　brought　upon　our　race。〃　　Such　discourse　he　often　brought　out。　　Svein　said；　they　had　too　great　a　power　to　deal　with；　while　they　themselves　had　but　little　means。　Hrorek　said；　〃Why　should　we　live　longer　as　mutilated　men　with　disgrace？　　I；　a　blind　man；　may　conquer　them　as　well　as　they　conquered　me　when　I　was　asleep。　　Come　then；　let　us　kill　this　thick　Olaf。　　He　is　not　afraid　for　himself　at　present。　　I　will　lay　the　plan；　and　would　not　spare　my　hands　if　I　could　use　them；　but　that　I　cannot　by　reason　of　my　blindness；　therefore　thou　must　use　the　weapons　against　him；　and　as　soon　as　Olaf　is　killed　I　can　see　well　enough　that　his　power　must　come　into　the　hands　of　his　enemies；　and　it　may　well　be　that　I　shall　be　king；　and　thou　shalt　be　my　earl。〃　　So　much　persuasion　he　used　that　Svein　at　last　agreed　to　join　in　the　deed。　　The　plan　was　so　laid　that　when　the　king　was　ready　to　go　to　vespers；　Svein　stood　on　the　threshold　with　a　drawn　dagger　under　his　cloak。　　Now　when　the　king　came　out　of　the　room；　it　so　happened　that　he　walked　quicker　than　Svein　expected；　and　when　he　looked　the　king　in　the　face　he　grew　pale；　and　then　white　as　a　corpse；　and　his　hand　sank　down。　　The　king　observed　his　terror　and　said；　〃What　is　this；　Svein？　　Wilt　thou　betray　me？〃　　Svein　threw　down　his　cloak　and　dagger；　and　fell　at　the　king's　feet；　saying；　〃All　is　in　Gods　hands　and　thine；　king！〃　The　king　ordered　his　men　to　seize　Svein；　and　he　was　put　in　irons。　The　king　ordered　Hrorek's　seat　to　be　moved　to　another　bench。　　He　gave　Svein　his　life；　and　he　left　the　country。　　The　king　appointed　a　different　lodging　for　Hrorek　to　sleep　in　from　that　in　which　he　slept　himself；　and　in　which　many　of　his　court…people　slept。　　He　set　two　of　his　court…men；　who　had　been　long　with　him；　and　whose　fidelity　he　had　proof　of；　to　attend　Hrorek　day　and　night；　but　it　is　not　said　whether　they　were　people　of　high　birth　or　not。　　King　Hrorek's　mood　was　very　different　at　different　times。　　Sometimes　he　would　sit　silent　for　days　together；　so　that　no　man　could　get　a　word　out　of　him；　and　sometimes　he　was　so　merry　and　gay；　that　people　found　a　joke　in　every　word　he　said。　　Sometimes　his　words　were　very　bitter。　　He　was　sometimes　in　a　mood　that　he　would　drink　them　　all　under　the　benches；　and　made　all　his　neighbours　drunk；　but　in　general　he　drank　but　little。　　King　Olaf　gave　him　plenty　of　pocket…money。　　When　he　went　to　his　lodgings　he　would　often；　before　going　to　bed；　have　some　stoups　of　mead　brought　in；　which　he　gave　to　all　the　men　in　the　house　to　drink；　so　that　he　was　much　liked。



83。　OF　LITTLE　FIN。

There　was　a　man　from　the　Uplands　called　Fin　the　Little；　and　some　said　of　him　that　he　was　of　Finnish　（1）　race。　　He　was　a　remarkable　little　man；　but　so　swift　of　foot　that　no　horse　could　overtake　him。　　He　was　a　particularly　well…excercised　runner　with　snow…　shoes；　and　shooter　with　the　bow。　　He　had　long　been　in　the　service　of　King　Hrorek；　and　often　employed　in　errands　of　trust。　　He　knew　the　roads　in　all　the　Upland　hills；　and　was　well　known　to　all　the　great　people。　　Now　when　King　Hrorek　was　set　under　guards　on　the　journey　Fin　would　often　slip　in　among　the　men　of　the　guard；　and　followed；　in　general；　with　the　lads　and　serving…men；　but　as　often　as　he　could　he　waited　upon　Hrorek；　and　entered　into　conversation　with　him。　　The　king；　however；　only　spoke　a　word　or　two　with　him　at　a　time；　to　prevent　suspicion。　　In　spring；　when　they　came　a　little　way　beyond　Viken；　Fin　disappeared　from　the　army　for　some　days；　but　came　back；　and　stayed　with　them　a　while。　　This　happened　often；　without　anyone　observing　it　particularly；　for　there　were　many　such　hangers…on　with　the　army。


ENDNOTES：　（1）　　The　Laplanders　are　called　Fins　In　Norway　and　Sweden。　　L。



84。　MURDER　OF　OLAF'S　COURT…MEN。

King　Olaf　came　to　Tunsberg　before　Easter　（A。D。　1018）；　and　remained　there　late　in　spring。　　Many　merchant　vessels　came　to　the　town；　both　from　Saxon…land　and　Denmark；　and　from　Viken；　and　from　the　north　parts　of　the　country。　　There　was　a　great　assemblage　of　people；　and　as　the　times　were　good；　there　was　many　a　drinking　meeting。　　It　happened　one　evening　that　King　Hrorek　came　rather　late　to　his　lodging；　and　as　he　had　drunk　a　great　deal；　he　was　remarkably　merry。　　Little　Fin　came　to　him　with　a　stoup　of　mead　with　herbs　in　it；　and　very　strong。　　The　king　made　every　one　in　the　house　drunk；　until　they　fell　asleep　each　in　his　berth。　　Fin　had　gone　away；　and　a　light　was　burning　in　the　lodging。　　Hrorek　waked　the　men　who　usually　followed　him；　and　told　them　he　wanted　to　go　out　into　the　yard。　　They　had　a　lantern　with　them；　for　outside　it　was　pitch　dark。　　Out　in　the　yard　there　was　a　large　privy　standing　upon　pillars；　and　a　stair　to　go　up　to　it。　　While　Hrorek　and　his　guards　were　in　the　yard　they　heard　a　man　say；　〃Cut　down　that　devil；〃　and　presently　a　crash；　as　if　somebody　fell。　Hrorek　said；　〃These　fellows　must　be　dead　drunk　to　be　fighting　with　each　other　so：　run　and　separate　them。〃　　They　rushed　out；　but　when　they　came　out　upon　the　steps　both　of　them　were　killed：　the　man　who　went　out　the　last　was　the　first　killed。　　There　were　twelve　of　Hrorek's　men　there；　and　among　them　Sigurd　Hit；　who　had　been　his　banner…man；　and　also　little　Fin。　　They　drew　the　dead　bodies　up　between　the　houses；　took　the　king　with　them；　ran　out　to　a　boat　they　had　in　readiness；　and　rowed　away。　　Sigvat　the　skald　slept　in　King　Olaf's　lodgings。　　He　got　up　in　the　night；　and　his　footboy　with　him；　and　went　to　the　privy。　　But　as　they　were　returning；　on　going　down　the　stairs　Sigvat's　foot　slipped；　and　he　fell　on　his　knee；　and　when　he　put　out　his　hands　he　felt　the　stairs　wet。　　〃I　think；〃　said　he；　laughing；　〃the　king　must　have　given　many　of　us　tottering　legs　tonight。〃　　When　they　came　into　the　house　in　which　light　was　burning　the　footboy　said；　〃Have　you　hurt　yourself　that　you　are　all　over　so　bloody？〃　　He　replied；　〃I　am　not　wounded；　but　something　must　have　happened　here。〃　　Thereupon　he　wakened　Thord　Folason；　who　was　standard…bearer；　and　his　bedfellow。　　They　went　out　with　a　light；　and　soon　found　the　blood。　　They　traced　it；　and　found　the　corpses；　and　knew　them。　They　saw　also　a　great　stump　of　a　tree　in　which　clearly　a　gash　had　been　cut；　which；　as　was　afterwards　known；　had　been　done　as　a　stratagem　to　entice　those　out　who　had　been　killed。　　Sigvat　and　Thord　spoke　together　and　agreed　it　was　highly　necessary　to　let　the　king　know　of　this　without　delay。　　They　immediately　sent　a　lad　to　the　lodging　where　Hrorek　had　been。　　All　the　men　in　it　were　asleep；　but　the　king　was　gone。　　He　wakened　the　men　who　were　in　the　house；　and　told　them　what　had　happened。　　The　men　arose；　and　ran　out　to　the　yard　where　the　bodies　were；　but；　however　needful　it　appeared　to　be　that　the　king　should　know　it；　nobody　dared　to　waken　him。

Then　said　Sigvat　to　Thord；　〃What　wilt　thou　rather　do；　comrade；　waken　the　king；　or　tell　him　the　tidings？〃

Thord　replies；　〃I　do　not　dare　to　waken　him；　and　I　would　rather　tell　him　the　news。〃

Then　said　Sigvat；　〃There　is　minch　of　the　night　still　to　pass；　and　before　morning　Hrorek　may　get　himself　concealed　in　such　a　way　that　it　may　be　difficult　to　find　him；　but　as　yet　he　cannot　be　very　far　off；　for　the　bodies　are　still　warm。　　We　must　never　let　the　disgrace　rest　upon　us　of　concealing　this　treason　from　the　king。　　Go　thou；　up　to　the　lodging；　and　wait　for　me　there。〃

Sigvat　then　went　to　the　church；　and　told　the　bell…ringer　to　toll　for　the　souls　of　the　king's　court…men；　naming　the　men　who　were　killed。　　The…bell…ringer　did　as　he　was　told。　　The　king　awoke　at　the　ringing；　sat　up　in　his　bed；　and　asked　if　it　was　already　the　hours　of　matins。

Thord　replies；　〃It　is　worse　than　that；　for　there