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re　Thorar's　brother…in…law　dwelt；　who　was　a　rich　and　powerful　man；　and　had　a　grown…up　son。　　The　brothers…in…law　intended　to　pass　the　Yule　in　drinking　feasts；　half　of　it　at　the　house　of　the　one　and　half　with　the　other；　and　the　feast　began　at　Thorar's　house。　　The　brothers…in…law　drank　together；　and　Thorod　and　the　sons　of　the　peasants　by　themselves；　and　it　was　a　drinking　match。　　In　the　evening　words　arose；　and　comparisons　between　the　men　of　Sweden　and　of　Norway；　and　then　between　their　kings　both　of　former　times　and　at　the　present；　and　of　the　manslaughters　and　robberies　that　had　taken　place　between　the　countries。　　Then　said　the　peasants　sons；　〃If　our　king　has　lost　most　people；　his　sheriffs　will　make　it　even　with　the　lives　of　twelve　men　when　they　come　from　the　south　after　Yule；　and　ye　little　know；　ye　silly　fools；　why　ye　are　kept　here。〃　　Thorod　took　notice　of　these　words；　and　many　made　jest　about　it；　and　scoffed　at　them　and　their　king。　When　the　ale　began　to　talk　out　of　the　hearts　of　the　Jamtalanders；　what　Thorod　had　before　long　suspected　became　evident。　　The　day　after　Thorod　and　his　comrade　took　all　their　clothes　and　weapons；　and　laid　them　ready；　and　at　night；　when　the　people　were　all　asleep；　they　fled　to　the　forest。　　The　next　morning；　when　the　Jamtalanders　were　aware　of　their　flight；　men　set　out　after　them　with　dogs　to　trace　them；　and　found　them　in　a　wood　in　which　they　had　concealed　themselves。　　They　brought　them　home　to　a　room　in　which　there　was　a　deep　cellar；　into　which　they　were　thrown；　and　the　door　locked　upon　them。　　They　had　little　meat；　and　only　the　clothes　they　had　on　them。　　In　the　middle　of　Yule；　Thorar；　with　all　his　freeborn　men；　went　to　his　brother's…in…law；　where　he　was　to　be　a　guest　until　the　last　of　Yule。　　Thorar's　slaves　were　to　keep　guard　upon　the　cellar；　and　they　were　provided　with　plenty　of　liquor；　but　as　they　observed　no　moderation　in　drinking；　they　became　towards　evening　confused　in　the　head　with　the　ale。　　As　they　were　quite　drunk；　those　who　had　to　bring　meat　to　the　prisoners　in　the　cellar　said　among　themselves　that　they　should　want　for　nothing。　　Thorod　amused　the　slaves　by　singing　to　them。　They　said　he　was　a　clever　man；　and　gave　him　a　large　candle　that　was　lighted；　and　the　slaves　who　were　in　went　to　call　the　others　to　come　in；　but　they　were　all　so　confused　with　the　ale；　that　in　going　out　they　neither　locked　the　cellar　nor　the　room　after　them。　Now　Thorod　and　his　comrades　tore　up　their　skin　clothes　in　strips；　knotted　them　together；　made　a　noose　at　one　end；　and　threw　up　the　rope　on　the　floor　of　the　room。　　It　fastened　itself　around　a　chest；　by　which　they　tried　to　haul　themselves　up。　　Thorod　lifted　up　his　comrade　until　he　stood　on　his　shoulders；　and　from　thence　scrambled　up　through　the　hatchhole。　　There　was　no　want　of　ropes　in　the　chamber；　and　he　threw　a　rope　down　to　Thorod；　but　when　he　tried　to　draw　him　up；　he　could　not　move　him　from　the　spot。　　Then　Thorod　told　him　to　cast　the　rope　over　a　cross…beam　that　was　in　the　house；　make　a　loop　in　it；　and　place　as　much　wood　and　stones　in　the　loop　as　would　outweigh　him；　and　the　heavy　weight　went　down　into　the　cellar；　and　Thorod　was　drawn　up　by　it。　　Now　they　took　as　much　clothes　as　they　required　in　the　room；　and　among　other　things　they　took　some　reindeer　hides；　out　of　which　they　cut　sandals；　and　bound　them　under　their　feet；　with　the　hoofs　of　the　reindeer　feet　trailing　behind。　　But　before　they　set　off　they　set　fire　to　a　large　corn　barn　which　was　close　by；　and　then　ran　out　into　the　pitch…dark　night。　　The　barn　blazed；　and　set　fire　to　many　other　houses　in　the　village。　　Thorod　and　his　comrade　travelled　the　whole　night　until　they　came　to　a　lonely　wood；　where　they　concealed　themselves　when　it　was　daylight。　　In　the　morning　they　were　missed。　　There　was　chase　made　with　dogs　to　trace　the　footsteps　all　round　the　house；　but　the　hounds　always　came　back　to　the　house；　for　they　had　the　smell　of　the　reindeer　hoofs；　and　followed　the　scent　back　on　the　road　that　the　hoofs　had　left；　and　therefore　could　not　find　the　right　direction。　　Thorod　and　his　comrade　wandered　long　about　in　the　desert　forest；　and　came　one　evening　to　a　small　house；　and　went　in。　　A　man　and　a　woman　were　sitting　by　the　fire。　　The　man　called　himself　Thorer；　and　said　it　was　his　wife　who　was　sitting　there；　and　the　hut　belonged　to　them。　The　peasant　asked　them　to　stop　there；　at　which　they　were　well　pleased。　　He　told　them　that　he　had　come　to　this　place；　because　he　had　fled　from　the　inhabited　district　on　account　of　a　murder。　Thorod　and　his　comrade　were　well　received；　and　they　all　got　their　supper　at　the　fireside；　and　then　the　benches　were　cleared　for　them；　and　they　lay　down　to　sleep；　but　the　fire　was　still　burning　with　a　clear　light。　　Thorod　saw　a　man　come　in　from　another　house；　and　never　had　he　seen　so　stout　a　man。　　He　was　dressed　in　a　scarlet　cloak　beset　with　gold　clasps；　and　was　of　very　handsome　appearance。　　Thorod　heard　him　scold　them　for　taking　guests；　when　they　had　scarcely　food　for　themselves。　　The　housewife　said；　〃Be　not　angry；　brother；　seldom　such　a　thing　happens；　and　rather　do　them　some　good　too；　for　thou　hast　better　opportunity　to　do　so　than　we。〃　　Thorod　heard　also　the　stout　man　named　by　the　name　of　Arnliot　Gelline；　and　observed　that　the　woman　of　the　house　was　his　sister。　　Thorod　had　heard　speak　of　Arnliot　as　the　greatest…of　robbers　and　malefactors。　　Thorod　and　his　companion　slept　the　first　part　of　the　night；　for　they　were　wearied　with　walking；　but　when　a　third　of　the　night　was　still　to　come；　Arnliot　awoke　them；　told　them　to　get　up；　and　make　ready　to　depart。　　They　arose　immediately；　put　on　their　clothes；　and　some　breakfast　was　given　them；　and　Arnliot　gave　each　of　them　also　a　pair　of　skees。　　Arnliot　made　himself　ready　to　accompany　them；　and　got　upon　his　skees；　which　were　both　broad　and　long；　but　scarcely　had　he　swung　his　skee…staff　before　he　was　a　long　way　past　them。　　He　waited　for　them；　and　said　they　would　make　no　progress　in　this　way；　and　told　them　to　stand　upon　the　edge　of　his　skees　beside　him。　　They　did　so。　　Thorod　stood　nearest　to　him；　and　held　by　Arnliot's　belt；　and　his　comrade　held　by　him。　　Arnliot　strode　on　as　quickly　with　them　both；　as　if　he　was　alone　and　without　any　weight。　　The　following　day　they　came；　towards　night；　to　a　lodge　for　travellers；　struck　fire；　and　prepared　some　food；　but　Arnliot　told　them　to　throw　away　nothing　of　their　food；　neither　bones　nor　crumbs。　　Arnliot　took　a　silver　plate　out　of　the　pocket　of　his　cloak；　and　ate　from　it。　When　they　were　done　eating；　Arnliot　gathered　up　the　remains　of　their　meal；　and　they　prepared　to　go　to　sleep。　　In　the　other　end　of　the　house　there　was　a　loft　upon　cross…beams；　and　Arnliot　and　the　others　went　up；　and　laid　themselves　down　to　sleep。　　Arnliot　had　a　large　halberd；　of　which　the　upper　part　was　mounted　with　gold；　and　the　shaft　was　so　long　that　with　his　arm　stretched　out　he　could　scarcely　touch　the　top　of　it；　and　he　was　girt　with　a　sword。　　They　had　both　their　weapons　and　their　clothes　up　in　the　loft　beside　them。　　Arnliot；　who　lay　outermost　in　the　loft；　told　them　to　be　perfectly　quiet。　　Soon　after　twelve　men　came　to　the　house；　who　were　merchants　going　with　their　wares　to　Jamtaland；　and　when　they　came　into　the　house　they　made　a　great　disturbance；　were　merry；　and　made　a　great　fire　before　them；　and　when　they　took　their　supper　they　cast　away　all　the　bones　around　them。　　They　then　prepared　to　go　to　sleep；　and　laid　themselves　down　upon　the　benches　around　the　fire。　　When　they；　had　been　asleep　a　short　time；　a　huge　witch　came　into　the　house；　and　when　she　came　in；　she　carefully　swept　together　all　the　bones　and　whatever　was　of　food　kind　into　a　heap；　and　threw　it　into　her　mouth。　　Then　she　gripped　the　man　who　was　nearest　to　her；　riving　and　tearing　him　asunder；　and　threw　him　upon　the　fire。　　The　others　awoke　in　dreadful　fright；　and　sprang　up；　but　she　took　them；　and　put　them　one　by　one　to　death；　so　that　only　one　remained　in　life。　　He　ran　under　the　loft　calling　for　help；　and　if　there　was　any　one　on　the　loft　to　help　him。　　Arnliot　reached　down　his　hand；　seized　him　by　the　shoulder；　and　drew　him　up　into　the　loft。　　The　witch…wife　had　turned　towards　the　fire；　and　began　to　eat　the　men　who　were　roasting。　　Now　Arnliot　stood　up；　took　his　halberd；　and　struck　her　between　the　shoulders；　so　that　the　point　came　out　at　her　breast。　She　writhed　with　it；　gave　a　dreadful　shriek；　and　sprang　up。　　The　halberd　slipped　from　Arnliot's　hands；　and　she　ran　out　with　it。　Arnliot　then　went　in；　cleared　away　the　dead　corpses　out　of　the　house；　set　the　door　and　the　door…posts　up；　for　she　had　torn　them　down　in　going　out；　and　they　slept　the　rest　of　the　night。　　When　the　day　broke　they　got　up；　and　first　they　took　their　breakfast。　When　they　had　got　food；　Arnliot　said；　〃Now　we　must　part　here。　　Ye　can　proceed　upon　the　new…traced　path　the　merchants　have　made　in　coming　here　yesterday。　　In　the　meantime　I　will　seek　after　my　halberd；　and　in　reward　for　my　labour　I　will　take　so　much　of　the　goods　these　men　had　with　them　as　I　find　useful　to　me。　　Thou；　Thorod；　must　take　my　salutation　to　King　Olaf；　and　say　to　him　that　he　is　the　man　I　am　most　desirous　to　see；　although　my　salutation　may　appear　to　him　of　little　worth。〃　　Then　he　took　his　silver　plate；　wiped　it　dry　with　a　cloth；　and　said；　〃Give　King　Olaf　this　plate；　salute　him；　and　say　it　is　from　me。〃　　Then　they　made　themselves　ready　for　their　journey；　and　parted。　　Thorod　went　on　with　his　comrade　and　the　man　of　the　merchants　company　who　had　escaped。　　He　proceeded　until　he　came　to　King　Olaf　in　the　town　（Nidaros）；　told　the　king　all　that　had　happened；　and　presented　to　him　the　silver　plate。　　The　king　said　it　was　wrong　that　Arnliot　himself　had　not　come　to　him；　〃for　it　is　a　pity　so　brave　a　hero；　and　so　distinguished　a　man；　should　have　given　himself　up　to　misdeeds。〃

Thorod　remained　the　rest　of　the　winter　with　the　king；　and　in　summer　got　leave　to　return　to　Iceland；　and　he　and　King　Olaf　parted　the　best　of　friends。



152。　KING　OLAF'S　LEVY　OF　MEN。

King　Olaf　made　ready　in　spring　（A。D。　1027）　to　leave　Nidaros；　and　many　people　were　assembled　about　him；　both　from　Throndhjem　and　the　Northern　country；　and　when　he　was　ready　he　proceeded　first　with　his　men　to　More；　where　he　gathered　the　men　of　the　levy；　and　did　the　same　at　Raumsdal。　　He　went　from　thence　to　South　More。　　He　lay　a　long　time　at　the　Herey　Isles　waiting　for　his　forces