Page:Stories of Norse Gods and Heroes.djvu/90

84 Olaf named her the Long Serpent. He sailed the sea in the Long Serpent many years. No king was strong enough to overcome him in battle.

But at last three kings came against him at once. Olaf sailed with his fleet to meet them.

When he came in sight he ordered his sails to be struck so that his ships could not sail away. He lashed his ships three together and let them drift toward the enemy.

Then he ordered his warhorns to be played and the music sounded far out across the water.

King Olaf stood on the front of the ship. His shield and his armor were of gold and he carried his bow and arrows in his hand.

A sailor said, "The Long Serpent lies too far ahead. We will have too hard a fight."

Olaf drew his bow to shoot him, but the sailor said. "Shoot at the enemy. You need me."

When the ships of the enemy struck against Olaf's ships, Eric, one of the three kings, cut the ropes that bound Olaf's ships together and they drifted apart.

Einar, one of Olaf's warriors, aimed all his arrows at King Eric. But Eric held his shield in front of him.