Page:The Early Kings of Norway.djvu/188

 178 EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY. required of him; but that, though comfortable, was far from satisfying the great King's ambitious mind. The great King left Murdog ; left his own Dublin ; marched off westward on a general conquest of Ireland. Marched easily victorious for a time ; and got, some say, into the wilds of Connaught, but there saw him- self beset by ambuscades and wild Irish countenances intent on mischief; and had, on the sudden, to draw up for battle ; — place, I regret to say, altogether un- discoverable to me ; known only that it was boggy in the extreme. Certain enough, too certain and evident, Magnus Barefoot, searching eagerly, could find no firm footing there ; nor, fighting furiously up to the knees or deeper, any result but honourable death! Date is confidently marked * 24 August 1103,'— as if people knew the very day of the month. The natives did humanely give King Magnus Christian burial. The remnants of his force, without further molestation, found their ships on the Coast of Ulster ; and sailed home, — without conquest of Ireland ; nay perhaps, leaving royal Murdog disposed to be relieved of his procession with the pair of shoes. Magnus Barefoot left three sons, all kings at once.