Page:The Early Kings of Norway.djvu/21

 HARALD HAARFAGR. 11 Turf-Einar * cut an eagle on his back,' that is to say, hewed the ribs from each side of the spine and turned them out like the wings of a spread-eagle : a mode of Norse vengeance fashionable at that time in-^ extremely aggravated cases ! Harald Haarfagr, in the meantime, had descended upon the Rognwald scene, not in mild mood towards the new jarl there ; indignantly dismissed said jarl, and appointed a brother of Rognwald (brother, notes Dahlmann), though Rognwald had left other sons. Which done, Haarfagr sailed with all speed to the Orkneys, there to avenge that cutting of an eagle on the human back on Turf-Einar's part. Turf-Einar did not resist ; submissively met the angry Haarfagr, said he left it all, what had been done, what provoca- tion there had been, to Haarfagr's own equity and greatness of mind. Magnanimous Haarfagr inflicted a fine of sixty marks in gold, which was paid in ready money by Turf-Einar, and so the matter ended.