Page:The Early Kings of Norway.djvu/51

 HAKON JARL. 41 grew black, and there broke out a terrific storm of thunder and hail, appalling to the human mind, — universe swallowed wholly in black night ; only the momentary forked-blazes, the thunder-pealing as of Eagnarok, and the battering hail-torrents, hail-stones about the size of an egg. Thor with his hammer evidently acting ; but in behalf of whom ? The Joms- burgers in the hideous darkness, broken only by flashing thunderbolts, had a dismal apprehension that it was probably not on their behalf (Thor having a sense of justice in him) ; and before the storm ended, thirty-five of their seventy ships sheered away, leaving gallant Bue, with the other thirty-five, to follow as they liked, who reproachfully hailed these fugitives, and continued the now hopeless battle. Bue's nose and lips were smashed or cut away ; Bue managed, half- articulately, to exclaim, "Ha! the maids (^ mays') of Fiinen will never kiss me more. Overboard, aj ye Bue's men ! " And taking his two sea-chests, with all the gold he had gained in such Kfe-struggle from of old, sprang overboard accordingly, and finished the affair. Hakon Jarl's renown rose naturally to the transcendent pitch after this exploit. His people, I