Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 1.djvu/349

 purpose. The bonders also suffered by these false alarms when they were given uselessly; and thus it happened that no news of this expedition of Eric's sons circulated through the land until they had come as far north as Ulvesound, where they lay for seven days. Then spies set off across the upper neck of land and northwards to More. King Hakon was at that time in the island Ersede, in North More, at a place called Birkestrand, where he had a dwelling-house, and had no troops with him, only his bodyguard or court, and the neighbouring bonders he had invited to his house.

The spies came to King Hakon, and told him that Eric's sons, with a great army, lay just to the south of Stad. Then he called together the most understanding of the men about him, and asked their opinion, whether he should fight with Eric's sons, although they had such a great multitude with them, or should set off northwards to gather together more men. Now there was a bonder there, by name Egil Ullsserk, who was a very old man, but in former days had been strong and stout beyond most men, and a hardy man-at-arms withal, having long carried King Harald's banner. Egil answered thus to the king's speech,—" I was in several battles with thy father Harald the king, and he gave battle sometimes with many, sometimes with few people; but he always came off with victory. Never did I hear him ask counsel of his friends whether he should fly,—and neither shalt thou get any such counsel from us, king; but as we know we have a brave leader, thou shalt get a trusty following from us." Many others agreed with this speech, and the king himself declared he was most inclined to fight with such strength as they could gather. It was so determined. The king split up a war-arrow, which he sent off in all directions, and by that token a number of men was col-