Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 1.djvu/351

 who stood uppermost in the line of the troops of Eric's sons saw so many hying banners advancing high over the edge of the ridge, they supposed a great force must be following, who would come behind their army, and between them and their ships. They made each other acquainted with what was going on in a loud shout, and the whole took to flight; and when the kings saw it, they fed with the rest. King Hakon now pushes on briskly with his people, pursuing the flying, and killing many.

When Gamle Ericsson came up the ridge of the Chapter hill he turned round, and he observed that not more 0f King people were following than his men had been engaged Gain|ep the with already, and he saw it was but a stratagem of war; so he ordered the war-horns to be blown, his banner to be set up, and he put his men in battle order. On this, all his Northmen stood, and turned with him, but the Danes fled to the ships; and when King Hakon and his men came thither, there was again a sharp conflict; but now Hakon had most people. At last the Eric's sons' force fled, and took the road south about the hill; but a part of their army retreated upon the hill southwards, followed by King Hakon. There is a flat field east of the ridge which runs westward along the range of hills, and is bounded on its west side by a steep ridge. Gamle's men retreated towards this ground; but Hakon followed so closely that he killed some, and others ran west over the ridge, and were killed on that side of it. King Hakon did not part with them till the last man of them was killed.

Gamle Ericsson fled from the ridge down upon the plain to the south of the hill. There he turned himself again, and waited until more people gathered to him. All his brothers, and many troops of their men, assembled there. Egil Ullsserk was in front, and in advance of Hakon's men, and made a stout