Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 1.djvu/422

 Bue ran now with his people in all haste down to the ships, leaving all the booty behind. Bue said, "Let us avail ourselves now of this news we have got of the earl, and be the first to the victory." When they came to their ships they rowed off from the land. Earl Sigvald called to them, and asked what they were about. They replied, " The earl is in the fiord;" on which Earl Sigvald with the whole fleet set off, and rowed north about the island Had.

The earls Hakon and Eric lay in Halkelswick, where all their forces were assembled. They had 150 ships, and they had heard that the Jomsburg vikings had come in from sea, and lay at the island Had; and they, in consequence, rowed out to seek them. When they reached a place called Hiörungavaag they met each other, and both sides drew up their ships in line for an attack. Earl Sigvald's banner was displayed in the midst of his army, and right against it Earl Hakon arranged his force for attack. Earl Sigvald himself had 20 ships, but Earl Hakon had 60. In Earl Hakon's army were these chiefs,— Thorer Hiort from Halogaland, and Styrkar from Gimsar. In the wing of the opposite array of the Jomsburg vikings was Bue the Thick, and his brother Sigurd, with 20 ships. Against him Earl Eric laid himself with 60 ships; and with him were these chiefs, — Gudbrand Huite from the Uplands, and Thorkill Leire from Viken. In the other win 2; of the Joinsburg vikings' array was Vagn Aakeson with 20 ships; and against him stood Swend the son of Hakon, in whose division was Skiegge of Yria at Uphaug, and Rognvald of Arvig at Stad, with 60 ships. It is told in the Eric's lay thus: —

The bonders' ships along the coast

Sailed on to meet the foemen's host;

The stout earl's ships, with eagle flight,

Rushed on the Danes in bloody fight.