Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/106

 98 CHRONICLE OF THE saga vii. observing it particularly ; for there were many such hangers-on with the army. chapter King OM came to Tunsberg before Easter, and of X the XIV * remained there late in spring. Many merchant ves- murderof se ] s came to the town, both from Saxon-land and SgCMafs Denmark, and from Viken, and from the north parts meT" of the country. There was a great assemblage of people ; and as the times were good, there was many a drinking meeting. It happened one evening that King Raerek came rather late to his lodging ; and as he had drunk a great deal, he was remarkably merry. Little Finn came to him with a stoup of mead with herbs in it, and very strong. The king made every one in the house drunk, until they fell asleep each in his berth. Finn had gone away, and a light was burning in the lodging. Ra3rek waked the men who usually followed him, and told them he wanted to go out into the yard. They had a lantern with them, for outside it was pitch dark. Out in the yard there was a large privy standing upon pillars, and a stair to go up to it. While Raerek and his guards were in the yard they heard a man say, " Cut down that devil;" and presently a crash, as if somebody fell. Rasrek said, " These fellows must be dead drunk to be fighting with each other so: run and separate them." They rushed out ; but when they came out upon the steps both of them were killed: the man who went out the last was the first killed. There were twelve of Rserek's men there, and among them Sigurd Hit, who had been his banner-man, and also little Finn. They drew the dead bodies up between the houses, took the king with them, ran out to a boat they had in readiness, and rowed away. Sigvat the scald slept in King Olaf's lodgings. He got up in the night, and his footboy with him, and went to the privy. But as they were returning, on going down the stairs Sigvat's foot slipped, and he fell on his knee ; and when he put out his hands he felt the