Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/128

 120 CHRONICLE OF THE saga vii. W as against law and reason. From thence Emund went into Sweden*, and conversed with many men of consequence, who all expressed themselves in the same way. Emund continued his journey thus, until one day, towards evening, he arrived at Upsal, where he and his retinue took a good lodging, and staid there all night. The next day Emund waited upon the king, who was just then sitting in the Thing sur- rounded by many people. Emund went before him, bent his knee, and saluted him. The king looked at him, saluted him, and asked him what news he brought. Emund replies, " There is little news among us Gotlanders ; but it appears to us a piece of remark- able news that the proud, stupid Atle, in Yermeland, whom we look upon as a great sportsman, went up to the forest in winter with his snow-shoes and his bow. After he had got as many furs in the Fielde as filled his hand-sledge* so full that he could scarcely drag it, he returned home from the woods. But on the way he saw a squirrel in the trees, and shot at it, but did not hit ; at which he was so angry, that he left the sledge to run after the squirrel : but still the squirrel sprang where the wood was thickest, some- times among the roots of the trees, sometimes in the branches, sometimes among the arms that stretch from tree to tree. When Atle shot at it the arrows flew too high or too low, and the squirrel never jumped so that Atle could get a fair aim at him. He was so eager upon this chase that he ran the whole day after the squirrel, and yet could not get hold of it. It was now getting dark ; so he threw himself down upon the snow, as he was wont, and lay there all night in a heavy snow-storm. Next day t A small sledge which people travelling on snow-skates drag after them with their provisions or clothes.
 * Swithiod was only a part of what is now called Sweden.