Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/14

 Young man or old

To our seamen bold Must pay, to save his head:

The Yngling princes fled,

Eysyssel people bled:

Who can't defend the wealth they have

Must die, or share with the rover brave."

It is related here that King Olaf, when spring set in sailed east to Eysyssel, and landed and plundered: the Esyssel men came down to the strand and gave him battle. King Olaf gained the victory, pursued those who fled, and laid waste the land with fire and sword. It is told that when King Olaf first came to Eysyssel they offered him scatt, and when the scatt was to be brought down to the strand the king came to meet it with an armed force, and that was not what the bonders there expected; for they had brought no scatt, but only their weapons with which they fought against the king, as before related. So says Sigvat the scald:—

After this they sailed to Finland and plundered there, and went up the country. All the people fled to the forest, and they had emptied their houses of all household goods. The king went far up the country, and through some woods, and came to some dwellings in a valley called Herdal,—where, however, they made but small booty, and saw no people; and as it was getting late in the day, the king turned back to his ships. Now when they came into the woods again people rushed upon them from all quarters, and made a severe attack. The king told his men to cover themselves with their shields, but before they got