Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/146

 Bruse. 13g CHRONICLE OF THE saga vii. him that the earl's troop. Thorkel went to his ship, and the earl's men went their way. The same day Thorkel sailed out eastwards into the sea. This hap- pened after winter ; but he came safely to Norway, went as fast as he could to Olaf, and was well received by him. The king expressed his satisfaction at this deed, and Thorkel was with him all winter. Chapter After Earl Einar's fall Bruse took the part of the a reement country which he had possessed ; for it was known to between many men on what conditions Einar and Bruse had and Ead entered into a partnership. Although Thorfinn thought it would be more just that each of them had half of the islands, Bruse retained the two thirds of the country that winter. In spring, however, Thor- finn produced his claim, and demanded the half of the country ; but Bruse would not consent. They held Things and meetings about the business ; and al- though their friends endeavoured to settle it, Thorfinn would not be content with less than the half of the islands, and insisted that Bruse, with his disposition, would have enough even with a third part. Bruse replies, " When I took my heritage after my father I was well satisfied with a third part of the country, and there was nobody to dispute it with me ; and now I have succeeded to another third in heritage after my brother, according to a lawful agreement between us ; and although I am not powerful enough to main- tain a feud against thee, my brother, I will seek some other way, rather than willingly renounce my pro- perty." With this their meeting ended. But Bruse saw that he had no strength to contend against Thorfinn, because Thorfinn had both a greater dominion, and also could have aid from his mother's brother, the Scottish king. He resolved, therefore, to go out of the country ; and he went eastward to King Olaf, and had with him his son Rongvald, then ten years old. When the earl came to the king he was well received.