Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/164

 156 CHRONICLE OF THE saga vii. Then the king drew up his troops, rode himself at the head of them, and began a speech to the bonders, in which he invited them to adopt Christianity. They replied, " We shall give thee something else to do to-day than to be mocking us;" and raised a general shout, striking also upon their shields with their weapons. Then the king's men ran forward and threw their spears ; but the bonders turned round instantly and fled, so that only few men remained behind. Gud- brand's son was taken prisoner ; but the king gave him his life, and took him with him. The king was four days here. Then the king said to Gudbrand's son, " Go home now to thy father, and tell him I expect to be with him soon." He went accordingly, and told his father the news, that they had fallen in with the king, and fought with him ; but that their whole army, in the very beginning, took flight. " I was taken prisoner," said he, " but the king gave me my life and liberty, and told me to say to thee that he will soon be here. And now we have not 200 men of the force we raised against him ; therefore I advise thee, father, not to give battle to that man." Says Gudbrand, " It is easy to see that all courage has left thee, and it was an unlucky hour ye went out to the held. Thy proceeding will live long in the remembrance of people, and I see that thy fastening thy faith on the folly that man is going about with has brought upon thee and thy men so great a dis- grace." But the night after, Gudbrand dreamt that there came to him a man surrounded by light, who brought great terror with him, and said to him, "Thy son made no glorious expedition against King Olaf ; but still less honour wilt thou gather for thyself by hold- ing a battle with him. Thou with all thy people wilt fall ; wolves will drag thee, and all thine, away ; ravens