Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/210

 202 SAGA VII. CHRONICLE OF THE ornament hanging around his neck, he lifted his axe, cut the string with which the ornament was tied be- hind his neck, and the stroke was so strong that the head of Jomala rang with such a great sound that they were all astonished. Carl seized the ornament, and they all hastened away. But the moment the sound was made the watchmen came forward upon the cleared space, and blew their horns. Immediately the sound of the lure* was heard all around from every quarter, calling the people together. They hastened to the forest, and rushed into it; and heard the shouts and cries on the other side of the Biarmeland people in pursuit. Thorer Hund went the last of the whole troop; and before him went two men carrying a great sack between them, in which was something that was like ashes. Thorer took this in his hand, and strewed it upon the footpath, and sometimes over the people. They came thus out of the woods, and upon the fields, but heard incessantly the Biarmeland people pursuing with shouts and dreadful yells. The army of the Biarmeland people rushed out after them upon the field, and on both sides of them ; but neither the people nor their wea- pons came so near as to do them any harm : from which they perceived that the Biarmeland people did not see them. Now when they reached their ships Carl and his brother went on board ; for they were the foremost, and Thorer was far behind on the land. As soon as Carl and his men were on board they struck their tents, cast loose their land ropes, hoisted their sails, and their ship in all haste went to sea. Thorer and his people, on the other hand, did not get on so quickly, as their vessel was heavier to manage; so that when they got under sail Ludr — the lure — is a long tube or roll of birch-bark used as a horn by the herdboys in the mountains in Norway.