Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/213

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 205 both sides they made great way day and night; but saga vn. so that they did not gain much on each other, al- though when they came to the small sounds among the islands Gunstein's vessel was lighter in turning. But Thorer's ship made way upon them, so that when they came up to Lenvik, Gunstein turned towards the land, and with all his men ran up into the country, and left his ship. A little after Thorer came there with his ship, sprang upon the land after them, and pursued them. There was a woman who helped Gunstein to conceal himself, and it is told that she was much acquainted with witchcraft. Thorer and his men returned to the vessels, and took all the goods out of Gunstein's vessel, and put on board stones in place of the cargo, and then hauled the ship out into the fiord, cut a hole in its bottom, and sank it to the bottom. Thereafter Thorer, with his people, returned home to Biarko Isle. Gunstein and his peo- ple proceeded in small boats at first, and lay con- cealed by day, until they had passed Biarko, and had got beyond Thorer's district. Gunstein went home first to Largo Isle for a short time, and then pro- ceeded south, without any halt, until he came to King Olaf, to whom he told all that had happened on this Biarmeland expedition. The king was ill pleased with the voyage, but told Gunstein to remain with him, promising to assist him when opportunity offered. Gunstein took the invitation with thanks, and staid with King Olaf. King Olaf was, as before related, in Sarpsburg the Chapter winter that King Canute was in Denmark. The Meeting oV Swedish king Onund rode across West Gotland the Kin g ° ,af tit • i i • ~r a King same winter, and had 3,000 men with him. Men Onund. and messages passed between them ; and they agreed to meet in spring at Konghelle. The meeting had been postponed, because they wished to know before they met what King Canute intended doing. As it