Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/234

 226 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA VII. the rock, took all that was to be got upon it, and loaded their boat. But when they were ready to return home, Aasmund Grankelsson came with thirty men, and ordered them to give up all they had taken. Harek's house-servants were not quick in complying, so that Aasmund attacked them. Some of Harek's men were cudgelled, some wounded, some thrown into the sea, and all they had caught was taken from on board of their boat, and Aasmund and his people took it along with them. Then Harek's servants came home, and told him the event. Harek replies, " That is called news indeed that seldom happens : never before has it happened that my people have been beaten." The matter dropped. Harek never spoke about it, but was very cheerful. In spring, however, Harek rigged out a cutter of twenty seats of rowers, and manned it with his house-servants, and the ship Avas remarkably well fitted out both with people and all necessary equipment ; and Harek went to the levy : but when he came to King Olaf, Aasmund was there before him. The king summoned Harek and Aasmund to him, and reconciled them so that they left the matter entirely to him. Aasmund then produced witnesses to prove that Grankel had owned the rock, and the king gave judgment accordingly. The case had a one-sided result. No mulct was paid for Harek's house-servants, and the rock was declared to be Gran- kel's. Harek observed it was no disgrace to obey the king's decision, whatever way the case itself was de- cided. Chapter Thorodd Snorresson had remained in Norway, ac- Thorodd's cording to King Olaf's commands, when Geller Thor- story. kelsson got leave to go to Iceland, as before related. He remained there with King Olaf, but was ill pleased that he was not free to travel where he pleased. Early in winter, King Olaf, when he was in Nidaros, made it