Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/242

 234 CHRONICLE OF THE saga vn. who say no to this expedition lie offers you, although ye have received many gifts of friendship and tokens of honour from him. I have hitherto been no friend of the king, and he has been my enemy, and says, be- sides, that he has good grounds for being so. Now I offer, sire, to go upon this expedition, if no better will undertake it." The king answers, " Who is this brave man who replies to my offer? Thou showest thyself different from the other men here present, in offering thyself for this expedition from which they excuse them- selves, although I Expected they would willingly have undertaken it ; but I do not know thee in the least, and do not know thy name." He replies, " My name, sire, is not difficult to know, and I think thou hast heard my name before. I am Karl Maerske." The king — "So this is Karl ! I have indeed heard thy name before ; and, to say the truth, there was a time when our meeting must have been such, if I had had my will, that thou shouldst not have had to tell it now. But I will not show myself worse than thou, but will join my thanks and my favour to the side of the help thou hast offered me. Now thou shalt come to me, Karl, and be my guest to-day ; and then we shall consult together about this business." Karl said it should be so. Chapter £ ar i Mserske had been a viking, and a celebrated cl.hi. o" Kad robber. Often had the king sent out men against s I fory. ske mm > ana< wished to make an end of him ; but Karl, who was a man of high connection, was quick in all his doings, and besides a man of great dexterity, and expert in all feats. Now when Karl had under- taken this business the king was reconciled to him, gave him his friendship, and let him be fitted out in the best manner for this expedition. There were about twenty men in the ship; and the king sent