Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/276

 268 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA VII. Chavtek, LCXXIX. Harek of Thiotto burns Grankel and his men. To save their country, sword in hand : 'Tis money that betrays our land." The king held meetings with the men of the court, and sometimes House-things with all his people, and consulted with them what they should, in their opi- nion, undertake. "We must not conceal from our- selves," said he, "that Canute will come here this summer; and that he has, as ye all know, a large force, and we have at present but few men to oppose to him ; and, as matters now stand, we cannot depend much on the fidelity of the country people," The king's men replied to his speech in various ways ; but it is said that Sigvat the scald replied thus, advising flight, as treachery, not cowardice, was the cause of it: — " We may well fly, when even our foe Offers us money if we go. I may be blamed, accused of fear ; But treachery, not faith, rules here. Men may retire who long have shown Their faith and love, and now alone Retire because they cannot save — This is no treachery in the brave." The same spring it happened in Halogaland that Harek of Thiotto remembered how Asmund Grankel- son had plundered and beaten his house-servants. A ten-oared cutter which belonged to Harek was afloat in front of the house, with tent and deck, and he spread the report that he intended to go south to Drontheim. One evening Harek went on board with his house-servants, about eighty men, who rowed the whole night ; and he came towards morning to Gran- kel's house, and surrounded it with his men. They then made an attack on the house, and set fire to it ; and Grankel with his people were burnt, and some were killed outside ; and in all about thirty men lost their lives. After this deed Harek returned home, and sat quietly in his farm. Asmund was with King