Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/333

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 325 with us. If it cannot be so, we had better not risk a SAGA VI1 battle ; and then it is easy to see that nothing would be left us but to shelter ourselves under King Olaf 's mercy, however hard it might be, as then we would be less guilty than we now may appear to him to be. Yet I know there are men in his ranks who would secure my life and peace if I would seek it. Will ye now adopt my proposal — then shalt thou, friend Thorer, and thou, Harek, go under the banner which we will all of us raise up, and then follow. Let us all be speedy and determined in the resolution we have taken, and put ourselves so at the head of the bonders' army that they see no distrust in us ; for then will the common man advance with spirit when we go merrily to work in placing the army in battle-order, and in encourag- ing the people to the strife.'' When Kalf had ended they all concurred in what he proposed, and all would do what Kalf thought of advantage. All desired Kalf to be the leader of the army, and to give each what place in it he chose. Kalf Arneson then raised his banner, and drew up Chapter his house-servants along with Harek of Thiotto and How the ' his men. Thorer Hund, with his troop, was at the barons .set head of the order of battle in front of the banner ; and banners. on both sides of Thorer was a chosen body of bonders, all of them the most active and best armed in the forces. This part of the array was long and thick, and in it were drawn up the Drontheim people and the Halogalanders. On the right wing was another array ; and on the left of the main array were drawn up the men from Rogaland, Hordaland, the Fiord districts, and Sogn, and they had the third banner. There was a man called Thorstein Knarrarsmed, chapter who was a merchant and master ship-carpenter, stout of Thors^ and strong, very passionate, and a great manslayer. tein Knar. He had been in enmity against King Olaf, who had taken from him a new and large merchant vessel he y 3