Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/340

 332 CHRONICLE OF THE saga vii. where it met the reindeer skin, although Thorer was wounded in the hands. Sigvat sang thus of it : — " Some say that Thor is not right bold; Why never yet have I been told Of one who did a bolder thing Than to change blows with his true king. Against his king his sword to wield, Leaping across the shield on shield Which fenced the king round in the fight, Shows the dog's* courage — brave, not bright." The king said to Biorn the marshal, " Do thou kill the dog on whom steel will not bite." Biorn turned round the axe in his hands, and gave Thorer a blow with the hammer of it on the shoulder so hard that he tottered. The king at the same moment turned against Kalf 's relation Olaf, and gave him his death- wound. Thorer Hund struck his spear right through the body of Marshal Biorn, and killed him outright ; and Thorer said, "It is thus we hunt the bear." f Thorstein Knararsmed struck at King Olaf with his axe, and the blow hit his left leg above the knee. Finn Arneson instantly killed Thorstein. The king after the wound staggered towards a stone, threw down his sword, and prayed God to help him. Then Thorer Hund struck at him with his spear, and the stroke went in under his mail- coat and into his belly. Then Kalf struck at him on the left side of the neck. But all are not agreed upon Kalf having been the man who gave him the wound in the neck. These three wounds were King Olaf's death; and after the king's death the greater part of the forces which had advanced with him fell with the king. Biorn Gulbraa- scald sang these verses about Kalf Arneson : — "Warrior! who Olaf dared withstand, Who against Olaf held the land, Thorer Hund's name was intended by the scald, t Biorn, the marshal's name, signifies a bear.
 * Thor or Thorer's name was Hund — the dog; and a "play upon