Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/68

 (50 CHRONICLE OF THE saga vii. of the bonders came to King Olaf, but some sent friendly messages to him. People went between King Olaf and Eilif, and they entreated each se- parately to hold a Thing-meeting between them- selves, and make peace in one way or another. They told Eilif that they might expect violent treatment from King Olaf if they opposed his orders ; but pro- mised Eilif he should not want men. It was deter- mined that they should come down from the high country, and hold a Thing with the bonders and the king. King Olaf thereupon sent the chief of his pur- suivants, Thorer Lange, with six men, to Bryniulf. They were equipt with their coats of mail under their cloaks, and their hats over their helmets. The following day the bonders came in crowds down with Eilif; and in his suite was Bryniulf, and with him Thorer. The king laid his ships close to a rocky knoll that stuck out into the sea, and upon it the king went with his people, and sat down. Below was a flat field, on which the bonders' force was ; but Eilif 's men were drawn up, forming a shield-fence before him. Biorn the marshal spoke long and cleverly upon the king's account, and when he sat down Eilif arose to speak; but at the same moment Thorer Lange rose, drew his sword, and struck Eilif on the neck, so that his head flew off. Then the whole bonder-force started up; but the Gotland men set off in full flight, and Thorer with his people killed several of them. Now when the crowd was settled again, and the noise over, the king stood up, and told the bonders to seat themselves. They did so, and then much was spoken. The end of it was that they submitted to the king, and pro- mised fidelity to him ; and he, on the other hand, promised not to desert them, but to remain at hand until the discord between him and the Swedish Olaf was settled in one way or other. Kino- Olaf