Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/132

 120 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA XI. And the clear red flame, burning high, Flashes across the dark night-sky. John and Vidkunner, this dark night. Will not be wandering without light." Chapter John and Vidkunner travelled day and niglit till Death of thcj mct King Magnus. Swend and Thorer proceeded Thorcrand jjorthwards with their men, and plundered far and wide in Halogaland. But while they lay in a fiord called Horm, Thorer and his party saw King Magnus coming under sail towards them ; and thinking they had not men enough to fight him, they rowed away and fled. Thorer and Egil brought up at Hesiotun ; but Swend roAved out to sea, and some of their people rowed into the fiords. King Magnus pursued Thorer, and the vessels struck together while they were land- ing. Thorer stood in the forecastle of his ship, and Sigurd UUstring called out to him, and asked, " Art thou well, Thorer?" Thorer replied, '' I am well in hands, but ill on my feet." And some one made these verses : — '* The vessels struck, and swords were out. When UUstring calls out with a shout, ' Old Thorer, how d'ye do ? ' The grey old warrior^ firm and true To his own cause, cries ' How d'ye do? When loving friends, such as we two, Happen in bloody fray to meet, I'm brisk in hands, but slow in feet.' " Then said Sigurd UUstring, " Thou art pretty fat, Thorer." He replied, " My meat and my ale make me so." Then all Thorer's men fled up the country, and Thorer was taken prisoner. Egil was also taken prisoner, for he would not leave his wife. King Mag- nus then ordered both of them to be' taken out to Vamber Hohn ; and when they were leading Thorer from the ship he tottered on his legs. Then Yid- kunner called out, "More to larboard, Thorer!" When he was being led to the gallows he sang, " We were four comrades gay, Let one by the helm stay."