Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/22

 10 CHRONICLE OF THE sAGAjx. QnY men shall go out upon the plain nearest to the castle ; takmg care, however, to keep out of bow-shot. All our men shall go unarmed, and be playing with each other, so that the castle-men may see we do not regard them or their array." Thus it went on for some days, without any thing being done. Chapter Xwo Icclaud uicu wcrc thcu with Harald : the one Of uif and was Haldor, a son of the godar Snorro, who brought Haidor. ^i^^g account to Iceland; the other was Ulf Ospaksson, a grandson of Osvifer Spake. Both were very strong men, bold under arms, and Harald' s best friends ; and both were in this play. Now when some days were passed the castle people showed more courage, and would go without weapons upon the castle wall, while the castle gates were standing open. The Yeeringers observing this, went one day to their sports with the sword under their cloaks, and the helmet under their hats. After playing a while they observed that the castle people were off their guard ; and instantly seizing their weapons, they made a rush at the castle gates. When the men of the castle saw this they went against them armed completely, and a battle began in the castle gate. The Yaeringers had no shields, but wrap- ped their cloaks round their left arms. Some of them were wounded, some killed, and all stood in great danger. Now came Harald, with the men who had remained in the camp, to the assistance of his people ; and the castle-men had now got out upon the walls, from which they shot and threw stones down upon them ; so that there was a severe battle, and those who were in the castle gates thought that help was brought them slower than they could have wished. When Harald came to the castle gate his standard- bearer fell, and Harald said to Haldor, " Do thou take up the banner now." Haldor took up the banner, and said foolishly, " Who will carry the banner before thee, if thou followest it so timidly as thou hast done