Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/241

 KINGS OF NORWAY. made, and, by the advice of the lendermen, was carried so far, that some of the king's pursuivants went one evening late to Sigurd, and called him to them. They then took a boat, and rowed away with Sigurd from the town north to Holdhella.* Sigurd sat on a chest in the stern of the boat, and had his sus- picions that foul play was intended. He was clothed in blue trousers, and over his shirt he had a hood tied with ribands, which served him for a cloak. He sat looking down, and holding his hood- strings ; and sometimes moved them over his head, some- times let them fall as^ain before him. Now when they had passed the ness, and had come nearly to Miolk-a, they were, part of them, drunk and merry, and part were rowing so eagerly that they were not taking notice of any thing. Sigurd stood up, and went on the boat's deck ; but the two men who were placed to guard him stood up also, and followed him to the side of the vessel, holding by his cloak, as is the custom in guarding people of distinction. As he was afraid that they would catch hold of more of his clothes, he seized them both, and leaped over- board with them. The boat, in the mean time, had gone on a long way, and it was a long time before those on board could turn the vessel, and long before they could get their own men taken on board again ; and Sigurd dived under water, and swam so far away that he reached the land before they could get the boat turned to pursue him. Sigurd, who was very swift of foot, hied up to the Fielde, and the king's men travelled about the "Ndiole night seeking him without finding him. He lay down in a cleft of the rocks; and as he was very cold he took off his trou- sers, cut a hole in the seat of them, and stuck his head through it, and put his arms in the legs of them. Q 3 229 SAGA XIII.
 * Holdhella, — now Halle, — a point of land near Bergen.