Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/243

 KINGS OF NOIIWAY. 231 swords. Ivar Kolbeinsson made the first attack on saga xm. King Harald ; and as the king had been drunk when he went to bed he slept sound, and awoke only when the men were striking at him. Then he said in his sleep, " Thou art treating me hardly, Thora." She sprang up, saying, " They are treating thee hardly who love thee less than I do." Harald was deprived of life. The men who went in with Sigurd to the king were Ogmund, a son of T brand Skage, Kolbein Thorliotsson of Batalder, and Erlind, an Icelander. Then Sigurd went out with his helpers, and ordered the men to be called to him who had promised him their support if he should get King Harald taken out of the way. Sigurd and his men then went on, and took a boat, set themselves to the oars, and rowed out in front of the king's house ; and then it was just beginning to be daylight. Then Sigurd stood up, spoke to those who were standing on the king's pier, made known to them the murder of King Harald by his hand, and desired that they would take him, and choose him as chief according to his birth. Now came many swarm- ing down to the pier from the king's house ; and all with one voice replied, that they would never give obedience or serdce to a man who had murdered his own brother. " And if thou art not his brother, thou hast no claim from descent to be king." They clashed their weapons together, and adjudged all murderers to be banished and outlawed men. Now the kino^'s horn sounded, and all lendermen and court- men were called together. Sigurd and his comrades saw it was best for them to get away ; and he went northward to North Hordaland, where he held a Thing with the bonders, who submitted to him, and gave him the title of king. From thence he went to Sogn, and held a Thing there with the bonders, and was proclaimed king. Then he went north across Q 4