Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/259

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 247 strong in men as possible to thy brother King Inge «aga xtv. as soon as thou art prepared, in order to assist each other in all things that are for the common good : and may God Almighty strengthen and assist you both ! Now, king, we will have thy words." Peter, a son of Sauda-Ulf, who was afterwards called Peter Byrdar- Swend, bore King Sigurd to the Thing. Then the king said, " Ye must know that, if I am to advise, I will go as soon as possible to my brother King Inge." Then others spoke, one after the other ; but although each began his speech in his own way, he ended with agreeing to what Ottar Birting had proposed; and it was determined to call together the war-forces, and go to the east part of the country. King Sigurd accordingly went with a great armament east to Yiken, and there he met his brother King Inge. The same autumn Sigurd Slembe and Magnus the Chapter Blind came from Denmark with thirty ships, manned Battle at both with Danes and Northmen. It was near to ^J^^r^^^' graa. winter. When the kings heard of this, they set out with their people eastwards to meet them. They met at Whale Isle, near the Grey Holm*, the day after Martinmas, which was a Sunday. King Inge and King Sigurd had twenty ships, which were all large. There was a great battle ; but, after the first assault, the Danes fled home to Denmark with eighteen ships. On this Sigurd's and Magnus's ships were cleared ; and as the last was almost entirely bare of men, and Magnus was lying in his bed, Hreidar Griot- gaardsson, who had long followed him, and been his court-man, took King Magnus in his arms, and tried to run with him on board some other ship. But Hreidar was struck by a spear, which went between his shoulders; and people say King Magnus was killed R 4
 * Supposed to be two small isles near Arendal.