Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/315

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 803 sent Earl Sigurd east to Konghelle, to defend the saga xvi. country with a part of the forces in case Erling should come from the south. Erling and his fleet came to Agder, and went straight north to Bergen, where they killed Arne Brigidar- scald, King Harald's officer, and came back immediately against King Hakon. Earl Sigurd, who had not observed the journey of Erling and his followers from the south, was at that time east in the Gotha river, and King Hakon was in Tunsberg. Erling brought up at Hrossaness, and lay there some nights. In the mean- time King Hakon made preparations in the town. When Erling and his fleet were coming up to the town, they took a merchant vessel, filled it with wood and straw, and set fire to it; and the wind blowing right towards the town, drove the vessel against the piers. Erling had two cables brought on board the vessel, and made fast to two boats, and made them row along as the vessel drove. Now when the fire was come almost abreast of the town, those who were in the boats held back the vessel by the ropes, so that the town could not be set on fire ; but so thick a smoke spread from it over the town, that one could not see from the piers where the king's array was. Then Erling drew the whole fleet in where the wind carried the fire, and shot at the enemy. When the townspeople saw that the fire was approaching their houses, and many were wounded by the bo^vmen, they resolved to send the priest Hroald, the long-winded speaker, to Erling, to beg him to spare them and the town; and they dis- solved the array in favour of Hakon, as soon as Hroald told them their prayer was granted. Now when the array of the townspeople had dispersed, the men on the piers were much thinned: how- ever some urged Hakon's men to make resistance ; but Onund Simunsson, who had most influence over