Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/327

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 315 and beg God to give them the victory who best de- saga xvi. served it. Then they all sang aloud '^ Kyrie Eleison," and struck with their weapons on their shields. But mth this singing 300 men of Erling's people slipped away and fled. Then Erling and his people went across the river, and the earl's men raised the war- shout ; but there was no assault from the ridge down upon Erling's array, but the battle began upon the hill itself. They first used spears, then edge weapons; and the earl's banner soon retired so far back, that Erling and his men scaled the ridge. The battle lasted but a short time before the earl's men fled to the forest, which they had close behind them. This was told Earl Sigurd, and his men bade him fly ; but he replied, " Let us on while we can." And his men went bravely on, and cut down on all sides. In this tumult fell Earl Sigurd and John Sweinsson, and nearly sixty men. Erling lost few men, and pursued the fugitives to the forest. There Erling halted his troops, and turned back. He came just as the king's slaves were about stripping the clothes off Earl Sigurd, who was not quite lifeless. He had put his sword Bastard in the sheath, and it lay by his side. Erling took it, struck the slaves with it, and drove them away. Then Erling, with his troops, returned, and sat down in Tunsberg. Seven days after Earl Sigurd's fall Erling's men took Eindrid Unge prisoner, and killed him, with all his ship's crew. Marcus of Skog, and King Sigurd his foster-son. Chapter rode down to Yiken towards spring, and there got a or Marcus ship; but when Erlino; heard it he went eastwards "^p,^?' against them, and they met at Konghelle. Marcus sigurd fled with his followers to the island Hising; and there Sig»rdsson. the country-people of Hising came down in swarms, and placed themselves in Marcus's and Sigurd's array. Erling and his men rowed to the shore ; but Marcus's men shot at them. Then Erling said to his people,