Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/47

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 35 the Danes approached nearer and nearer. Then Ha- s aga i x. raid, whose own dragon- ship was the last of the fleet, saw that he could not get away ; so he ordered his men to throw overboard some wood, and lay upon it clothes and other good and valuable articles ; and it was so perfectly calm, that these drove about with the tide. Now when the Danes saw their o^vn goods driving about on the sea, they who were in advance turned about to save them ; for they thought it was easier to take what was floating freely about, than to go on board the Northmen to take it. They dropped rowing, and lost ground. Now when King Swend came up to them with his ship, he urged them on ; saying it would be a great shame if they, with so great a force, could not overtake and master so small a number. The Danes then began again to stretch out lustily at their oars. When King Harald saw that the Danish ships went faster, he ordered his men to lighten their ships, and cast overboard malt, wheat, bacon, and to let their liquor run out, which helped a little. Then Harald ordered the bulwark-screens, the empty casks and puncheons, and the prisoners to be thrown overboard; and when all these were driving about on the sea, Swend ordered help to be given to save the men. This was done; but so much time was lost, that they separated from each other. The Danes turned back, and the Northmen proceeded on their way. So says Thorleik the Fair : — " Swend drove his foes from Jutland's coast, — The Norsemen's ships would have been lost. But Harald all his vessels saves. Throwing his booty on the waves. The Jutlanders saw, as he threw, Their own goods floating in their view: His lighten 'd ships fly o'er the main. While they pick up their own again." King Swend returned southwards with his ships to Lesso, where he found seven ships of the Northmen. D 2