Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/84

 72 CHRONICLE OF THE sAGAjx on their shields ; and the Gotland army began also to shout. The lagman's horse got shy with the war cry, and backed so hard that the stake flew up and struck the lagman on the head. He said, " 111 luck to thee, Northman, for that arrow!" and away fled the lag- man. King Harald had told his people, "If we do make a clash with the weapons, we shall not, however, go down from the hill until they come nearer to us;" and they did so. When the war-cry was raised the earl let his banner advance ; but when they came under the hill the king's army rushed down upon them, and killed some of the earl's people, and the rest fled. The Northmen did not pursue the fugitives long, for it was the fall of day ; but they took Earl Hakon's banner, and all the arms and clothes they could get hold of. King Harald had both the banners carried before him as they marched away. They spoke among themselves that the earl had probably fallen. As they were riding through the forest they could only ride singly, one following the other. Suddenly a man came full gallop across the path, struck his spear through him who was carrying the earl's banner, seized the banner-stafl", and rode into the forest on the other side with the banner. When this was told the king he said, " Bring me my armour, for the earl is alive." Then the king rode to his ships in the night ; and many said that the earl had now taken his revenge. But Thiodolf sang thus : — "■ Steinkel's troops, who were so bold, Who the Earl Hakon would uphold. Were driven by our horsemen's power To Hel, death goddess, in an hour ; And the great earl, so men say Who won't admit he ran away. Because his men fled from the ground, Retired, and cannot now be found." Chapter Thc rcst of the uight Harald passed in his ships ; Death of* but iu the momiug, when it was daylight, it was