Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/99

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 87 the land only with their shields, helmets, and spears, saga ix. and girt with swords ;> and many had also arrows and bows, and all were very merry. Now as they came near the castle a great army seemed coming against them, and they saw a cloud of dust as from horses' feet, and under it shining shields and bright armour. The king halted his people, and called to him Earl Toste, and asked him what army this could be. The earl replied, that he thought it most likely to be a hostile army; but possibly it might be some of his relations who were seeking for mercy and friendship, in order to obtain certain peace and safety from the king. Then the king said, " We must all halt, to dis- cover what kind of a force this is.'' They did so ; and the nearer this force came the greater it appeared, and their shining arms were to the sight like glancing ice. Then said King Harald, " Let us now fall upon Chapter some good sensible counsel ; for it is not to be con- of Eaii cealed that this is an hostile army, and the kino: him- Teste's ip'i ii«i counsel. self Without doubt is here. Then said the earl, ^' The first counsel is to turn about as fast as we can to our ships to get our men and our weapons, and then we will make a defence according to our ability ; or otherwise let our ships defend us, for there these horsemen have no power over us." Then King Harald said, " I have another counsel. Put three of our best horses under three of our brisk- est lads, and let them ride with all speed to tell our people to come quickly to our relief. The Englishmen shall have a hard fray of it before we give ourselves up for lost." The earl said the king must order in this, as in all things, as he thought best ; adding, at the same time, it was by no means his wish to fly. Then King Harald G 4