Page:The North Star (1904).djvu/123

Rh the king to drain his own. He still held the horn undrained.

“Ye have pledged me as your king! Am I king of the Tronders only? Am I but king of my father’s little kingdom of Viken?”

A mighty shout went up. “Thou art king of all Norway! The North shires, and the South shires, the mountains of the East that look into Sweden, and the seas of the West. From the Skager Rack to the Verager Fiord, from Nidaros to Finland, thou art king!”

Olaf drained his horn.

Thus was Olaf proclaimed king of all Norway, the first sovereign to reign over the whole land. His father’s crown of polished copper, from the mines of Roras, sparkling here and there with the gold of Arindel, was brought out by Earl Sigvalde, who then laid upon Olaf’s shoulder a long crimson mantle that the Lady Aastrid had woven herself for the king’s coronation. She had engaged all the huntsmen in the Trondelag to gather the skins of the white beaver to line the coat, and they had been several years collecting the fur, for it was very rare.

Olaf took off his golden helmet, and then knelt down, while Bishop Sigurd laid the copper crown upon the flowing, tawny locks of the mighty viking, and invoked God’s blessing upon king and country.

So at Nidaros, where now stands the city of Drontheim, was Olaf Tryggevesson crowned king, the first