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married to Skopte Skagason, a brother of Thora. The earl loved Thora so much that he held Thora's family in higher respect than any other people, and Skopte his brother-in-law in particular; and he gave him many great fiefs in More. Whenever they were on a cruise together, Skopte must lay his ship nearest to the earl's, and no other ship was allowed to come in between.

CHAPTER XX.-Skopte the Newsman's Death.

One summer that Earl Hakon was on a cruise, there was a ship with him of which Thorleif the Wise was steersman. In it was also Eirik, Earl Hakon's son, then about ten or eleven years old. Now in the evenings, as they came into harbour, Eirik would not allow any ship but his to lie nearest to the earl's. But when they came to the south, to More, they met Skopte the earl's brother-in-law, with a well-manned ship; and as they rowed towards the fleet, Skopte called out that Thorleif should move out of the harbour to make room for him, and should go to the roadstead. Eirik in haste took up the matter, and ordered Skopte to go himself to the roadstead. When Earl Hakon heard that his son thought himself too great to give place to Skopte, he called to them immediately that they should haul out from their berth, threatening them with chastisement if they did not. When Thorleif heard this, he ordered his men to slip their land-cable, and they did so; and Skopte laid his vessel next to the earl's

as he used to do. When they came together, Skopte brought the earl all the news he had gathered, and the earl communicated to Skopte all the news he had heard; and Skopte was therefore called the Newsman. The winter after [973] Eirik was with his foster-father Thorleif, and early in spring he gathered a crew of followers, and Thorleif gave him a boat of fifteen benches of rowers, with ship furniture, tents, and ship provisions; and Eirik set out from the fiord, and southwards to More. Newsman Skopte happened also to be going with a fully manned boat of fifteen rowers' benches from one of his farms to another, and Eirik went against him to have a battle. Skopte was slain, but Eirik granted life to those of his men who were still on their legs. So says Eyjolf Dadaskald in the Banda lay :

"At eve the youth went out
To meet the warrior stout-
To meet stout Skopte-he
Whose war-ship roves the sea.
Like force was on each side,
But in the whirling tide
The young wolf Eirik slew
Skopte, and all his crew:
And he was a gallant one,
Dear to the Earl Hakon.
Up, youth of steel-hard breast-
No time hast thou to rest!
Thy ocean wings spread wide-
Speed o'er the foaming tide!
Speed on-speed on thy way!
For here thou canst not stay."

Eirik sailed along the land and came to Denmark, and went to King Harald Gormson, and stayed with him all winter. In spring [974] the Danish king sent

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him north to Norway, and gave him an earldom, and the government of Vingulmark and Raumarike, on the same terms as the small scat-paying kings had formerly held these domains. So says Eyjolf Dadaskald:

"South through ocean's spray
His dragon flew away

To Gormson's hall renowned,

Where the bowl goes bravely round.
And the Danish king did place

This youth of noble race

Where, shield and sword in hand,
He would aye defend his land."

Eirik became afterwards a great chief.

CHAPTER XXI.-Olaf Trygveson's Journey from Russia.

All this time Olaf Trygveson was in Russia, and highly esteemed by King Valdemar, and beloved by the queen. King Valdemar made him chief over the men-at-arms whom he sent out to defend the land. So says Hallarstein :

"The hater of the niggard hand,*

The chief who loves the Northman's land,

Was only twelve years old when he

His Russian war-ships put to sea.

The wain that ploughs the sea was then

Loaded with war-gear by his men—

With swords, and spears, and helms; and deep
Out to the sea his good ships sweep."

Olaf had several battles, and was lucky as a leader of troops. He himself kept a great many men-at

The original figure of expression is, "hater of the fire of the bow's seat;" viz. the seat of the bow is the hand; the fire of the hand the gold-rings worn on the fingers; the hater of this fire he who does not care for it, but parts with it readily—the generous man.-L.

arms at his own expense out of the pay the king gave him. Olaf was very generous to his men, and therefore very popular. But then it came to pass, what so often happens when a foreigner is raised to higher power and dignity than men of the country, that many envied him because he was so favoured by the king, and also not less so by the queen. They hinted to the king that he should take care not to make Olaf too powerful,-" for such a man may be dangerous to you, if he were to allow himself to be used for the purpose of doing you or your kingdom harm; for he is extremely expert in all exercises and feats, and very popular. We do not, indeed, know what it is he can have to talk of so often with the queen." It was then the custom among great monarchs that the queen should have half of the court attendants, and she supported them at her own expense out of the scat and revenue provided for her for that purpose. It was so also at the court of King Valdemar that the queen had an attendance as large as the king, and they vied with each other about the finest men, each wanting to have such in their own service. It so fell out that the king listened to such speeches, and became somewhat silent and blunt towards Olaf. When Olaf observed this, he told it to the queen; and also that he had a great desire to travel to the Northern land, where his family formerly had power and kingdoms, and where it was most likely he would advance himself. The queen wished him a prosperous journey, and said he would be found a brave man wherever he might be. Olaf

then made ready, went on board, and set out to sea in the Baltic.

*

As he was coming from the east he made the island of Bornholm, where he landed and plundered. The country people hastened down to the strand, and gave him battle; but Olaf gained the victory, and a large booty.

CHAPTER XXII.-Olaf Trygveson's Marriage.

While Olaf lay at Bornholm there came on bad weather, storm, and a heavy sea, so that his ships could not lie there; and he sailed southwards under Vindland, where they found a good harbour. They conducted themselves very peacefully, and remained some time. In Vindland there was then a king called Burisleif, who had three daughters,-Geira, Gunhild, and Astrid. The king's daughter Geira had the power and government in that part where Olaf and his people landed, and Dixin was the name of the man who most usually advised Queen Geira. Now when they heard that unknown people were come to the country, who were of distinguished appearance, and conducted themselves peaceably, Dixin repaired to them with a message from Queen Geira, inviting the strangers to take up their winter abode with her; for the summer was almost spent,

* Called in the original Borgundarholm.

+ Vindland or Vendland—the land of the Vends, the Sclavonic people who then occupied the coast from the Vistula to Holstein. The Vendland of the saga is the present Mecklenburg, Pomerania, and East Prussia.-L.

History knows no king among the Vends, but among their princes was one named Burisleif.

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