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　to　speak　with　the　king；　after　a　few　words　only　had　passed　between　them；　the　king　says　the　earl　must　allow　himself　to　be　baptized；　and　all　the　people　of　the　country　also；　or　he　should　be　put　to　death　directly；　and　he　assured　the　earl　he　would　lay　waste　the　islands　with　fire　and　sword；　if　the　people　did　not　adopt　Christianity。　　In　the　position　the　earl　found　himself；　he　preferred　becoming　Christian；　and　he　and　all　who　were　with　him　were　baptized。　Afterwards　the　earl　took　an　oath　to　the　king；　went　into　his　service；　and　gave　him　his　son；　whose　name　was　Hvelp　（Whelp）；　or　Hunde　（Dog）；　as　an　hostage；　and　the　king　took　Hvelp　to　Norway　with　him。　　Thereafter　Olaf　went　out　to　sea　to　the　eastward；　and　made　the　land　at　Morster　Island；　where　he　first　touched　the　ground　of　Norway。　　He　had　high　mass　sung　in　a　tent；　and　afterwards　on　the　spot　a　church　was　built。　　Thorer　Klakka　said　now　to　the　king；　that　the　best　plan　for　him　would　be　not　to　make　it　known　who　he　was；　or　to　let　any　report　about　him　get　abroad；　but　to　seek　out　Earl　Hakon　as　fast　as　possible　and　fall　upon　him　by　surprise。　　King　Olaf　did　so；　sailing　northward　day　and　night；　when　wind　permitted；　and　did　not　let　the　people　of　the　country　know　who　it　was　that　was　sailing　in　such　haste。　　When　he　came　north　to　Agdanes；　he　heard　that　the　earl　was　in　the　fjord；　and　was　in　discord　with　the　bondes。　　On　hearing　this；　Thorer　saw　that　things　were　going　in　a　very　different　way　from　what　he　expected；　for　after　the　battle　with　the　Jomsborg　vikings　all　men　in　Norway　were　the　most　sincere　friends　of　the　earl　on　account　of　the　victory　he　had　gained；　and　of　the　peace　and　security　he　had　given　to　the　country；　and　now　it　unfortunately　turns　out　that　a　great　chief　has　come　to　the　country　at　a　time　when　the　bondes　are　in　arms　against　the　earl。



53。　EARL　HAKON'S　FLIGHT。

Earl　Hakon　was　at　a　feast　in　Medalhus　in　Gaulardal　and　his　ships　lay　out　by　Viggja。　　There　was　a　powerful　bonde；　by　name　Orm　Lyrgja；　who　dwelt　in　Bunes；　who　had　a　wife　called　Gudrun；　a　daughter　of　Bergthor　of　Lundar。　　She　was　called　the　Lundasol；　for　she　was　the　most…beautiful　of　women。　　The　earl　sent　his　slaves　to　Orm；　with　the　errand　that　they　should　bring　Orm's　wife；　Gudrun；　to　the　earl。　　The　thralls　tell　their　errand；　and　Orm　bids　them　first　seat　themselves　to　supper；　but　before　they　had　done　eating；　many　people　from　the　neighbourhood；　to　whom　Orm　had　sent　notice；　had　gathered　together：　and　now　Orm　declared　he　would　not　send　Gudrun　with　the　messengers。　　Gudrun　told　the　thralls　to　tell　the　earl　that　she　would　not　come　to　him；　unless　he　sent　Thora　of　Rimul　after　her。　　Thora　was　a　woman　of　great　influence；　and　one　of　the　earl's　best　beloved。　　The　thralls　say　that　they　will　come　another　time；　and　both　the　bonde　and　his　wife　would　be　made　to　repent　of　it；　and　they　departed　with　many　threats。　　Orm；　on　the　other　hand；　sent　out　a　message…token　to　all　the　neighbouring　country；　and　with　it　the　message　to　attack　Earl　Hakon　with　weapons　and　kill　him。　　He　sent　also　a　message　to　Haldor　in　Skerdingsstedja；　who　also　sent　out　his　message…token。　　A　short　time　before；　the　earl　had　taken　away　the　wife　of　a　man　called　Brynjolf；　and　there　had　very　nearly　been　an　insurrection　about　that　business。　　Having　now　again　got　this　message…token；　the　people　made　a　general　revolt；　and　set　out　all　to　Medalhus。　　When　the　earl　heard　of　this；　he　left　the　house　with　his　followers；　and　concealed　himself　in　a　deep　glen；　now　called　Jarlsdal　（Earl's　Dale）。　　Later　in　the　day；　the　earl　got　news　of　the　bondes'　army。　They　had　beset　all　the　roads；　but　believed　the　earl　had　escaped　to　his　ships；　which　his　son　Erlend；　a　remarkably　handsome　and　hopeful　young　man；　had　the　command　of。　　When　night　came　the　earl　dispersed　his　people；　and　ordered　them　to　go　through　the　forest　roads　into　Orkadal；　〃for　nobody　will　molest　you；〃　said　he；　〃when　I　am　not　with　you。　　Send　a　message　to　Erlend　to　sail　out　of　the　fjord；　and　meet　me　in　More。　　In　the　mean　time　I　will　conceal　myself　from　the　bondes。〃　　Then　the　earl　went　his　way　with　one　thrall　or　slave；　called　Kark；　attending　him。　　There　was　ice　upon　the　Gaul　（the　river　of　Gaulardal）；　and　the　earl　drove　his　horse　upon　it；　and　left　his　coat　lying　upon　the　ice。　　They　then　went　to　a　hole；　since　called　Jarlshella　（the　Earl's　Hole）；　where　they　slept。　　When　Kark　awoke　he　told　his　dream；　　that　a　black　threatening　mad　had　come　into　the　hole；　and　was　angry　that　people　should　have　entered　it；　and　that　the　man　had　said；　〃Ulle　is　dead。〃　　The　earl　said　that　his　son　Erlend　must　be　killed。　　Kark　slept　again　and　was　again　disturbed　in　his　sleep；　and　when　he　awoke　he　told　his　dream；　　that　the　same　man　had　again　appeared　to　him；　and　bade　him　tell　the　earl　that　all　the　sounds　were　closed。　　From　this　dream　the　earl　began　to　suspect　that　it　betokened　a　short　life　to　him。　　They　stood　up；　and　went　to　the　house　of　Rimul。　　The　earl　now　sends　Kark　to　Thora；　and　begs　of　her　to　come　secretly　to　him。　　She　did　so　and　received　the　earl　kindly　and　he　begged　her　to　conceal　him　for　a　few　nights　until　the　army　of　the　bondes　had　dispersed。　　〃Here　about　my　house；〃　said　she；　〃you　will　be　hunted　after；　both　inside　and　outside；　for　many　know　that　I　would　willingly　help　you　if　I　can。　　There　is　but　one　place　about　the　house　where　they　could　never　expect　to　find　such　a　man　as　you；　and　that　is　the　swine…stye。〃　　When　they　came　there　the　earl　said；　〃Well；　let　it　be　made　ready　for　us；　as　to　save　our　life　is　the　first　and　foremost　concern。〃　　The　slave　dug　a　great　hole　in　it；　bore　away　the　earth　that　he　dug　out；　and　laid　wood　over　it。　　Thora　brought　the　tidings　to　the　earl　that　Olaf　Trygvason　had　come　from　sea　into　the　fjord；　and　had　killed　his　son　Erlend。　　Then　the　earl　and　Kark　both　went　into　the　hole。　　Thora　covered　it　with　wood；　and　threw　earth　and　dung　over　it；　and　drove　the　swine　upon　the　top　of　it。　　The　swine…style　was　under　a　great　stone。



54。　ERLEND'S　DEATH。

Olaf　Trygvason　came　from　sea　into　the　fjord　with　five　long…ships；　and　Erlend；　Hakon's　son；　rowed　towards　him　with　three　ships。　　When　the　vessels　came　near　to　each　other；　Erlend　suspected　they　might　be　enemies；　and　turned　towards　the　land。　　When　Olaf　and　his　followers　saw　long…ships　coming　in　haste　out　of　the　fjord；　and　rowing　towards　them；　they　thought　Earl　Hakon　must　be　here；　and　they　put　out　all　oars　to　follow　them。　　As　soon　as　Erlend　and　his　ships　got　near　the　land　they　rowed　aground　instantly；　jumped　overboard；　and　took　to　the　land；　but　at　the　same　instant　Olaf's　ship　came　up　with　them。　　Olaf　saw　a　remarkably　handsome　man　swimming　in　the　water；　and　laid　hold　of　a　tiller　and　threw　it　at　him。　　The　tiller　struck　Erlend；　the　son　of　Hakon　the　earl；　on　the　head；　and　clove　it　to　the　brain；　and　there　left　Erlend　his　life。　Olaf　and　his　people　killed　many；　but　some　escaped；　and　some　were　made　prisoners；　and　got　life　and　freedom　that　they　might　go　and　tell　what　had　happened。　　They　learned　then　that　the　bondes　had　driven　away　Earl　Hakon；　and　that　he　had　fled；　and　his　troops　were　all　dispersed。



55。　EARL　HAKON'S　DEATH。

The　bondes　then　met　Olaf；　to　the　joy　of　both；　and　they　made　an　agreement　together。　　The　bondes　took　Olaf　to　be　their　king；　and　resolved；　one　and　all；　to　seek　out　Earl　Hakon。　　They　went　up　Gaulardal；　for　it　seemed　to　them　likely　that　if　the　earl　was　concealed　in　any　house　it　must　be　at　Rimul；　for　Thora　was　his　dearest　friend　in　that　valley。　　They　come　up；　therefore；　and　search　everywhere；　outside　and　inside　the　house；　but　could　not　find　him。　　Then　Olaf　held　a　House　Thing　（trusting）；　or　council　out　in　the　yard；　and　stood　upon　a　great　stone　which　lay　beside　the　swine…stye；　and　made　a　speech　to　the　people；　in　which　he　promised　to　enrich　the　man　with　rewards　and　honours　who　should　kill　the　earl。　　This　speech　was　heard　by　the　earl　and　the　thrall　Kark。　　They　had　a　light　in　their　room。

〃Why　art　thou　so　pale；〃　says　the　earl；　〃and　now　again　black　as　earth？　　Thou　hast　not　the　intention　to　betray　me？〃

〃By　no　means；〃　replies　Kark。

〃We　were　born　on　the　same　night；〃　says　the　earl；　〃and　the　time　will　be　short　between　our　deaths。〃

King　Olaf　went　away　in　the　evening。　　When　night　came　the　earl　kept　himself　awake　but　Kark　slept；　and　was　disturbed　in　his　sleep。　　The　earl　woke　him；　and　asked　him　〃what　he　was　dreaming　of？〃

He　answered；　〃I　was　at　Hlader　and　Olaf　Trygvason　was　laying　a　gold　ring　about　my　neck。〃

The　earl　says；　〃It　will　be　a　red　ring　Olaf　will　lay　about　thy　neck　if　he　catches　thee。　　Take　care　of　that！　　From　me　thou　shalt　enjoy　all　that　is　good；　therefore　betray　me　not。〃

They　then　kept　themselves　awake　both；　the　one；　as　it　were；　watching　upon　the　other。　　But　towards　day　the　earl　suddenly　dropped　asleep；　but　his　sleep　was　so　unquiet　that　he　drew　his　heels　under　him；　and　raised　his　neck；　as　if　going　to　rise；　and　screamed　dreadfully　high。　　On　this　Kark；　dreadfully　alarmed；　drew　a　large　knife　out　of　his　belt；　stuck　it　in　the　earl's　throat；　and　cut　it　across；　and　killed　Earl　Hakon。　　Then　Kark　cut　off　the　earl's　head；　and　ran　away。　　Late　in　the　day　he　came　to　Hlader；　where　he　delivered　the　earl's　head　to　King　Olaf；　and　told　all　these　circumstances　of　his　own　and　Earl　Hakon's　doings。　　Olaf　had　him　taken　out　and　beheaded。



56。　EARL　HAKON'S　HEAD。

King　Olaf；　and　a　vast　number　of　bondes　with　him；　then　went　out　to　Nidarholm；　and　had　with　him　the　heads　of　Earl　Hakon　and　Kark。　This　holm　was　used　then　for　a　place　of　execution　of　thieves　and　ill…doers；　and　there　stood　a　gallows　on　it。　　He　had　the　heads　of　the　earl　and　of　Kark　hung　upon　it；　and　the　whole　army　of　the　bondes　cast　stones　at　them；　screaming　and　shouting　that　the　one　worthless　fellow　had　followed　the　other。　　They　then　sent　up　to　Gaulardal　for　the　earl's　dead　body。　　So　great　was　the　enmity　of　the　Throndhjem　people　against　Earl　Hakon；　that　no　man　could　venture　to　call　him　by　any　other　name　than　Hakon　the　Bad；　and　he　was　so　called　long　after　those　days。　　Yet；　sooth　to　say　of　Earl　Hakon；　he　was　in　many　respects　fitted　to　be　a　chief：　first；　because　he　was　descended　from　a　high　race；　then　because　he　had　understanding　and　knowledge　to　direct　a　government；　also　manly　courage　in　battle　to　gain　victories；　and　good　luck　in　killing　his　enemies。　　So　says　Thorleif　Raudfeldson：　

　　　　　〃In　Norway's　land　was　never　known　　　　　　A　braver　earl　than　the　brave　Hakon。　　　　　　At　sea