Page:The Early Kings of Norway.djvu/122

112 EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY. usually did in time, that the King was stronger in men, seemed to say unanimously to itself, " We have lost, then ; baptise us, we must bum our old gods and conform." One new feature we do slightly discern : here and there a touch of theological argument on the heathen side. At one wild Thing, far up in the Dovrefjeld, of a very heathen temper, there was much of that ; not to be quenched by King Olaf at the moment ; so that it had to be adjourned till the morrow, and again till the next day. Here are some traits of it, much abridged from Snorro (who gives a highly punctual account), which vividly represent Olaf's posture and manner of proceeding in such intricacies. The chief Ironbeard on this occasion was one Gud- brand, a very rugged peasant ; who, says Snorro, was like a king in that district. Some days before. King Olaf, intending a religious Thing in those deeply heathen parts, with alternative of Christianity or con- flagration, is reported, on looking down into the valley and the beautiful village of Loar standing there, to have said wistfully, "What a pity it is that so beautiful a village should be burnt ! " Olaf