lash the ships together, stem to stem; so it was done now. King Harald laid his ship against King Arnvid's, and there was the sharpest fight, and many men fell on both sides. At last King Harald was raging with anger, and went forward to the fore-deck, and slew so dreadfully that all the forecastle men of Arnvid's ship were driven aft of the mast, and some fell. Thereupon Harald boarded the ship, and King Arnvid's men tried to save themselves by flight, and he himself was slain in his ship. King Audbiorn also fell; but Solve fled. So says Hornklofe:—
"Against the hero's shield in vain
The arrow-storm fierce pours its rain.
The king stands on the blood-stained deck,
Trampling on many a stout foe's neck;
And high above the dinning stound
Of helm and axe, and ringing sound
Of blade and shield, and raven's cry,
Is heard his-shout of 'Victory!'"
Of King Harald's men, fell his earls Asgaut and Asbiorn, together with his brothers-in-law Griotgard and Hrollaug, the sons of Earl Hakon of Lade. Solve became afterwards a great sea-king, and often did great damage in King Harald's dominions.
Chapter. XII.
King Vemund burnt to death.
After this battle King Harald subdued South More; but Vemund, King Audbiorn's brother, still had the Fiorde district. It was now late in harvest, and King Harald's men gave him the counsel not to proceed southwards round Stad.[1] Then King Harald set Earl Kognvald over South and North More and also Raumsdal, and he had many people about him. King Harald returned to Drontheim. The same winter Kognvald went over the inner neck of land, and southwards to the Fiorde district. There he heard news of King Vemund, and came by night to a place called Notsdal, where King
- ↑ Stad is often mentioned in the sagas, being the most westerly part of the mainland of Norway; and vessels coasting along from the north or south had to steer a new course along the coast after passing Stad. It is now called Stadland.
