To Odin many a soul was driven,—
To Odin many a rich gift given.
Loud raged the storm on battle-field—
Axe rang on helm, and sword on shield."
The friends on both sides at last laid themselves between, and brought proposals of peace; for the bonders suffered by this strife and war in the land. At last it was brought to this, by the advice of pru¬ dent men, that Earl Hakon should have the same power in the Drontheim land which his father Earl Sigurd had enjoyed; and the kings, on the other hand, should have the same dominion as King Hakon had: and this agreement was settled with the fullest promises of fidelity to it. Afterwards a great friendship arose between Earl Hakon and Gunhild, although they sometimes attempted to deceive each other. And thus matters stood for three years longer, in which time Earl Hakon sat quietly in his dominions.
Chapter VIII.
Of Har'ald Greyskin.
King Harald had generally his seat in Hordaland and Kogaland, and also his brothers; but very often, also, they went to Hardanger. One summer it happened that a vessel came from Iceland belonging to Icelanders, and loaded with skins and peltry. They sailed to Hardanger, where they heard the greatest number of people were assembled; but when the folks came to deal with them, nobody would buy their skins. Then the steersman went to King Harald, whom he had been acquainted with before, and complained of his ill luck. The king promised to visit him, and did so. King Harald was very condescending, and full of fun. He came with a fully manned boat, looked at the skins, and then said to the steersman, "Wilt thou give me a present of one of these wolf-skins?"[1] "Willingly," said the steersman, "if it were ever so many." On this the king wrapped him-
- ↑ It is not clear that the "grey skins" of this story were wolves' skins. It is likely they were fox or seal skins. The wolf is not found in Iceland.
