they saw four ships coming sailing along, of which one had a large dragon-head richly gilt. Then King Swend stood up, and said, "That dragon shall carry me this evening high, for I shall steer it."
Then said many, "The Serpent is indeed a wonderfully large and beautiful vessel, and it shows a great mind to have built such a ship."
Earl Eric said so loud that several persons heard him, "If King Olaf had no other vessels but only that one, King Swend would never take it from him with the Danish force alone."
Thereafter all the people rushed on board their ships, took down the tents[1], and in all haste made ready for battle.
While the chiefs were speaking among themselves as above related, they saw three very large ships coming sailing along, and at last after them a fourth, and that was the Long Serpent. Of the large ships which had gone before, and which they had taken for the Long Serpent, the first was the Crane; the one after that was the Short Serpent; and when they really saw the Long Serpent all knew, and nobody had a word to say against it, that it must be Olaf Tryggvesson who was sailing in such a vessel; and they went to their ships to arm for the fight. An agreement had been concluded among the chiefs, King Swend, King Olaf the Swede, and Earl Eric, that they should divide Norway among them in three parts, in case they succeeded against Olaf Tryggvesson; but that he of the chiefs who should first board the Serpent should have her, and all the booty found in her, and each should have the ships he cleared for himself. Earl Eric had a large ship of war which he used upon his viking expeditions; and there was an
- ↑ The ship-tents or tilts, under which, the crews appear to have lived when not under sail.
