ship's sides were in many places quite bare of defenders; and the earl's men poured in all around into the vessel, and all the men who were still able to defend the ship crowded aft to the king, and arrayed themselves for his defence. So says Haldor the Unchristian:—
"Eric cheers on his men,—
'On to the charge again!'
The gallant few
Of Olaf's crew
Must refuge take
On the quarter-deck.
Around the king
They stand in ring;
Their shields enclose
The king from foes,
And the few who still remain
Fight madly, but in vain.
Eric cheers on his men—
'On to the charge again!'"
Chapter CXXI.
The Serpent's decks cleared.
Kolbiorn the marshal, who had on clothes and arms like the king's, and was a remarkably stout and handsome man, went up to the king on the quarter-deck. The battle was still going on fiercely even in the forehold.[1] But as many of the earl's men had now got into the Serpent as could find room, and his ships lay all round her, and few were the people left in the Serpent for defence against so great a force; and in a short time most of the Serpent's men fell, brave and stout though they were. King Olaf and Kolbiorn the marshal both sprang overboard, each on his own side of the ship; but the earl's men had laid out boats around the Serpent, and killed those who leaped over-board. Now when the king had sprung overboard, they tried to seize him with their hands, and bring
- ↑ From the occasional descriptions of vessels in this and other battles, it may be inferred that even the Long Serpent, described in the 95th Chapter as of 150 feet of keel, was only decked fore and aft; the 34 benches for rowers occupying the open area in the middle, and probably gangways running along the sides for communicating from the quarter-deck to the forecastle.
