But the Vendland cutter, in which Astrid's men were, rowed back to Vendland; and the report went immediately abroad, and was told by many, that King Olaf had cast off his coat of mail under water, and had swam, diving under the long-ships, until he came to the Yendland cutter, and that Astrid's men had conveyed him to Vendland and many tales have been made since about the adventures of Olaf the king. Halfred speaks thus about it:—
"Does Olaf live? or is he dead?
Has he the hungry ravens fed?
I scarcely know what I should say,
For many tell the tale each way.
This I can say, nor fear to lie,
That he was wounded grievously,—
So wounded in this bloody strife,
He scarce could come away with life."
But however this may have been, King Olaf Tryggvesson never came back again to his kingdom of Norway. Halfred Vandrædaskald speaks also thus about it:—
"The witness who reports this thing
Of Tryggvesson, our gallant king,
Once served the king, and truth should tell,
For Olaf hated lies like hell.
If Olaf 'scaped from this sword-thing,
Worse fate, I fear, befell our king
Than people guess, or e'er can know,
For he was hemm'd in by the foe.
From the far east some news is rife
Of king sore wounded saving life;
His death, too sure, leaves me no care
For cobweb rumours in the air.
It never was the will of fate
That Olaf from such perilous strait
Should 'scape with life: this truth may grieve—
'What people wish they soon believe.'"
Chapter CXXIII.
Of Earl Eric the son of Hakon.
By this victory Earl Eric Hakonson became owner of the Long Serpent, and made a great booty besides; and he steered the Serpent from the battle. So says Haldor:—
"Olaf, with glittering helmet crowned,
Had steered the Serpent through the Sound;
