Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/137

KINGS OF NORWAY. 125 tut ! 'tis a shame for the dogs, says the proverb, when sa^^axi. the fox is allowed to piss in the peasant's well. Here will be a miracle! Thou useless fellow! with a coat without arms, and a kirtle with skirts, wilt thou drive me out of the country ? Thy relation Sigurd Woolsack was sent before on this errand, and one called Gille the Backthief, and one who had still a worse name. They were a night in every house, and stole wherever they came. Wilt thou drive me out of the country ? For- merly thou wast not so mighty, and thy pride was less when King Hakon, my foster- son, was in life. Then thou wert as frightened for him when he met thee on the road as a mouse in a mouse-trap, and hid thyself under a heap of clothes, Hke a dog on board a ship. Thou wast thrust into a leather-bag like corn in a sack, and driven from house and farm like a year- old colt from the mares ; and dost thou dare to drive me from the land? Thou shouldst rather think thy- self lucky to escape from hence with life. Let us stand up and attack him." Then all his men stood up, and made a great clash with their weapons. Then Swend Bryggefod and the other lendermen saw there was no other chance for Sigurd but to get him on horseback, which was done, and he rode off into the forest. The end was that Sweinke returned home to his farm, and Sigurd Ullstring came, with great difficulty, by land north to Drontheim to King Magnus, and told the result of his errand. " Did I not say," said the king, " that the help of my lendermen would be needed?" Sigurd was ill pleased -with his journey; insisted that he would be revenged, cost what it will; and urged the king much. The king ordered five ships to be fitted out ; and as soon as they were ready for sea he sailed south along the land, and then east to Yiken, where he was entertained in excellent guest-quarters by his lender- men. The king told them he would seek out Sweinke.