48. CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA IX. Chapter LII. Hakon Ivarsson's marriage. Chapter LIII. Reconci- liation of King Ha- rald and Kalf. down the men before his feet. At last he and Asinund met, and exchanged blows until Asmund fell. Hakon cut off his head, went in all haste to King Swend, and found him just sitting down to the dinner- table. Hakon presented himself before the table, laid Asmund' s head upon the table before the king, and asked if he knew it. The king made no reply, but became as red as blood in the face. Soon after the king sent him a message, ordering him to leave his service immediately. " Tell him that I will do him no harm ; but I cannot keep watch over all our re- lations." * Hakon then left Denmark, and came north to his estates in Norway. His relation Earl Orm was dead. Hakon's relations and friends were glad to see Hakon, and many gallant men gave themselves much trouble to bring about a reconciliation between King Harald and Hakon. It was at last settled in this way, that Hakon got Ragnhild, the king's daughter, and that King Harald gave Hakon the earldom, with the same power Earl Orm had possessed. Hakon swore to King Harald an oath of fidelity to all the services he was liable to fufil. Kalf Arneson had been on a viking cruise to the Western countries ever since he had left Norway ; but in winter he was often in the Orkney Islands with his relative Earl Thorfinn. Finn Arneson sent a message to his brother Kalf, and told him the agreement which he had made with King Harald, that Kalf should enjoy safety in Norway, and his estates, and all the fiefs he had held from King Magnus. When this message came to Kalf he immediately got ready for his voyage, and went east to Norway to his brother Finn. Then
- This incident shows how strong, in those ages, was the tie of
relationship, and the point of honour of avenging its injuries — the clanship spirit.
