heimskringla-第85节
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rothers' the outside vessel in the port。 When Thorer had set up his tents he went on shore； and many of his men with him。 They went to Karle's ship； which was well provided。 Thorer hailed the ship； and told the commanders to come on shore； on which the brothers； and some men with them； went on the land。 Now Thorer began the same discourse； and told them to bring the goods they got in booty to the land to have them divided。 The brothers thought that was not necessary； until they had arrived at their own neighbourhood。 Thorer said it was unusual not to divide booty but at their own home； and thus to be left to the honour of other people。 They spoke some words about it； but could not agree。 Then Thorer turned away； but had not gone far before he came back； and tells his comrades to wait there。 Thereupon he calls to Karle； and says he wants to speak with him alone。 Karle went to meet him； and when he came near； Thorer struck at him with a spear； so that it went through him。 〃There；〃 said Thorer； 〃now thou hast learnt to know a Bjarkey Island man。 I thought thou shouldst feel Asbjorn's spear。〃 Karle died instantly； and Thorer with his people went immediately on board their ship。 When Gunstein and his men saw Karle fall they ran instantly to him； took his body and carried it on board their ship； struck their tents； and cast off from the pier； and left the land。 When Thorer and his men saw this； they took down their tents and made preparations to follow。 But as they were hoisting the sail the fastenings to the mast broke in two； and the sail fell down across the ship； which caused a great delay before they could hoist the sail again。 Gunstein had already got a long way ahead before Thorer's ship fetched way； and now they used both sails and oars。 Gunstein did the same。 On both sides they made great way day and night； but so that they did not gain much on each other； although when they came to the small sounds among the islands Gunstein's vessel was lighter in turning。 But Thorer's ship made way upon them； so that when they came up to Lengjuvik； Gunstein turned towards the land； and with all his men ran up into the country； and left his ship。 A little after Thorer came there with his ship； sprang upon the land after them； and pursued them。 There was a woman who helped Gunstein to conceal himself； and it is told that she was much acquainted with witchcraft。 Thorer and his men returned to the vessels； and took all the goods out of Gunstein's vessel； and put on board stones in place of the cargo； and then hauled the ship out into the fjord； cut a hole in its bottom； and sank it to the bottom。 Thereafter Thorer； with his people； returned home to Bjarkey Isle。 Gunstein and his people proceeded in small boats at first； and lay concealed by day； until they had passed Bjarkey； and had got beyond Thorer's district。 Gunstein went home first to Langey Isle for a short time； and then proceeded south without any halt； until he came south to Throndhjem； and there found King Olaf； to whom he told all that had happened on this Bjarmaland expedition。 The king was ill…pleased with the voyage； but told Gunstein to remain with him； promising to assist him when opportunity offered。 Gunstein took the invitation with thanks； and stayed with King Olaf。
ENDNOTES： （1） Ludr the loor is a long tube or roll of birch…bark used as a horn by the herdboys in the mountains in Norway。 L。
144。 MEETING OF KING OLAF AND KING ONUND。
King Olaf was； as before related； in Sarpsborg the winter （A。D。 1026） that King Canute was in Denmark。 The Swedish king Onund rode across West Gautland the same winter； and had thirty hundred （3600） men with him。 Men and messages passed between them； and they agreed to meet in spring at Konungahella。 The meeting had been postponed； because they wished to know before they met what King Canute intended doing。 As it was now approaching towards winter； King Canute made ready to go over to England with his forces； and left his son Hardaknut to rule in Denmark； and with him Earl Ulf； a son of Thorgils Sprakaleg。 Ulf was married to Astrid； King Svein's daughter； and sister of Canute the Great。 Their son Svein was afterwards king of Denmark。 Earl Ulf was a very distinguished man。 When the kings Olaf and Onund heard that Canute the Great had gone west to England； they hastened to hold their conference； and met at Konungahella； on the Gaut river。 They had a joyful meeting； and had many friendly conversations； of which something might become known to the public； but they also spake often a great deal between themselves； with none but themselves two present； of which only some things afterwards were carried into effect； and thus became known to every one。 At parting the kings presented each other with gifts； and parted the best of friends。 King Onund went up into Gautland； and Olaf northwards to Viken； and afterwards to Agder； and thence northwards along the coast； but lay a long time at Egersund waiting a wind。 Here he heard that Erling Skjalgson； and the inhabitants of Jadar with him； had assembled a large force。 One day the king's people were talking among themselves whether the wind was south or south…west； and whether with that wind they could sail past Jadar or not。 The most said it was impossible to fetch round。 Then answers Haldor Brynjolfson； 〃I am of opinion that we would go round Jadar with this wind fast enough if Erling Skjalgson had prepared a feast for us at Sole。〃 Then King Olaf ordered the tents to be struck； and the vessels to be hauled out； which was done。 They sailed the same day past Jadar with the best wind； and in the evening reached Hirtingsey； from whence the king proceeded to Hordaland； and was entertained there in guest… quarters。
145。 THORALF'S MURDER。
The same summer （A。D。 1026） a ship sailed from Norway to the Farey Islands； with messengers carrying a verbal message from King Olaf； that one of his court…men； Leif Ossurson； or Lagman Gille； or Thoralf of Dimun； should come over to him from the Farey Islands。 Now when this message came to the Farey Islands； and was delivered to those whom it concerned； they held a meeting among themselves； to consider what might lie under this message； and they were all of opinion that the king wanted to inquire into the real state of the event which some said had taken place upon the islands； namely； the failure and disappearance of the former messengers of the king； and the loss of the two ships； of which not a man had been saved。 It was resolved that Thoralf should undertake the journey。 He got himself ready； and rigged out a merchant…vessel belonging to himself； manned with ten or twelve men。 When it was ready； waiting a wind； it happened； at Austrey； in the house of Thrand of Gata； that he went one fine day into the room where his brother's two sons； Sigurd and Thord； sons of Thorlak； were lying upon the benches in the room。 Gaut the Red was also there； who was one of their relations and a man of distinction。 Sigurd was the oldest； and their leader in all things。 Thord had a distinguished name； and was called Thord the Low； although in reality he was uncommonly tall； and yet in proportion more strong than large。 Then Thrand said； 〃How many things are changed in the course of a man's life！ When we were young； it was rare for young people who were able to do anything to sit or lie still upon a fine day； and our forefathers would scarcely have believed that Thoralf of Dimun would be bolder and more active than ye are。 I believe the vessel I have standing here in the boat…house will be so old that it will rot under its coat of tar。 Here are all the houses full of wool； which is neither used nor sold。 It should not be so if I were a few winters younger。〃 Sigurd sprang up； called upon Gaut and Thord； and said he would not endure Thrand's scoffs。 They went out to the houseservants； and launched the vessel upon the water； brought down a cargo； and loaded the ship。 They had no want of a cargo at home； and the vessel's rigging was in good order； so that in a few days they were ready for sea。 There were ten or twelve men in the vessel。 Thoralf's ship and theirs had the same wind； and they were generally in sight of each other。 They came to the land at Herna in the evening； and Sigurd with his vessel lay outside on the strand； but so that there was not much distance between the two ships。 It happened towards evening； when it was dark； that just as Thoralf and his people were preparing to go to bed； Thoralf and another went on shore for a certain purpose。 When they were ready； they prepared to return on board。 The man who had accompanied Thoralf related afterwards this story； that a cloth was thrown over his head； and that he was lifted up from the ground； and he heard a great bustle。 He was taken away； and thrown head foremost down； but there was sea under him； and he sank under the water。 When he got to land； he went to the place where he and Thoralf had been parted； and there he found Thoralf with his head cloven down to his shoulders； and dead。 When the ship's people heard of it they carried the body out to the ship； and let it remain there all night。 King Olaf was at that time in guest…quarters at Lygra； an
