fall. Uttering their war-cry, they made a desperate charge, hewing down
men like stalks of corn; but although this caused the Danes to give way
a little, they could not advance, not being well backed, but stood
fighting, and merely kept their ground.

Now it had chanced shortly before this, that Haldor stayed his hand and
drew back with Erling. They went out from the front of the fight, and
observed the left wing giving way.

"Come, let us aid them," cried Haldor.

Saying this he ran to the left wing, with Erling by his side. They two
uttered a war-cry that rose high above the din of battle like a roar of
thunder, and, rushing to the front, fell upon the foe. Their gilt
helmets rose above the crowd, and their ponderous axes went swinging
round their heads, continually crashing down on the skulls of the Danes.
With four such men as Haldor, Erling, Ulf and Glumm in front, the left
wing soon regained its lost ground and drove back the Danes. Nothing
could withstand the shock. Skarpedin saw what had occurred, and
immediately hastened to the spot where Haldor stood, sweeping down all
who stood in his way.

"I have been searching for thee, Erling," he cried, going up to Haldor,
and launching a javelin.

Haldor caught it on his shield, which it pierced through, but did him no
hurt.

"Mistaken thou art, but thou hast found me now," cried Erling, thrusting
his father aside and leaping upon the Dane.

Skarpedin changed his bill to his left hand, drew his sword, and made
such a blow at his adversary, that the point cut right through his
shield. With a quick turn of the shield, Erling broke the sword short
off at the hilt. Skarpedin seized his bill and thrust so fiercely that
it also went through the shield and stuck fast. Erling forced the lower
end or point of his shield down into the earth, and so held it fast,
dropped his axe, drew his sword, and made it flash so quick round his
head that no one could see the blade. It fell upon Skarpedin's neck and
gave him a grievous wound, cutting right through his armour and deep
into his shoulder blade.

A great cry arose at this. The Danes made a rush towards their chief,
and succeeded in dragging him out of the fight. They put him on his
shield and bore him off to his ship, which was launched immediately.
This was the turning-point in the day. Everywhere the Danes fled to
their ships pursued by the victors. Some managed to launch their
vessels, others were not so