o
describe the arrangements made by Haldor the Fierce, who had been
elected commander-in-chief of the small kings' fleet.

When Haldor saw the King's banner displayed, he unfurled his own in the
centre of the fleet, and arranged his force for attack right against it.
Alongside of him on the right was Ulf of Romsdal with thirty ships, and
on his left was old Guttorm Stoutheart with twenty-five ships. These
composed the centre of the line. Kettle Flatnose commanded the men on
the forecastle in Ulf's longship, and Thorer the Thick was over those in
Haldor's vessel.

The right wing was commanded by Solve Klofe, under whom were Eric of
Hordaland with fifteen ships; Sulke of Rogaland and his brother Sote
with thirty ships, as well as Kiotve of Agder, and some others with many
ships--all of large size.

The left wing was led by King Hakon of Drontheim, under whom were Roald
Ryg and Hadd the Hard, and Thor Haklang, with a good many ships. Solve
Klofe laid his ships against King Harald's left wing, which was under
Eindrid, son of Mornef, and Hakon laid his against King Sigurd of Royer,
who led Harald's right wing. All the chiefs on either side laid their
ships according as they were bold or well equipped. When all was ready,
they bound the ships together by the stems, and advanced towards each
other at the sound of the war-trumpet. But as the fleets were so large,
many of the smaller vessels remained loose, and, as it were, went about
skirmishing independently. These were laid forward in the fight,
according to the courage of their commanders, which was very unequal.

Among these roving warriors were our heroes Erling and Glumm, each in
one of his own small cutters, with about forty men.

As soon as the war-blast sounded the men rode forward to the attack, and
soon narrowed the small space that lay between the hostile fleets. Then
Haldor and the other commanders went down to the sides of their ships,
where the men stood so thick that their shields touched all round, and
encouraged them to fight well for the freedom of old Norway--to which
they replied with loud huzzas. Immediately after the air was darkened
with a cloud of arrows, and the fight began.

There were scalds in both fleets at that fight, these afterwards wrote a
poem descriptive of it, part of which we now quote:

"With falcon eye and courage bright,
Haldor the Fierce prepared for fight;
`Hand up the arms to one and all!'
He cries. `My men,