n height with all his war gear on!"

We have already referred to Erling's partiality for the axe as an
offensive weapon. This preference was in truth--strange though the
assertion may appear--owing to the peculiar adaptation of that
instrument to the preservation of life as well as the taking of it!

There are exceptions to all rules. The rule among the Northmen in
former years was to slay and spare not. Erling's tendency, and
occasionally his practice, was to spare and not to slay, if he could do
so with propriety. From experience he found that, by a slight motion of
his wrist, the edge of his axe could be turned aside, and the blow which
was delivered by its flat side was invariably sufficient, without
killing, to render the recipient utterly incapable of continuing or
renewing the combat--at least for a few days. With the sword this
delicate manoeuvre could not be so easily accomplished, for a blow from
the flat of a sword was not sufficiently crushing, and if delivered with
great force the weapon was apt to break. Besides, Erling was a blunt,
downright, straightforward man, and it harmonised more with his
feelings, and the energy of his character, to beat down sword and shield
and headpiece with one tremendous blow, than to waste time in fencing
with a lighter weapon.

Having completed his toilet and concluded his meditations--which latter
filled him with much perplexity, if one might judge from the frequency
with which he shook his head--Erling the Bold hung Glumm's long sword at
his back, laid his huge axe on his shoulder, and, emerging from the
smithy, strode rapidly along the bridle path that led to the residence
of Ulf of Romsdal.

Suddenly it occurred to him that he had not yet tried the temper of his
new weapon, so he stopped abruptly before a small pine tree, about as
thick as a man's arm. It stood on the edge of a precipice along the
margin of which the track skirted. Swaying the axe once round his head,
he brought it forcibly down on the stem, through which it passed as if
it had been a willow wand, and the tree went crashing into the ravine
below. The youth looked earnestly at his weapon, and nodded his head
once or twice as if the result were satisfactory. A benignant smile
played on his countenance as he replaced it on his shoulder and
continued on his way.

A brisk walk of half an hour brought him to Ulfstede, where he found the
men of the family making active preparations for the impend