, after
each had killed a man or two, and some indeed more. Now the ranks in
front of the king's banner began to be thinned, and the king ordered
Thord to carry the banner forward, and the king himself followed it with
the troop he had chosen to stand nearest to him in battle; and these
were the best armed men in the field, and the most expert in the use of
their weapons. Sigvat the skald tells of this:--

"Loud was the battle-storm there,
Where the king's banner flamed in air.
The king beneath his banner stands,
And there the battle he commands."

Olaf came forth from behind the shield-bulwark, and put himself at the
head of the army; and when the bondes looked him in the face they were
frightened, and let their hands drop. So says Sigvat:--

"I think I saw them shrink with fear
Who would not shrink from foeman's spear,
When Olaf's lion-eye was cast
On them, and called up all the past.
Clear as the serpent's eye--his look
No Throndhjem man could stand, but shook
Beneath its glance, and skulked away,
Knowing his king, and cursed the day."

The combat became fierce, and the king went forward in the fray. So says
Sigvat:--

"When on they came in fierce array,
And round the king arose the fray,
With shield on arm brave Olaf stood,
Dyeing his sword in their best blood.
For vengeance on his Throndhjem foes,
On their best men he dealt his blows;
He who knew well death's iron play,
To his deep vengeance gave full sway."

239. THORGEIR OF KVISTSTAD'S FALL.

King Olaf fought most desperately. He struck the lenderman before
mentioned (Thorgeir of Kviststad) across the face, cut off the
nose-piece of his helmet, and clove his head down below the eyes so
that they almost fell out. When he fell the king said, "Was it not true,
Thorgeir, what I told thee, that thou shouldst not be victor in our
meeting?" At the same instant Thord stuck the banner-pole so fast in the
earth that it remained standing. Thord had got his death-wound, and
fell beneath the banner. There also fell Thorfin Mun, and also Gissur
Gullbrarskald, who was attacked by two men, of whom he killed one, but
only wounded the other before he fell. So says Hofgardaref:--

"Bold in the Iron-storm was he,
Firm and stout as forest tree,
The hero who, 'gainst two at once,
Made Odin's fire from sword-edge glance;
Dealing a death-bl