ow to the one,
Known as a brave and generous man,
Wounding the other, ere he fell,--
His bloody sword his deeds showed well."

It happened then, as before related, that the sun, although the air was
clear, withdrew from the sight, and it became dark. Of this Sigvat the
skald speaks:--

"No common wonder in the sky
Fell out that day--the sun on high,
And not a cloud to see around,
Shone not, nor warmed Norway's ground.
The day on which fell out this fight
Was marked by dismal dusky light,
This from the East I heard--the end
Of our great king it did portend."

At the same time Dag Hringson came up with his people, and began to
put his men in array, and to set up his banner; but on account of the
darkness the onset could not go on so briskly, for they could not see
exactly whom they had before them. They turned, however, to that
quarter where the men of Hordaland and Rogaland stood. Many of these
circumstances took place at the same time, and some happened a little
earlier, and some a little later.

240. KING OLAF'S FALL.

On the one side of Kalf Arnason stood his two relations, Olaf and Kalf,
with many other brave and stout men. Kalf was a son of Arnfin Arnmodson,
and a brother's son of Arne Arnmodson. On the other side of Kalf Arnason
stood Thorer Hund. King Olaf hewed at Thorer Hund, and struck him across
the shoulders; but the sword would not cut, and it was as if dust flew
from his reindeer-skin coat. So says Sigvat:--

"The king himself now proved the power
Of Fin-folk's craft in magic hour,
With magic song; for stroke of steel
Thor's reindeer coat would never feel,
Bewitched by them it turned the stroke
Of the king's sword,--a dust-like smoke
Rose from Thor's shoulders from the blow
Which the king though would end his foe."

Thorer struck at the king, and they exchanged some blows; but the king's
sword would not cut where it met the reindeer skin, although Thorer was
wounded in the hands. Sigvat sang thus of it:--

"Some say that Thorer's not right bold;
Why never yet have I been told
Of one who did a bolder thing
Than to change blows with his true king.
Against his king his sword to wield,
Leaping across the shield on shield
Which fenced the king round in the fight,
Shows the dog's (1) courage--brave, not bright."

The king said to Bjorn the marshal, "Do th