d much at this event, and spoke among themselves of what it could
be that produced it: but Thorgils the peasant and his son Grim thought
they knew how this came to pass; and as they were much afraid the king's
enemies might go there and search the hut, they went and took the body
out of it, and removed it to a garden, where they concealed it, and then
returned to the farm, and slept there all night.

250. OF THORER HUND.

The fifth day (Thursday), Thorer Hund came down the valley of Veradal
to Stiklestad; and many people, both chiefs and bondes, accompanied him.
The field of battle was still being cleared, and people were carrying
away the bodies of their friends and relations, and were giving the
necessary help to such of the wounded as they wished to save; but
many had died since the battle. Thorer Hund went to where the king had
fallen, and searched for his body; but not finding it, he inquired if
any one could tell him what had become of the corpse, but nobody could
tell him where it was. Then he asked the bonde Thorgils, who said, "I
was not in the battle, and knew little of what took place there; but
many reports are abroad, and among others that King Olaf has been seen
in the night up at Staf, and a troop of people with him: but if he fell
in the battle, your men must have concealed him in some hole, or under
some stone-heap." Now although Thorer Hund knew for certain that the
king had fallen, many allowed themselves to believe, and to spread
abroad the report, that the king had escaped from the battle, and would
in a short time come again upon them with an army. Then Thorer went
to his ships, and sailed down the fjord, and the bonde-army dispersed,
carrying with them all the wounded men who could bear to be removed.

251. OF KING OLAF'S BODY.

Thorgils Halmason and his son Grim had King Olaf's body, and were
anxious about preserving it from falling into the hands of the king's
enemies, and being ill-treated; for they heard the bondes speaking about
burning it, or sinking it in the sea. The father and son had seen a
clear light burning at night over the spot on the battlefield where King
Olaf's body lay, and since, while they concealed it, they had always
seen at night a light burning over the corpse; therefore they were
afraid the king's enemies might seek the body where this signal was
visible. They hastened, therefore, to take the body to a place where
it would be safe. Thorgils and his son acco