resolved that the king with his army should proceed south to Heidaby.
While King Magnus lay at Skotborg river, on Hlyrskog Heath, he got
intelligence concerning the Vindland army, and that it was so numerous
it could not be counted; whereas King Magnus had so few, that there
seemed no chance for him but to fly. The king, however, determined on
fighting, if there was any possibility of gaining the victory; but the
most dissuaded him from venturing on an engagement, and all, as one man,
said that the Vindland people had undoubtedly a prodigious force. Duke
Otto, however, pressed much to go to battle. Then the king ordered the
whole army to be gathered by the war trumpets into battle array, and
ordered all the men to arm, and to lie down for the night under their
shields; for he was told the enemy's army had come to the neighbourhood.
The king was very thoughtful; for he was vexed that he should be obliged
to fly, which fate he had never experienced before. He slept but little
all night, and chanted his prayers.

28. OF KING OLAF'S MIRACLE.

The following day was Michaelmas eve. Towards dawn the king slumbered,
and dreamt that his father, King Olaf the Saint, appeared to him, and
said, "Art thou so melancholy and afraid, because the Vindland people
come against thee with a great army? Be not afraid of heathens,
although they be many; for I shall be with thee in the battle. Prepare,
therefore, to give battle to the Vindlanders, when thou hearest my
trumpet." When the king awoke he told his dream to his men, and the day
was then dawning. At that moment all the people heard a ringing of bells
in the air; and those among King Magnus's men who had been in Nidaros
thought that it was the ringing of the bell called Glod, which King Olaf
had presented to the church of Saint Clement in the town of Nidaros.

29. BATTLE OF HLYRSKOG HEATH.

Then King Magnus stood up, and ordered the war trumpets to sound, and at
that moment the Vindland army advanced from the south across the
river against him; on which the whole of the king's army stood up, and
advanced against the heathens. King Magnus threw off from him his coat
of ring-mail, and had a red silk shirt outside over his clothes, and had
in his hands the battle-axe called Hel (1), which had belonged to King
Olaf. King Magnus ran on before all his men to the enemy's army, and
instantly hewed down with both hands every man who came against him. So
says Arnor, the earls' s