se; and he told the people that
an army was sailing up against the town with a great number of ships of
war, and that some people were riding over Bratsas. Many said it must be
the Danish king Eirik, and from him they might expect peace. The people
ran down into the town to their properties, armed themselves, and went
down upon the piers, whence they immediately saw there was an enemy
and an immense army. Nine East-country trading vessels belonging to the
merchants were afloat in the river at the piers. The Vindland people
first directed their course toward these and fought with the merchants,
who armed themselves, and defended themselves long, well, and manfully.
There was a hard battle, and resistance, before the merchant vessels
were cleared of their men; and in this conflict the Vindland people
lost 150 of their ships, with all the men on board. When the battle was
sharpest the townsmen stood upon the piers, and shot at the heathens.
But when the fight slackened the burgesses fled up to the town, and from
thence into the castle; and the men took with them all their valuable
articles, and such goods as they could carry. Solveig and her daughters,
with two other women, went on shore when the Vindlanders took possession
of the merchant vessels. Now the Vindlanders landed, and mustered their
men, and discovered their loss. Some of them went up into the town, some
on board the merchant ships, and took all the goods they pleased;
and then they set fire to the town, and burnt it and the ships. They
hastened then with all their army to assault the castle.

11. THE SECOND BATTLE.

King Rettibur made an offer to those who were in the castle that they
should go out, and he would give them their lives, weapons, clothes,
silver, and gold; but all exclaimed against it, and went out on the
fortification; some shot, some threw stones, some sharp stakes. It was
a great battle, in which many fell on both sides, but by far the most
of the Vindlanders. Solveig came up to a large farm called Solbjorg, and
brought the news. A message war-token was there split, and sent out to
Skurbagar, where there happened to be a joint ale-drinking feast, and
many men were assembled. A bonde called Olver Miklimun (Mickle Mouth)
was there, who immediately sprang up, took helmet and shield, and a
great axe in his hand, and said, "Stand up, brave lads, and take your
weapons. Let us go help the townspeople; for it would appear shameful
to every man