town south to Nordnes. Sigurd sat on a chest in the stern of the boat,
and had his suspicions that foul play was intended. He was clothed in
blue trousers, and over his shirt he had a hood tied with ribands,
which served him for a cloak. He sat looking down, and holding his
hood-strings; and sometimes moved them over his head, sometimes let
them fall again before him. Now when they had passed the ness, they
were drunk, and merry, were rowing so eagerly that they were not taking
notice of anything. Sigurd stood up, and went on the boat's deck; but
the two men who were placed to guard him stood up also, and followed
him to the side of the vessel, holding by his cloak, as is the custom in
guarding people of distinction. As he was afraid that they would catch
hold of more of his clothes, he seized them both, and leaped overboard
with them. The boat, in the meantime, had gone on a long way, and it was
a long time before those on board could turn the vessel, and long before
they could get their own men taken on board again; and Sigurd dived
under water, and swam so far away that he reached the land before they
could get the boat turned to pursue him. Sigurd, who was very swift of
foot, hied up to the mountains, and the king's men travelled about the
whole night seeking him without finding him. He lay down in a cleft of
the rocks; and as he was very cold he took off his trousers, cut a hole
in the seat of them, and stuck his head through it, and put his arms
in the legs of them. He escaped with life this time; and the king's men
returned, and could not conceal their unsuccessful adventure.

17. TREACHERY TOWARDS KING HARALD.

Sigurd thought now that it would be of no use to seek any help from
King Harald again; and he kept himself concealed all the autumn and the
beginning of the winter. He lay hid in Bergen, in the house of a priest.
King Harald was also in the town, and many great people with him. Now
Sigurd considered how, with his friends' help, he might take the king by
surprise, and make an end of him. Many men took part in this design; and
among them some who were King Harald's court-men and chamberlains,
but who had formerly been King Magnus's court-men. They stood in great
favour with the king, and some of them sat constantly at the king's
table. On Saint Lucia's day (December 13), in the evening when they
proposed to execute this treason, two men sat at the king's table
talking together; and one of them said to