e name of this man, means the water-serpent,
and appears to have been a favourite name for war-ships also;
hence the pun in the lines upon Vatnorm.--L.

6. THE MURDER OF BEINTEIN.

Sigurd Slembidjakn sailed from thence to Denmark; and at that time a man
was lost in his ship, whose name was Kolbein Thorliotson of Batald.
He was sitting in a boat which was made fast to the vessel, and upset
because she was sailing quickly. When they came south to Denmark,
Sigurd's ship itself was cast away; but he got to Alaborg, and was
there in winter. The summer after (A.D. 1138) Magnus and Sigurd sailed
together from the south with seven ships, and came unexpectedly in
the night to Lister, where they laid their ships on the land. Beintein
Kolbeinson, a court-man of King Inge, and a very brave man, was there.
Sigurd and his men jumped on shore at daylight, came unexpectedly on the
people, surrounded the house, and were setting fire to the buildings;
but Beintein came out of a store-house with his weapons, well armed, and
stood within the door with drawn sword, his shield before him, helmet
on, and ready to defend himself. The door was somewhat low. Sigurd asked
which of his lads had most desire to go in against Beintein, which he
called brave man's work; but none was very hurried to make ready for
it. While they were discussing this matter Sigurd rushed into the house,
past Beintein. Beintein struck at him, but missed him. Sigurd turned
instantly on Beintein; and after exchanging blows, Sigurd gave him his
death-stroke, and came out presently bearing his head in his hands.

They took all the goods that were in the farm-house, carried the booty
to their ships, and sailed away. When King Inge and his friends, and
also Kolbein's sons, Sigurd and Gyrd, the brothers of Beintein, heard of
Beintein's murder, the king sent a great force against Sigurd Slembe and
his followers; and also travelled himself, and took a ship from Hakon
Paulson Pungelta, who was a daughter's son of Aslak, a son of Erling
Skjalgson of Sole, and cousin of Hakon Mage. King Inge drove Hakon and
his followers up the country, and took all their gear. Sigurd Stork,
a son of Eindride of Gautdal, and his brother, Eirik Hael, and Andres
Kelduskit, son of Grim of Vist, all fled away into the fjords. But
Sigurd Slembe, Magnus the Blind and Thorieif Skiappa sailed outside the
isles with three ships north to Halogaland; and Magnus was in winter
(A.D. 1139) north