o intention to fly, if ye will follow me." But this
speech was not received with much favour. Halkel Huk was there; but both
his sons, Simon and Jon, were with King Inge. Halkel replied, so loud
that many heard him, "Let thy chests of gold follow thee, and let them
defend thy land."

32. KING EYSTEIN'S DEATH.

In the night many of King Eystein's ships rowed secretly away, some of
them joining King Inge, some going to Bergen, or up into the fjords; so
that when it was daylight in the morning the king was lying behind with
only ten ships. Then he left the Great Dragon, which was heavy to row,
and several other vessels behind; and cut and destroyed the Dragon,
started out the ale, and destroyed all that they could not take with
them. King Eystein went on board of the ship of Eindride, a son of Jon
Morner, sailed north into Sogn, and then took the land-road eastwards to
Viken. King Inge took the vessels, and sailed with them outside of the
isles to Viken. King Eystein had then got east as far as Fold, and had
with him 1200 men; but when they saw King Inge's force, they did not
think themselves sufficiently strong to oppose him, and they retired to
the forest. Every one fled his own way, so that the king was left with
but one man. King Inge and his men observed King Eystein's flight, and
also that he had but few people with him, and they went immediately to
search for him. Simon Skalp met the king just as he was coming out of a
willow bush. Simon saluted him. "God save you, sire," said he.

The king replied, "I do not know if thou are not sire here."

Simon replied, "That is as it may happen."

The king begged him to conceal him, and said it was proper to do so.
"For there was long friendship between us, although it has now gone
differently."

Simon replied, it could not be.

Then the king begged that he might hear mass before he died, which
accordingly took place. Then Eystein laid himself down on his face on
the grass, stretched out his hands on each side, and told them to cut
the sign of the cross between his shoulders, and see whether he could
not bear steel as King Inge's followers had asserted of him. Simon told
the man who had to put the king to death to do so immediately, for
the king had been creeping about upon the grass long enough. He was
accordingly slain, and he appears to have suffered manfully. His body
was carried to Fors, and lay all night under the hill at the south side
of the church. King E