at kind of kingdom is that," said the king, "which I can give to
Harald, that I may possess Denmark entire?"

"It is Norway," said the earl. "The kings who are there are oppressive
to the people of the country, so that every man is against them who has
tax or service to pay."

The king replies,--"Norway is a large country, and the people fierce,
and not good to attack with a foreign army. We found that sufficiently
when Hakon defended that country; for we lost many people, and gained no
victory. Besides, Harald the son of Eirik is my foster-son, and has sat
on my knee."

The earl answers, "I have long known that you have helped Gunhild's sons
with your force, and a bad return you have got for it; but we shall get
at Norway much more easily than by fighting for it with all the Danish
force. Send a message to your foster-son Harald, Eirik's son, and offer
him the lands and fiefs which Gunhild's sons held before in Denmark.
Appoint him a meeting, and Gold Harald will soon conquer for himself a
kingdom in Norway from Harald Grafeld."

The king replies, that it would be called a bad business to deceive his
own foster-son.

"The Danes," answered the earl, "will rather say that it was better to
kill a Norwegian viking than a Danish, and your own brother's son."

They spoke so long over the matter, that they agreed on it.

11. HARALD GORMSON'S MESSAGE TO NORWAY.

Thereafter Gold Harald had a conference with Earl Hakon; and the earl
told him he had now advanced his business so far, that there was hope a
kingdom might stand open for him in Norway. "We can then continue," said
he, "our ancient friendship, and I can be of the greatest use to you in
Norway. Take first that kingdom. King Harald is now very old, and has
but one son, and cares but little about him, as he is but the son of a
concubine."

The Earl talked so long to Gold Harald that the project pleased him
well; and the king, the earl, and Gold Harald often talked over the
business together. The Danish king then sent messengers north to Norway
to Harald Grafeld, and fitted them out magnificently for their journey.
They were well received by Harald. The messengers told him that Earl
Hakon was in Denmark, but was lying dangerously sick, and almost out
of his senses. They then delivered from Harald, the Danish king, the
invitation to Harald Grafeld, his foster-son, to come to him and receive
investiture of the fiefs he and his brothers before him had formerly