But Olaf's name, and arm, and sword.
Of three great earls, I have heard say,
His sword crushed helm and head that day."

Next he fought westward on Fetlafjord, as Sigvat tells:--

"The twelfth fight was at Fetlafjord,
Where Olaf's honour-seeking sword
Gave the wild wolf's devouring teeth
A feast of warriors doomed to death."

From thence King Olaf sailed southwards to Seljupollar, where he had a
battle. He took there a castle called Gunvaldsborg, which was very large
and old. He also made prisoner the earl who ruled over the castle and
who was called Geirfin. After a conference with the men of the castle,
he laid a scat upon the town and earl, as ransom, of twelve thousand
gold shillings: which was also paid by those on whom it was imposed. So
says Sigvat:--

"The thirteenth battle now I tell,
Where it was fought, and what befell.
In Seljupol was fought the fray,
And many did not survive the day.
The king went early to the shore,
To Gunvaldsborg's old castle-tower;
And a rich earl was taken there,
Whose name was Geridin, I am sure."

17. FOURTEENTH BATTLE AND OLAF'S DREAM.

Thereafter King Olaf steered with his fleet westward to Karlsar, and
tarried there and had a fight. And while King Olaf was lying in Karlsa
river waiting a wind, and intending to sail up to Norvasund, and then on
to the land of Jerusalem, he dreamt a remarkable dream--that there came
to him a great and important man, but of a terrible appearance withal,
who spoke to him, and told him to give up his purpose of proceeding to
that land. "Return back to thy udal, for thou shalt be king over Norway
for ever." He interpreted this dream to mean that he should be king over
the country, and his posterity after him for a long time.

18. FIFTEENTH BATTLE.

After this appearance to him he turned about, and came to Poitou, where
he plundered and burnt a merchant town called Varrande. Of this Ottar
speaks:--

"Our young king, blythe and gay,
Is foremost in the fray:
Poitou he plunders, Tuskland burns,--
He fights and wins where'er he turns."

And also Sigvat says:--

"The Norsemen's king is on his cruise,
His blue steel staining,
Rich booty gaining,
And all men trembling at the news.
The Norsemen's kings up on the Loire:
Rich Partheney
In ashes lay;
Far inland reached the Norseme