roads in all the Upland hills, and was well known
to all the great people. Now when King Hrorek was set under guards on
the journey Fin would often slip in among the men of the guard, and
followed, in general, with the lads and serving-men; but as often as he
could he waited upon Hrorek, and entered into conversation with him. The
king, however, only spoke a word or two with him at a time, to prevent
suspicion. In spring, when they came a little way beyond Viken, Fin
disappeared from the army for some days, but came back, and stayed
with them a while. This happened often, without anyone observing it
particularly; for there were many such hangers-on with the army.

ENDNOTES: (1) The Laplanders are called Fins In Norway and Sweden.--L.

84. MURDER OF OLAF'S COURT-MEN.

King Olaf came to Tunsberg before Easter (A.D. 1018), and remained
there late in spring. Many merchant vessels came to the town, both from
Saxon-land and Denmark, and from Viken, and from the north parts of the
country. There was a great assemblage of people; and as the times were
good, there was many a drinking meeting. It happened one evening that
King Hrorek came rather late to his lodging; and as he had drunk a great
deal, he was remarkably merry. Little Fin came to him with a stoup of
mead with herbs in it, and very strong. The king made every one in the
house drunk, until they fell asleep each in his berth. Fin had gone
away, and a light was burning in the lodging. Hrorek waked the men who
usually followed him, and told them he wanted to go out into the yard.
They had a lantern with them, for outside it was pitch dark. Out in the
yard there was a large privy standing upon pillars, and a stair to go
up to it. While Hrorek and his guards were in the yard they heard a man
say, "Cut down that devil;" and presently a crash, as if somebody fell.
Hrorek said, "These fellows must be dead drunk to be fighting with each
other so: run and separate them." They rushed out; but when they came
out upon the steps both of them were killed: the man who went out the
last was the first killed. There were twelve of Hrorek's men there, and
among them Sigurd Hit, who had been his banner-man, and also little
Fin. They drew the dead bodies up between the houses, took the king with
them, ran out to a boat they had in readiness, and rowed away. Sigvat
the skald slept in King Olaf's lodgings. He got up in the night, and his
footboy with him, and went to the privy. B