was at an end they went out of the Vina river, and
then the truce of the country people was also at an end. When they came
out of the river they held a seaman's council, and Thorer asked the
crews if they would like to go on the land and get booty.

They replied, that they would like it well enough, if they saw the booty
before their eyes.

Thorer replies, that there was booty to be got, if the voyage proved
fortunate; but that in all probability there would be danger in the
attempt.

All said they would try, if there was any chance of booty. Thorer
explained, that it was so established in this land, that when a rich
man died all his movable goods were divided between the dead man and his
heirs. He got the half part, or the third part, or sometimes less, and
that part was carried out into the forest and buried,--sometimes under a
mound, sometimes in the earth, and sometimes even a house was built over
it. He tells them at the same time to get ready for this expedition at
the fall of day. It was resolved that one should not desert the other,
and none should hold back when the commander ordered them to come on
board again. They now left people behind to take care of the ships,
and went on land, where they found flat fields at first, and then great
forests. Thorer went first, and the brothers Karle and Gunstein in rear.
Thorer commanded the people to observe the utmost silence. "And let us
peel the bark off the trees," says he, "so that one tree-mark can be
seen from the other." They came to a large cleared opening, where there
was a high fence upon which there was a gate that was locked. Six men of
the country people held watch every night at this fence, two at a time
keeping guard, each two for a third part of the night, when Thorer and
his men came to the fence the guard had gone home, and those who should
relieve them had not yet come upon guard. Thorer went to the fence,
stuck his axe up in it above his head, hauled himself up by it, and so
came over the fence, and inside the gate. Karle had also come over the
fence, and to the inside of the gate; so that both came at once to the
port, took the bar away, and opened the port; and then the people got in
within the fence. Then said Thorer, "Within this fence there is a mound
in which gold, and silver, and earth are all mixed together: seize that.
But within here stands the Bjarmaland people's god Jomala: let no one
be so presumptuous as to rob him." Thereupon they wen