ped the man who was nearest to her, riving
and tearing him asunder, and threw him upon the fire. The others awoke
in dreadful fright, and sprang up, but she took them, and put them one
by one to death, so that only one remained in life. He ran under the
loft calling for help, and if there was any one on the loft to help him.
Arnliot reached down his hand, seized him by the shoulder, and drew him
up into the loft. The witch-wife had turned towards the fire, and
began to eat the men who were roasting. Now Arnliot stood up, took his
halberd, and struck her between the shoulders, so that the point came
out at her breast. She writhed with it, gave a dreadful shriek, and
sprang up. The halberd slipped from Arnliot's hands, and she ran out
with it. Arnliot then went in; cleared away the dead corpses out of the
house; set the door and the door-posts up, for she had torn them down in
going out; and they slept the rest of the night. When the day broke they
got up; and first they took their breakfast. When they had got food,
Arnliot said, "Now we must part here. Ye can proceed upon the new-traced
path the merchants have made in coming here yesterday. In the meantime
I will seek after my halberd, and in reward for my labour I will take so
much of the goods these men had with them as I find useful to me. Thou,
Thorod, must take my salutation to King Olaf; and say to him that he is
the man I am most desirous to see, although my salutation may appear to
him of little worth." Then he took his silver plate, wiped it dry with
a cloth, and said, "Give King Olaf this plate; salute him, and say it is
from me." Then they made themselves ready for their journey, and parted.
Thorod went on with his comrade and the man of the merchants company
who had escaped. He proceeded until he came to King Olaf in the town
(Nidaros); told the king all that had happened, and presented to him the
silver plate. The king said it was wrong that Arnliot himself had not
come to him; "for it is a pity so brave a hero, and so distinguished a
man, should have given himself up to misdeeds."

Thorod remained the rest of the winter with the king, and in summer
got leave to return to Iceland; and he and King Olaf parted the best of
friends.

152. KING OLAF'S LEVY OF MEN.

King Olaf made ready in spring (A.D. 1027) to leave Nidaros, and many
people were assembled about him, both from Throndhjem and the Northern
country; and when he was ready he proceeded first wi