arge war-ship, and his sons had three of twenty
rowing-banks each; and they had sailed westward to England to Canute
the Great. Then King Olaf sailed eastward along the land with a mighty
war-force, and he inquired everywhere if anything was known of Canute's
proceedings; and all agreed in saying he was in England but added that
he was fitting out a levy, and intended coming to Norway. As Olaf had a
large fleet, and could not discover with certainty where he should go to
meet King Canute, and as his people were dissatisfied with lying quiet
in one place with so large an armament, he resolved to sail with his
fleet south to Denmark, and took with him all the men who were best
appointed and most warlike; and he gave leave to the others to return
home. Now the people whom he thought of little use having gone home,
King Olaf had many excellent and stout men-at-arms besides those who, as
before related, had fled the country, or sat quietly at home; and most
of the chief men and lendermen of Norway were along with him.

ENDNOTES: (1) Visundr is the buffalo; although the modern bison, or
American animal of that name, might have been known through
the Greenland colonists, who in this reign had visited some
parts of America.--L.

155. OF KING OLAF AND KING ONUND.

When King Olaf sailed to Denmark, he set his course for Seeland; and
when he came there he made incursions on the land, and began to plunder.
The country people were severely treated; some were killed, some bound
and dragged to the ships. All who could do so took to flight, and made
no opposition. King Olaf committed there the greatest ravages. While
Olaf was in Seeland, the news came that King Onund Olafson of Sweden had
raised a levy, and fallen upon Scania, and was ravaging there; and then
it became known what the resolution had been that the two kings
had taken at the Gaut river, where they had concluded a union and
friendship, and had bound themselves to oppose King Canute. King Onund
continued his march until he met his brother-in-law King Olaf. When they
met they made proclamation both to their own people and to the people
of the country, that they intended to conquer Denmark; and asked the
support of the people of the country for this purpose. And it happened,
as we find examples of everywhere, that if hostilities are brought upon
the people of a country not strong enough to withstand, the greatest
number will submit to the condition