be King Canute's men, and bring the country into his hands if he came
to Norway. This was apparent, afterwards, of many who at first kept
it concealed. Some took at once money bribes, and others were promised
money afterwards; and a great many there were who had got great presents
of money from him before: for it may be said with truth of King Canute,
that every man who came to him, and who he thought had the spirit of a
man and would like his favour, got his hands full of gifts and money.
On this account he was very popular, although his generosity was
principally shown to foreigners, and was greatest the greater distance
they came from.

167. KING OLAF'S CONSULTATIONS.

King Olaf had often conferences and meetings with his people, and asked
their counsel; but as he observed they gave different opinions, he had
a suspicion that there must be some who spoke differently from what they
really thought advisable for him, and he was thus uncertain if all gave
him due fidelity in council. Some pressed that with the first fair wind
they should sail to the Sound, and so to Norway. They said the Danes
would not dare to attack them, although they lay with so great a force
right in the way. But the king was a man of too much understanding not
to see that this was impracticable. He knew also that Olaf Trygvason had
found it quite otherwise, as to the Danes not daring to fight, when he
with a few people went into battle against a great body of them. The
king also knew that in King Canute's army there were a great many
Norwegians; therefore he entertained the suspicion that those who gave
this advice were more favourable to King Canute than to him. King Olaf
came at last to the determination, from all these considerations, that
the people who would follow him should make themselves ready to proceed
by land across Gautland, and so to Norway. "But our ships," said he,
"and all things that we cannot take with us, I will send eastward to the
Swedish king's dominions, and let them be taken care of for us there."

168. HAREK OF THJOTTA'S VOYAGE.

Harek of Thjotta replied thus to the king's speech: "It is evident
that I cannot travel on foot to Norway. I am old and heavy, and little
accustomed to walking. Besides, I am unwilling to part with my ship;
for on that ship and its apparel I have bestowed so much labour, that
it would go much against my inclination to put her into the hands of my
enemies." The king said, "Come alo