. So he eagerly went
to fight, showing that he was a seeker of honour and not the slave of
lucre, and that he set bravery before lust of pelf; and intent to prove
that his confidence was based not on hire, but on his own great soul.
Not a moment is lost; a ring is made; the course is thronged with
soldiers; the champions engage; a din arises; the crowd of onlookers
shouts in discord, each backing his own. And so the valour of the
champions blazes to white-heat; falling dead under the wounds dealt by
one another, they end together the combat and their lives. I think that
it was a provision of fortune that neither of them should reap joy and
honour by the other's death. This event won back to Rorik the hearts of
the insurgents and regained him the tribute.

At this time Horwendil and Feng, whose father Gerwendil had been
governor of the Jutes, were appointed in his place by Rorik to defend
Jutland. But Horwendil held the monarchy for three years, and then, to
will the height of glory, devoted himself to roving. Then Koller, King
of Norway, in rivalry of his great deeds and renown, deemed it would be
a handsome deed if by his greater strength in arms he could bedim the
far-famed glory of the rover; and cruising about the sea, he watched for
Horwendil's fleet and came up with it. There was an island lying in the
middle of the sea, which each of the rovers, bringing his ships up on
either side, was holding. The captains were tempted by the pleasant look
of the beach, and the comeliness of the shores led them to look through
the interior of the springtide woods, to go through the glades, and roam
over the sequestered forests. It was here that the advance of Koller and
Horwendil brought them face to face without any witness. Then Horwendil
endeavoured to address the king first, asking him in what way it was his
pleasure to fight, and declaring that one best which needed the courage
of as few as possible. For, said he, the duel was the surest of all
modes of combat for winning the meed of bravery, because it relied only
upon native courage, and excluded all help from the hand of another.
Koller marvelled at so brave a judgment in a youth, and said: "Since
thou hast granted me the choice of battle, I think it is best to employ
that kind which needs only the endeavours of two, and is free from all
the tumult. Certainly it is more venturesome, and allows of a speedier
award of the victory. This thought we share, in this opinion we