t had been shipped to be baled out with
pitchers. And so, while the crews were toiling on to protect the sinking
parts of the vessels from the flood of waters, the enemy hove close up.
Thus, as they fell to their arms, the flood came upon them harder, and
as they prepared to fight, they found they must swim for it. Waves, not
weapons, fought for Erik, and the sea, which he had himself Enabled to
approach and do harm, battled for him. Thus Erik made better use of the
billow than of the steel, and by the effectual aid of the waters seemed
to fight in his own absence, the ocean lending him defence. The victory
was given to his craft; for a flooded ship could not endure a battle.
Thus was Odd slain with all his crew; the look-outs were captured, and
it was found that no man escaped to tell the tale of the disaster.

Erik, when the massacre was accomplished, made a rapid retreat, and put
in at the isle Lesso. Finding nothing there to appease his hunger, he
sent the spoil homeward on two ships, which were to bring back supplies
for another year. He tried to go by himself to the king in a single
ship. So he put in to Zealand, and the sailors ran about over the shore,
and began to cut down the cattle: for they must either ease their hunger
or perish of famine. So they killed the herd, skinned the carcases, and
cast them on board. When the owners of the cattle found this out, they
hastily pursued the free-booters with a fleet. And when Erik found that
he was being attacked by the owners of the cattle, he took care that the
carcases of the slaughtered cows should be tied with marked ropes and
hidden under water. Then, when the Zealanders came up, he gave them
leave to look about and see if any of the carcases they were seeking
were in his hands; saying that a ship's corners were too narrow to hide
things. Unable to find a carcase anywhere, they turned their suspicions
on others, and thought the real criminals were guiltless of the plunder.
Since no traces of free-booting were to be seen, they fancied that
others had injured them, and pardoned the culprits. As they sailed off,
Erik lifted the carcase out of the water and took it in.

Meantime Frode learnt that Odd and his men had gone down. For a
widespread rumour of the massacre had got wind, though the author of the
deed was unknown. There were men, however, who told how they had seen
three sails putting in to shore, and departing again northwards. Then
Erik went to the harbour,