was washing, but was
straightway stricken by the keenness of his gaze and by the restless and
quivering glare of his eyes. His limbs were palsied with sudden dread;
he paused, stepped back, and stayed his hand and his purpose. Thus he
who had shattered the arms of so many captains and champions could not
bear the gaze of a single unarmed man. But Ole, who well knew about his
own countenance, covered his face, and asked him to come closer and tell
him what his message was; for old fellowship and long-tried friendship
made him the last to suspect treachery. But Starkad drew his sword,
leapt forward, thrust the king through, and struck him in the throat as
he tried to rise. One hundred and twenty marks of gold were kept for
his reward. Soon afterwards he was smitten with remorse and shame, and
lamented his crime so bitterly, that he could not refrain from tears
if it happened to be named. Thus his soul, when he came to his senses,
blushed for his abominable sin. Moreover, to atone for the crime he
had committed, he slew some of those who had inspired him to it, thus
avenging the act to which he had lent his hand.

Now the Danes made OMUND, the son of Ole, king, thinking that more heed
should be paid to his father's birth than to his deserts. Omund, when he
had grown up, fell in nowise behind the exploits of his father; for he
made it his aim to equal or surpass the deeds of Ole.

At this time a considerable tribe of the Northmen (Norwegians) was
governed by Ring, and his daughter Esa's great fame commended her to
Omund, who was looking out for a wife.

But his hopes of wooing her were lessened by the peculiar inclination of
Ring, who desired no son-in-law but one of tried valour; for he found
as much honour in arms as others think lies in wealth. Omund therefore,
wishing to become famous in that fashion, and to win the praise of
valour, endeavoured to gain his desire by force, and sailed to Norway
with a fleet, to make an attempt on the throne of Ring under plea of
hereditary right. Odd, the chief of Jather, who declared that Ring had
assuredly seized his inheritance, and lamented that he harried him with
continual wrongs, received Omund kindly. Ring, in the meantime, was on
a roving raid in Ireland, so that Omund attacked a province without a
defender. Sparing the goods of the common people, he gave the private
property of Ring over to be plundered, and slew his kinsfolk; Odd
also having joined his forces to Omund. Now,