ut, as they swam up
to the bank, they were met by Gunn and Jarmerik, and either drowned or
slain. Thus the young men showed great cunning, and did a deed beyond
their years, being more like sagacious old men than runaway slaves, and
successfully achieving their shrewd design. When they reached the strand
they seized a vessel chance threw in their way, and made for the deep.
The barbarians who pursued them, tried, when they saw them sailing off,
to bring them back by shouting promises after them that they should be
kings if they returned; "for, by the public statute of the ancients,
the succession was appointed to the slayers of the kings." As they
retreated, their ears were long deafened by the Sclavs obstinately
shouting their treacherous promises.

At this time BUDLE, the brother of Siward, was Regent over the Danes,
who forced him to make over the kingdom to JARMERIK when he came; so
that Budle fell from a king into a common man. At the same time Gotar
charged Sibb with debauching his sister, and slew him. Sibb's kindred,
much angered by his death, came wailing to Jarmerik, and promised to
attack Gotar with him, in order to avenge their kinsman. They kept
their promise well, for Jarmerik, having overthrown Gotar by their help,
gained Sweden. Thus, holding the sovereignty of both nations, he was
encouraged by his increased power to attack the Sclavs, forty of whom he
took and hung with a wolf tied to each of them. This kind of punishment
was assigned of old to those who slew their own kindred; but he chose
to inflict it upon enemies, that all might see plainly, just from their
fellowship with ruthless beasts, how grasping they had shown themselves
towards the Danes.

When Jarmerik had conquered the country, he posted garrisons in all the
fitting places, and departing thence, he made a slaughter of the Sembs
and the Kurlanders, and many nations of the East. The Sclavs, thinking
that this employment of the king gave them a chance of revolting, killed
the governors whom he had appointed, and ravaged Denmark. Jarmerik,
on his way back from roving, chanced to intercept their fleet, and
destroyed it, a deed which added honour to his roll of conquests. He
also put their nobles to death in a way that one would weep to see;
namely, by first passing thongs through their legs, and then tying them
to the hoofs of savage bulls; then hounds set on them and dragged them
into miry swamps. This deed took the edge off the valour of th