the
sound the whole of the hostile fleet even for to meet him; and his men
witnessing this same prayed the King sail his way, and not engage in
battle with so large an host.

But King Olaf stood up on the poop, and shouted with a loud voice: 'Let
no men of mine lower sail or think of fleeing; never have I fled in
battle. May God look to my life, for never will I turn to flight.' And
it was done even as the King said. Thus saith Hallfrod:

'Fain would I name those words,
Which Olaf's warriors tell us
The lord deed-mighty spake there,
To his men before the battle.
The warlike King forbade
His champions to think of flight,
And how they live, the words the loved one of the people spoke.'

|| So were sounded the horns for the assembling of the ships; and the
King's ship was in the midst of the fleet, with the 'Short Serpent' on
one side and the 'Crane' on the other. Now when they were about to lash
together the prow of the 'Long Serpent' and stern of the 'Short
Serpent,' the King observed what was being done, and he cried out
bidding them lay the big ship more forward, & not let her be astern of
all the ships in the fleet. Thereon answered Ulf the Red: 'If we are to
lay the "Serpent" as much longer ahead as she is longer than other ships
hard will the day's work be behind the gunwales.' Said the King: 'I knew
not that I had a forecastle man who was both red and afraid,' Ulf made
answer back, 'Turn not thou thy back there on the poop more than I turn
mine when I guard the prow.'

Now the King had a bow in his hand, and placing an arrow on the string
thereof he turned him towards Ulf; then cried Ulf, 'Shoot another way,
King, thither where it is needed more greatly; what I do, I do for
thee.'

|| King Olaf towered high on the poop of the 'Serpent,' and easy was it
to know him from other men.

A golden shield had he, and a gold-wrought helmet, & a short red kirtle
over his shirt of mail.

Now when King Olaf saw that the fleets were dividing and banners were
being set up before the chiefs, asked he: 'Who is the captain of that
host which is right over against us?' It was told him that it was King
Svein Two-beard with the host of the Danes. Then answered he: 'Afraid
are we not of those blenchers, no heart is there in the Danes. But what
chief is behind those banners yonder on our right?' It was told him that
there was King Olaf, with the Swedish host. 'Better were it for the
Swedes to stay at home a