ing on a level field themselves fell overboard and so sank down
together with their weapons. Thus saith Hallfrod:

'From the "Serpent" sank they down, wounded in the fight;
Give way or flee they would not, resisting to the last.
Though glorious the King may be who steers the "Serpent"
Such men as these will long be lacking where'er she strideth.'

|| It happened that in the narrow-hold of the "Serpent," shooting with
his bow and arrow more fiercely than any other man that was on the ship,
stood Einar Tambarskelfir. Now it was against Earl Eirik that Einar had
his direct venture, and struck he the top of the tiller-head, over above
the head of the Earl, sending in his arrow with such force that it
penetrated to the very binding of the shaft.

The Earl looked at it, and asked if it was known who was shooting thus;
then on the instant Einar shot another arrow which went so nigh unto the
Earl that it passed betwixt his side and his arm, and so far through the
staying-board that the barb stood out on the other side thereof.

Then spake the Earl to that man whose name some say was Fin, but as
others have it was of FinnishSec. kith and kin.

Exceeding apt was he as an archer, so spake Eirik unto him saying:
'Shoot thou yonder big man in the narrow-hold,' & even as he said the
words did the arrow of Fin strike the bow of Einar just as he was
drawing it for the third time. Then was the bow broken in twain, & Olaf
said, 'What brake there so loudly?' & Einar made answer: 'Norway from
thy hand, O King.' 'So great a breaking asunder hath not happened yet,
I trow,' quoth the King; 'take my bow and shoot therewith,' and saying
so threw he him his own bow, and Einar taking it strained it even beyond
the arrow-head. 'Too weak,' said he, 'too weak is the prince's bow,' and
throwing it back again to the King took he his shield and sword, and
fell to hand-fighting.

|| King Olaf being himself on the poop of the 'Serpent,' full oft that
day shot with his bow, but upon occasion made he use of javelins, and
ever threw two at once. Then as time wore on saw he, as his glance sped
along the ship, that albeit his men swung ever their swords and smote
full fast, yet nevertheless their swords were cutting but ill, and he
cried out loudly to them: 'Are ye wielding your swords carelessly since,
as I see, they do not cut?' One of the men made answer: 'Our swords are
blunt and very much notched.' Then went the King down into the
fore-