hold, and setting up the lid of the high-seat took from out of the
chest beneath many sharp swords and gave them out to his men, and when
he thrust down his right arm into the chest it was seen that blood was
running from under his mail-shirt, and no man at that hour wot in what
part he had been wounded.

|| Even the stoutest defence on the 'Long Serpent,' and that the most
deadly, was put up by those stout men that were in the fore-hold and in
the prow and stern, for truly were they picked men, and the bulwarks in
those places were higher than in other parts of the ship. Even so soon
as ever the men amidships began to fall, and only a few of those about
the mast were left standing on their feet, made Eirik an attempt to
board the 'Serpent,' and up came he on to her, himself the fifteenth
man.

Then was it that Hyrning, he that was own brother-in-law of Olaf, set
over against Eirik with a band of followers and the mightiest fight of
all waged they then, and the end thereof was of such a fashion that had
the Earl himself to draw back even unto his own ship; and of the men
that adventured with him on to the 'Serpent' were some wounded and most
others slain.

|| And thereafter was there yet again a hard struggle, & many men fell on
board the 'Serpent'; & as the crew who held the defence of her began to
thin tried Earl Eirik to board her for the second time, but again met he
with valiant opposition. When the fore-castle men on the 'Serpent' saw
this went they aft and safeguarded the ship over against the Earl, &
made a stubborn defence. But so many were the men who were fallen on the
'Serpent' that were the bulwarks perforce in many places empty, and the
men of the Earl now came aboard her on every side; then were those men
who were still standing to arms and having the guardianship of the ship
forced to fall back aft, even unto the place where the King was
standing. Thus saith Halldor the Unchristened, telling how Earl Eirik
cheered on his men:

'Astern across the thwarts shrank the men of Olaf
Valiant the lord cheers on his hot-headed followers,
When the warriors had closed all issue to the doughty King
The clash of weapons turned towards the Wend-slayer.'

|| Now it came to pass that Kolbiorn the Marshal went up on to the poop
even to the King, and greatly did they resemble one another in apparel
and weapons; and Kolbiorn was also a right big and comely man.

Yet once again ensued there a fight full