rgest and strongest, and to it pertained most
importance both by reason of the wealth and the number within its walls.

Even about this town lay great ditches, and the Vaerings marked that
they could not win it by craft after such fashion as they had possessed
themselves of the other towns aforesaid. And so it came to pass that
long lay they before the town yet did they accomplish nothing, and the
townsfolk seeing this waxed even bolder, and set up their array on the
walls, & anon opened the gates of the town and called to the Vaerings,
egging them on & bidding them enter; and they mocked at them for lack of
boldness, averring that for fighting were they no better than so many
hens. Harald bade his men behave themselves as though they wist not
after what fashion were such things said: 'Nought shall we accomplish,'
said he, 'even if we storm the town; they will fling their weapons down
under their feet upon us; and albeit an entrance we perchance effect
with sundry of our folk, yet is the foe strong enough to shut them in,
and shut the others out at their pleasure for they have put watches at
all the gates of the town.

No less mock will we make of them, however, and we will flaunt in their
faces that we have no fear of them. Our men shall go forth on the plain
as near the town as may be, having care nevertheless lest they come
within bowshot, and weaponless must they go & hold sports one with
another so that the townsfolk may wot that we care naught for their
array.'

After this fashion did they behave themselves for sundry days.

|| Now of the Icelanders that were with Harald at this time is it
recorded that Halldor the son of Snorri the Priest-- he it was who took
this chronicle back to his own land-- and in the second place Ulf the
son of Uspak, the son of Usvif the Wise, were the twain of them very
strong & valiant men and much cherished of Harald.

The pair were alike foremost in the sports on the plain. When things had
thus happened for these sundry days, were the townsfolk minded to show
even greater arrogance, & discarding their weapons mounted they up on to
the walls and defiantly set open the gates of the town. Now the Vaerings
seeing this betook themselves one day to their sports in such fashion
that the swords that pertained to them were concealed beneath their
cloaks and their helms beneath their hats. And after they had vied with
one another awhile saw they that the townsfolk in no fashion entertaine