of the holy man was unscarred by the
heated iron. Thereafter was Harald himself baptized with the whole of
the Danish host that were with him.

Ere this had Harald the King, albeit that he abode the nonce in Marsey,
summoned Earl Hakon to his aid, and the Earl had just come to the island
when the King let himself be christened. So the King sent a message to
the Earl to come to him, and when the Earl was come thither compelled
him also that he should be baptized. After this manner was the Earl made
a Christian, and all his men with him.

Thereafter did the King appoint him priests and other learned men,Sec. and
commanded him to cause all the people of Norway to be baptized into the
faith and with this they parted. Thereafter Earl Hakon put out to sea to
await a favourable wind, and when a breeze sprang up, lo! without more
ado set he all the learned men to wade even unto the shore and upon that
wind himself stood out to sea. The wind was from the west, and the Earl
sailed eastward through Eyrasund (Oeresund) pillaging whatsoever lands he
sighted, & thereafter came east unto the Skani side, plundering and
harrying wherever he put ashore. Now as he was sailing his course off
the skerries of east Gautland put he ashore and offered up a great
sacrifice, and whiles this was solemnized came two ravens flying up,
loudly croaking, & for this reason deemed the Earl that Odin had
accepted his sacrifice, and that good fortune would favour him in his
battles. Even so burned he all his ships and came ashore with every man
of all his host, and carried war throughout the land. Against him was
arrayed Earl Ottar, he that held rule over Gautland, and they fought a
great battle wherein was Earl Hakon victorious, & he slew Earl Ottar
together with a great number of his host.

Earl Hakon then marched hither & thither carrying war through both the
Gautlands, until he was come unto Norway, & then took he the road right
to the north, to Throndhjem. It is of this that the Vellekla speaketh:

'The foeman of those who fled consulted the gods on the plain, and
Gat answer Fret[Sec.] from that the day was propitious to battle;
There the war-leader saw how mighty were the corse-ribs;
The gods of the temple would thin lives in Gautland.
A Sword-Thing held the Earl there where no man afore him
With shield on arm had durst to harry;
No one ere this so far inland had borne
That shield of gold; all Gautland had he o'errun.
With hea