h a guide
& some food, and their guide led them into the forest where there was a
lake & an islet overgrown with reeds. They were able to wade out unto
the islet & thereon hid they themselves among the reeds.

Early on the morrow Hakon rode out from the homestead of Biorn over the
countryside, asking withersoever he went for Astrid. When he was come
unto the house of Thorstein demanded he if they had thither been and
Thorstein said that certain folk had fared thither & had gone on at
daybreak eastwards through the forest. Then did Hakon bid Thorstein come
with him because he was skilled in the knowledge of the tracks and
hiding-places: and Thorstein set forth. But when they were come to the
forest led he them away from where Astrid was.

The whole of that day did they go seeking for them, but found them not.
Then they came back on their road & related unto Gunnhild what had
befallen. Astrid & her followers went forth on their way till they were
come unto Sweden to the home of Hakon the Old, and there Astrid and her
son dwelt a long while, and it was well with them.

|| Gunnhild, she that was mother to the King, hearing that Astrid & her
son Olaf were in Sweden, once more sent forth Hakon and a brave
following with him, this time eastward to Eirik King of Sweden, with
goodly gifts and fair words. The messengers were made welcome and given
good entertainment, and thereafter Hakon made known his errand to the
King, saying that Gunnhild had sent craving the King's help so that he
might take Olaf back with him to Norway: 'Gunnhild will foster him,'
quoth he.

Then did the King give him men to go with him, and they rode to the
house of Hakon the Old, and there Hakon offered with fair words to take
Olaf with him. Hakon the Old returned a friendly answer and said that it
must so happen that the mother of the child should decide about his
going, but Astrid would in nowise suffer the boy to fare forth with
them. So the messengers went their way & brought back the answer unto
King Eirik and they made them ready to return home; but once more prayed
they the King to grant them help to bear off the boy whether Hakon the
Old were willing or not. So the King yet again gave them a company of
men & the messengers returned to Hakon the Old and demanded that the boy
be allowed to fare forth with them, but as Hakon was unwilling that this
should be, resorted they to big words and threats of violence, and bore
themselves wrathfully. Th