e should ascertain of what manner of man was
this Oli, and should he hear of a truth he was Olaf Tryggvason, or of
the lineage of the Kings of Norway, then was Thorir, if it might be,
to ensnare him into the power of the Earl.

|| So Thorir gat him west to Dublin, and enquiring there for tidings of
Oli learned that he was with his brother-in-law King Olaf Kvaran.Sec.
Thereafter Thorir brought it to pass that he gat speech of Oli, and when
they had talked often and long (for Thorir was a very smooth-tongued
man) fell Oli to asking about the Upland kings: which of them were still
alive and what dominions pertained to them.

Likewise asked he concerning the Earl, and if he were much beloved in
the country. Thorir answered: 'The Earl is so mighty a man that no one
durst speak but as he wills, nevertheless the reason of this is that we
have none other to look to. Verily know I the minds of many mighty men,
& of the people likewise, & that they would be eager & ready were a king
of the lineage of Harald Fair-hair to come to the realm.

Of this, however, is there no likelihood inasmuch as it has been well
proven how little it availeth to contend against Earl Hakon.'

And when they had talked much together on this matter, revealed Olaf
unto Thorir his name & lineage, & craved counsel of him whether the
peasantry would have him for their King should he fare over to Norway.
With eagerness sought Thorir to urge him on to make this journey,
praising him and his prowess most exceedingly. Then did Olaf conceive a
great desire to be gone to the realm of his kin; and sailed he
thereafter from the west with five ships, going first to the Hebrides; &
together with him went Thorir. Later sailed he to the Orkneys where Earl
Sigurd, the son of Hlodvir, was lying in Asmundarvag (Osmundwall) in
Rognvaldzey (South Ronaldsey) in a long-ship for he was about to sail
over to Katanes (Caithness). Then did King Olaf sail his folk from the
west & put into haven in the island because Pettlanzfjord (Pentland
Firth) was not navigable.

When the King heard that the Earl was lying there summoned he him to
talk with him, and Earl Sigurd having come to the King not long did they
talk ere the King Olaf said that the Earl and all the folk of the land
must let themselves be baptized or they would straightway be put to
death; and the King said he would carry fire & sword through the isles,
and lay waste the land if the folk thereof did not allow themselv