who sits beside thee yea, less than it was yesterday. For now is come
our god who rules all, and he looks at you with keen glance, and I see
that ye are now full of fear and hardly dare to lift your eyes. Lay down
now your superstition and believe in our god, who holds all your counsel
in his hand.' And so his words were ended.

The King spake with Kolbein Strong, so that the country-folk knew it
not: 'If it so chance while I am speaking that they look away from their
god, then strike him the strongest blow thou canst with thy club.'

Then the King stood up and spake: 'Plenty of words hast thou spoken to
us this morning. Thou thinkest it strange that thou canst not see our
God; but we expect that He will soon come to us. Thou goest about to
terrify us with thy god, who is blind and deaf and can neither help
himself nor others, and can in no way leave his place unless he be
carried; and I expect now that evil is close upon him. Nay, look now and
see toward the east, there goeth now our God with great light.'

Just then up sprang the sun, and toward the sun looked the country-folk
all. But in that moment Kolbein dealt such a blow on their god that he
burst all asunder, and thereout leapt rats as big as cats, and vipers
and snakes.

[Illustration: The destruction of the idol]

But the country-folk fled in terror, some to their ships, which when
they launched, the water poured in and filled them, nor could they so
get away, and some who ran for their horses found them not. Then the
King had them called back and said he would fain speak with them;
whereupon the country-folk turned back and assembled.

Then the King stood up and spake.

'I know not,' said he, 'what means this tumult and rushing about that ye
make. But now may well be seen what power your god has, whom ye load
with gold and silver, meat and food, and now ye see what creatures have
enjoyed all this--rats and snakes, vipers and toads. And worse are they
who believe in such things, and will not quit their folly. Take ye your
gold and jewels that are here now on the field and carry them home to
your wives, and never put them again on stocks or stones. But now there
are two choices for us: that you accept Christianity or do battle with
me to-day. And may those win victory to whom it is willed by the God in
whom we believe.'

Then stood up Gudbrand of the Dales and spake: 'Much scathe have we
gotten now in our god; but, as he cannot help himself, we will no