he was his earl.
And in this combined fleet was a mighty chief, Olaf the Swede, King of
the Swedes, who deemed he had to avenge on King Olaf of Norway great
dishonour; for he had broken betrothals with, and smitten with his
glove, Olaf the Swede's mother. This same woman Sigridr Sweyn, the
Danish king, had now to wife, and she was strongly urging on Sweyn to do
King Olaf hurt or dishonour. With this fleet, too, was Earl Eric,
Hacon's son, who deemed he had very great charges against King Olaf and
his men, because they had been present at the slaying of his father,
Earl Hacon, and had driven out of the land all his sons; and Olaf had
established himself in the kingdom afterwards.

These chiefs had an overwhelming host, and lay in a harbour on the inner
side of the island; but King Olaf's ships were sailing past outside, and
the chiefs were on the high ground of the island, and saw where the
fleet was sailing from the east. They saw that the small craft sailed in
front.

Soon they saw a ship large and splendid. Then said King Sweyn: 'Get we
to our ships with all speed; there sails Long Snake from the east.'

Answered Earl Eric: 'Bide we awhile, sire; they have more big ships than
Long Snake alone.'

And so it was. This ship belonged to Styrkar of Gimsa.

Now saw they yet another ship, large and well-equipped, a ship with a
figure-head.

Said King Sweyn: 'Now here will be sailing Long Snake; and take we heed
that we be not too late in meeting them.'

Then answered Earl Eric: 'That will not be Long Snake; few of their big
ships have passed as yet; there are many more to come.'

And it was even as the Earl said.

Now sailed a ship with striped sails, a long-ship built for speed, and
much larger than the others that had gone by. And when King Sweyn saw
that this ship had no figure-head on her, then stood he up and said,
laughing the while: 'Olaf Tryggvason is afraid now; he dares not to sail
with his dragon's head; go we and attack him.'

Answered then Earl Eric: 'That is not Olaf Tryggvason. I know the ship,
for I have often seen it; it belongs to Erling Skjalgsson. And 'tis
better that we go astern of him to this battle. Brave wights are on
board there, as we shall surely know if we meet Olaf Tryggvason. Better
is a gap in the King's fleet than a ship thus well-manned.'

Then said Olaf, the Swedish king, to the Earl: 'We ought not to fear
joining battle with Olaf, though he have many ships. And it is great
sha