ATHLETICS. 371 



" Lambi Sigurdson van at Kari from behind and thrust a spear 

 at him ; but Kari saw him and jumped up, at the same time 

 spreading his legs. The spear came down into the ground, 

 and Kari stepped on the handle and broke it asunder" (Njala, 

 ch. 146). 



" Skarphedin stood with his axe on his shoulder, smiling 

 scornfully, and said : ' This axe I had in my hand when I leapt 

 12 ells (24 feet) over Markarfljot and slew Thrain Sigfusson, 

 and they stood there eight men, and none of them got hold 

 of me' "(Njala, c. 120). 



" Skarphedin (son of Njal, a great champion) started up 

 when he was ready, holding the axe Rimmugyg in the air ; he 

 ran forward to the channel of the river, which was so deep that 

 it was completely impassable. Much ice had been forced up on 

 the other side of the river, and it was as slippery as glass ; they 

 (Thrain and his men) stood in the middle of it. Skarphedin 

 swung himself aloft and leapt over the river between the sheets 

 of ice, and did not stop, but ran sliding on the ice. This was 

 very slippery, and he advanced as swiftly as a flying bird. 

 Thrain was going to put on his helmet. Skarphedin came up 

 to them and aimed at Thrain with his axe, struck his head, and 

 cleft it down to the jaw, so that they fell down on the ice. This 

 happened so suddenly that nobody could deal him a blow. He 

 ran away instantly with great speed " (Njala, c. 92). * 



Climbing was another of their exercises. 



" King Olaf once had his ships in a harbour, not far 

 from a very high mountain and most steep rocks. One day 

 two of his hirdmen were talking about their idrottir, and 

 each thought himself the better, and that he knew more games 

 than the other. They contended as to who could climb the 

 steepest rock ; they disputed about this so keenly, that at last 

 they made a bet, and one wagered his gold ring, and the other 

 his head. After this they both climbed the rock. The first went 

 so far that he was in danger of falling down, and then returned 

 in fear, and could with difficulty save himself from injury ; 

 the other climbed up to the middle of the mountain, but there 

 he dared go neither forward nor backward, nor even move, for 

 he had but little hold either for hands or feet ; his position was 

 so dangerous, that he saw his downfall and death were certain if 

 he should make the least movement where he was. He shouted 

 in great fear for King Olaf or his men to help him. When the 

 king heard his shout, and found out what it was about, he bade 



1 Cf. also Sturlunga, i. c. 9; Orkneyinga, c. 18; Njala, c. 120, 145; Fasreyinga, c. 37. 



2 B 2 



