474 SOME EXPEDITIONS AND DEEDS OF GREAT VIKINGS. 



said he, 'that it may shelter our back, so that they cauuot 

 attack us from all sides.' They did so, and a sharp fight 

 followed. Egil advanced against Adils, and they had a hard 

 encounter. The difference in numbers was very great, but 

 nevertheless more fell on Adils' side. Thorolf became so 

 furious that he threw his shield on his back, and taking the 

 spear with both hands, rushed forward and struck or thrust 

 on both sides. Men turned away from him, but he killed 

 many. Thus he cleared his way to the standard of Hring, 

 and nothing could stand against him. He killed the men 

 who bore it, and cut down the standard pole. Then he 

 thrust the spear into the breast of the jarl through the 

 coat of mail and his body, so that it came out between his 

 shoulders ; he raised him on the spear over his head, and put 

 the shaft down into the ground. The jarl expired on the spear, 

 in sight of foes and friends. Then Thorolf drew his sword, 

 and dealt blows on both hands. His men also made an onset ; 

 many of the Britons and Scots fell, and some fled. When 

 Adils saw the death of his brother, and the great fall and 

 flight of his men finding himself severely pushed, he turned 

 and fled, running into the forest, as did his men. The entire 

 host of the jarls began to flee. Thorolf and Egil pursued 

 them, and many more fell ; the fugitives scattered widely 

 over the heath. Adils had dropped his standard, and nobody 

 knew him from his men. It then quickly began to get dark, 

 and Thorolf and Egil went back to their camp, and at the 

 same time ^Ethelstan came with his entire host. They pitched 

 their tents and encamped. Shortly afterwards Olaf came with 

 his host, and did the same. Olaf was told that both his jarls 

 Hring and Adils had fallen, and a great number of men with 

 them. 



" ^Ethelstan had been, the night before the battle, in the 

 burgh mentioned before, and there heard that a battle had 

 been fought on the heath. He at once made ready with the 

 entire host, and went northwards up on the heath. He then 

 was told minutely how the battle had gone. Thorolf and 

 Egil went to meet him He thanked them greatly for their 

 valour and the victory they had won, and promised them his 

 full friendship. They all rested there together during the 

 night. .ZEthelstan awoke his host early in the morning ; he 

 had a talk with his chiefs, and told how his host should be 

 arrayed. He placed his own fylking first, and put at its 

 breast those detachments which were the most dashing, with 

 Egil as leader. ' Thorolf,' said he, ' shall lead his host and 

 the other men I may put there in another fylking. They 

 shall go against those of the enemy's men who are scattered 



