MIV.V.I//AV; ntxriws. 387 



'Now I need not spare myself, as I should have liked best to 

 contend with him if I did with anybody.' They undressed, 

 and began swimming. Nikulas asked if they should try a 

 long swimming match. ' We may try that as thou hast had 

 the better of it in the other ' (modes of swimming). When 

 they had been swimming for a long time, Nikulas seemed 

 anxious to go back, but Heming said : ' I guess you the king's 

 bellies will stop farther from the shore.' Herning kept on. 

 Nikulas swam somewhat slower, and asked shortly after : ' Art 

 thou going to swim longer ? ' Heming said : ' I thought thou 

 wouldst be able to swim alone ashore, and I will swim farther.' 

 ' That is good, I will risk going back,' said Nikulas, and turned, 

 but had not gone far before he became faint. At last Heming 

 swam to him and asked how it went with him. He told him 

 it did not concern him, and he might go his way. Heming 

 answered: 'I think thou deservest that I do so, but we will 

 nevertheless now go both together.' ' I will not refuse that,' 

 said Nikulas. ' Lay thy hand on my back and thus support 

 thyself ; ' and in this way they came to land. Nikulas walked 

 up, and had become quite stiff, but Heming sat down upon a 

 stone at the flood-mark. The king asked Nikulas the result 

 of the swimming. Nikulas replied : ' I should not be able to 

 tell any tidings on land if Heming had not been a better man 

 to me than thou art to him.' "Now thou, Halldor, shalt kill 

 Heming,' said the king. ' That I will not do,' answered Hall- 

 dor, ' it seems to me that the man who tried the swimming 

 before has won little.' The king threw off his clothes. Aslak 

 went to Heming, and cried : ' Save thyself ; the king wants 

 thy death, and there is a short way to the wood.' Heming 

 said : 'Face to face the eagles shall fight with their claws, and 

 he shall not be drowned whom God will exalt ; he may go into 

 the water as soon as he likes.' Heming rose from the stone, 

 and the king from another place, and as soon as they met the 

 king swam to him and thrust him down into the deep. Others 

 did not see their doings, but the sea became very restless above 

 them. As it drew towards evening, and when it was almost 

 dark, the sea became quiet and the king swam ashore. He 

 looked so angry that no man dared to speak to him. Dry 

 clothes were brought to him ; no one saw Heming, and all 

 thought him dead, but none dared to ask. The king went 

 home with his men, but there was little merriment over the 

 beer. The king was overcome with anger, and Aslak with 

 sorrow. Lights were kindled in the hall, and the king was in 

 his seat, when Heming entered and placed on the king's knees 

 the knife which he had worn on his belt. Everybody knew 

 that he had taken the knife from the king. 



2 c 2 



