1 88 Norway and the Norwegians 



friendly to his relations Gissur and Hjalti, who lived 

 with him. But the Iceland men who directed the ships, 

 and were heathens, tried to sail away as soon as the 

 king came to the town of Nidaros, for they were told 

 the king forced all men to become Christians ; but the 

 wind came stiff against them, and drove them back to 

 Nidai'liolm. They who directed the ships were Thor- 

 arin Neijulsson, the skald Halfred Ottarssou, Brand the 

 Generous, and Tliorleik, Brand's son. It was told the 

 king that there were Icelanders with ships there, and 

 all were heathens, and wanted to fly from a meeting 

 with the king. Then the king sent them a message 

 forbidding them to sail, and ordering them to bring 

 their ships up to the town, which they did, but without 

 discharging the cargoes. They carried on their dealings, 

 and held a market at the king's pier. It happened one 

 fine day that many set out to swim for amusement, and 

 among them was a man who distiuQuished himself 

 above the others in all bodily exercises. Kjartan 

 challenged Halfred Ottarsson to try himself in swim- 

 ming against this man, but he declined it. 



' Then will I make a trial,' said Kjartan, casting off 

 his clothes, and springing into the water. Then he sets 

 after the man, seizes hold of his foot, and dives with 

 him under water. They come up again, and witliout 

 speaking a word dive again, and are much longer under 

 water than the first time. They come up again, and 

 without a saying a word dive a third time; until Kjartan 

 thought it was time to come up again, which, however, 

 he could in no way accomplish, which showed suffi- 

 ciently the difference in their strength. They were 

 under water so long that Kjartan was almost drowned. 



