1 96 Norway and the Norwegians 



But Sigvald's treachery decided the fate of the Norse 

 king. 



The exact details of the famous battle which now 

 took place are rather difficult to recover. We may 

 believe that the fleet of the allies had stationed itself on 

 the western side of the island of Eiigen, where it would 

 be well concealed from any wanderers of Olaf s fleet 

 which had come to the Oder, no doubt by the east of 

 the island. The Kubitzerbodden would be a suitable 

 place for them to lie in. But it is possible that they 

 were in a harbour of the mainland, say the Prohner 

 Wick. Olaf, on his side, directed his course along the 

 narrow channel between Riisjen and the mainland wliich 

 is called Der straler Sund (from which Stralsund gets 

 its name). Sigvald pretended that as Olaf's ships were 

 of unusual size they were in danger of running aground, 

 and that it would be best for him who knew the 

 channel well to go first with his fleet. They navigated 

 the channel safely enough ; although a race sometimes 

 runs through this part which is called the Vierendehler 

 Strom, and which the Norsemen of this expedition knew 

 by the name of Svold. 



To the surprise of the foremost ships of the Norse 

 fleet, as soon as Sigvald's vessels passed a certain point 

 of land they turned round into the bay instead of con- 

 tinuincj their course. The Norsemen followed ; but 

 they called out to Sigvald to ask why he sailed that way. 

 The earl answered that he was waiting for King Olaf, 

 as he feared there were enemies in the way. All lay 

 upon their oars; and presently were seen the three 

 great ships of Olaf's fleet, first the Crane, then the &kort 

 Seiycnt, with Thorkel Nefia at the helm, and finally 



