2 1 o Norivay and the Norivegians 



Sunday a.d. 1015, almost a year and a half after Olaf 

 had returned to Norway, the rival fleets met off a place 

 which the Saga calls Nessjar, and which is apparently 

 the promontory of Laurvik, just at the entrance to the 

 Christiania Fjord. There Olaf gained a complete victory. 

 That to which most of all he owed his success was the 

 band of hardy adventurers, that, in bygone years, had 

 accompanied him in his voyages, and in his attacks on 

 the coasts of England and of France ; a wild but faith- 

 ful corps of buccaneers, who knew no law but that of 

 fidelity to their chief, and had, maybe, a touch of the 

 fanatical adherence to Christianity, which was begin- 

 ning to be found in many of the Northmen. They were 

 a well-armed, well-disciplined band. They bore white 

 shields, with a gilt cross upon them. For Olaf came as 

 the determined champion of the Christian creed. When 

 Svein found that the battle was going against him, he 

 sought to cut himself from the boats which (as was the 

 common custom in naval battles) were bound to his 

 vessel by cords or chains. Olaf's men on their side, who, 

 having destroyed half Svein's crew, were preparing to 

 board, sought by throwing out their grappling-irons to 

 keep hold of Svein's ship. At last the earl got away, 

 and Einar Tambarskelfir with him ; and one by one, as 

 they got the opportunity, the rest of the fleet followed 

 suit. 



In this wise did the young adventurer Olaf, thanks 

 to his own daring and address, to his royal descent, and 

 to a name which recalled the popular hero Olaf Trygg- 

 vason, make himself King of Norway, and begin a 

 reign which was to leave the deepest traces in Nor- 

 wegian history. Olaf Haraldsson had not the same 



