2 24 Norway and the Norwegians 



And now all fell from Olaf. The account of the 

 proceedings of the next few months would be unintel- 

 ligible, did we not bear in mind the peculiarities of 

 Norse scenery, and especially of the Norse sea-coast. 

 We see Olaf lying in one fjord while the Danish fleet 

 is sailing all round the coast of Norway, obtaining the 

 allegiance of the inhabitants of one district after 

 another. Hakon is appointed Earl-Eegent of the 

 kingdom, but as a vassal of Cnut, much as his grand- 

 father Hakon had held the country as a vassal of Cnut's 

 grandfather Harald. Then, when the Danish fleet has 

 departed, Olaf sails forth again, goes northward along 

 the coast, and tries to bring back the people to their old 

 obedience. Few respond, and the king's ancient foe, 

 Erling Skjalgsson, comes out with a fleet in pursuit of 

 the royal force. Olaf sails away ; then having rounded 

 an island, he lies in wait for his pursuer, and Erling 

 comes sailing far ahead of the rest of his fleet. So soon 

 as he has got under the lee of the island, the royal 

 ships dart forth and row up to the attack of Erling's 

 single vessel, and, after a desperate resistance, Erling 

 falls. This event took place in December a.d. 1028, 



Such isolated successes could do nothing to save Olaf 

 from his fate. He found Hakon settled firmly in the 

 Throndhjem country, the country of his forefathers. And 

 though many of Olafs followers urged the king to risk 

 an enoagement, he felt himself too weak to do so. 

 There was no other course open to him but to make 

 good his retreat over the mountains (the ' Keel ') and 

 into Sweden. Only very few of the king's followers 

 remained faithful to him after he had determined to 

 do this. Kalf Arnason, one of the most distinguished 



