2 34 Norway and the Norwegians 



Now the ranks in front of the kind's banner began to 

 be thinned, and the king ordered Thord to carry the 

 banner forward, and the king himself followed it with 

 the troop he had chosen to stand nearest to him in 

 battle ; and these were the best-armed men in the field, 

 and the most expert in the use of their weapons. 



' Olaf came forth from behind the shield-bulwark, and 

 put himself at the head of the array; and when the 

 bonders looked him in the face they were frightened, 

 and let their hands drop. 



' The combat became fierce, and the king went forward 

 in the fray. 



' King Olaf fought most desperately. He struck the 

 lenderman before mentioned (Thorgeir of Kviststad) 

 across the face, cut off the nose-piece of his helmet, and 

 clove his head down below the eyes so that they almost 

 fell out. When he fell the king said : ' Was it not true, 

 Thorgeir, what I told thee, that thou shouldst not be 

 victor in our meeting?' At the same instant Thord 

 struck the banner-pole so fast in the earth that it 

 remained standing. Thord had got his death-wound, 

 and fell beneath the banner. There also fell Thorfinn 

 ]\Iunn, and also Gissur Gulbraa, who was attacked by 

 two men, of whom he killed one, but only wounded the 

 other before he fell. 



'It happened then, as before related, that the sun, 

 although the air was clear, withdrew from sight, and 

 it became dark. 



' At the same time Dag Hringsson came up with his 

 people, and began to put his men in array, and to set 

 up his banner; but on account of the darkness the 

 onset could not go on so briskly, for they could not see 



