Harald Fairhair stood on the poop of the great Dragon, and held the
steering oar. When he saw the fleet of the Sea-kings approaching, he
called Jarl Rongvold to him and said--
"Methinks, jarl, that I now see the end of this war with the small
kings. It is easy to perceive that the utmost force they are able to
raise is here. Now, I intend to beat them to-day, and break their
strength for ever. But when the battle is over, many of them will seek
to escape. I would prevent that as much as may be."
The King paused, as if engaged in deep thought.
"How do you propose to do it, sire?"
"By means of a boom," said the King. "Go thou, summon hither the
trustiest man in the fleet for such a purpose, let him detach as many
men and ships as he deems needful, and go into yonder small fiord where
there is a pine wood on the hillside. There let him make a long and
strong boom of timber, while we are engaged in the fight. I will drive
as many of the ships as I can into Horlingfiord, and when that is done
let him come out and stretch the boom right across, so that none of them
shall escape. And, harkee, see that the man thou choosest for this duty
is an able man, and does it well, else shall his head be lopped off."
After issuing this command the King resigned the helm, and ordered his
banner to be set up, which was done immediately. At the same time his
opponents shook out their banners, and both fleets were put in order of
battle.
As both were arrayed much in the same way, it will be sufficient to
describe the arrangements made by Haldor the Fierce, who had been
elected commander-in-chief of the small kings' fleet.
When Haldor saw the King's banner displayed, he unfurled his own in the
centre of the fleet, and arranged his force for attack right against it.
Alongside of him on the right was Ulf of Romsdal with thirty ships, and
on his left was old Guttorm Stoutheart with twenty-five ships. These
composed the centre of the line. Kettle Flatnose commanded the men on
the forecastle in Ulf's longship, and Thorer the Thick was over those in
Haldor's vessel.
The right wing was commanded by Solve Klofe, under whom were Eric of
Hordaland with fifteen ships; Sulke of Rogaland and his brother Sote
with thirty ships, as well as Kiotve of Agder, and some others with many
ships--all of large size.
The left wing was led by King Hakon of Drontheim, under whom were Roald
Ryg and Hadd the Hard, and Thor Haklang, with a good many ships. Solve
Klofe laid his ships against King Harald's left wing, which was under
Eindrid, son of Mornef, and Hakon laid his against King Sigurd of Royer,
who led Harald's right wing. All the chiefs on either side laid their
ships according as they were bold or well equipped. When all was ready,
they bound the ships together by the stems, and advanced towards each
other at the sound of the war-trumpet. But as the fleets were so large,
many of the smaller vessels remained loose, and, as it were, went about
skirmishing independently. These were laid forward in the fight,
according to the courage of their commanders, which was very unequal.
Among these roving warriors were our heroes Erling and Glumm, each in
one of his own small cutters, with about forty men.
As soon as the war-blast sounded the men rode forward to the attack, and
soon narrowed the small space that lay between the hostile fleets. Then
Haldor and the other commanders went down to the sides of their ships,
where the men stood so thick that their shields touched all round, and
encouraged them to fight well for the freedom of old Norway--to which
they replied with loud huzzas. Immediately after the air was darkened
with a cloud of arrows, and the fight began.
There were scalds in both fleets at that fight, these afterwards wrote a
poem descriptive of it, part of which we now quote:
"With falcon eye and courage bright,
Haldor the Fierce prepared for fight;
`Hand up the arms to one and all!'
He cries. `My men, we'll win or fall!
Sooner than fly, heaped on each other,
Each man will fall across his brother!'
Thus spake, and through his vessels' throng
His mighty warship moved along.
He ran her gaily to the front,
To meet the coming battle's brunt--
Then gave the word the ships to bind
And shake his banner to the wind.
Our oars were stowed, our lances high
Swung to and fro athwart the sky.
Haldor the Fierce went through the ranks,
Drawn up beside the rowers' banks,
Where rows of shields seemed to enclose
The ship's deck from the boarding foes,
Encouraging his chosen crew,
He tells his brave lads to stand true,
And rows against--while arrows sing--
The Dragon of the tyrant King.
With glowing hearts and loud huzzas,
His men lay on in freedom's cause.
The sea-steeds foam; they plunge and rock:
The warriors meet in battle shock;
The ring-linked coats of strongest mail
Could not withstand the iron hail.
The fire of battle raged around;
Odin's steel shirts flew all unbound.
The pelting shower of stone and steel,
Caused many a Norseman stout to reel,
The red blood poured like summer rain;
The foam was scarlet on the main;
But, all unmoved like oak in wood,
Silent and grim fierce Haldor stood,
Until his axe could reach the foe--
Then--swift he thundered blow on blow.
And ever, as his axe came down,
It cleft or crushed another crown.
Elsewhere the chiefs on either side
Fought gallantly above the tide.
King Hakon pressed King Sigurd sore,
And Ulf made Hake the berserk roar,
And Kettle Flatnose dared to spring
On board the ship of Norway's King.
Old Guttorm Stoutheart's mighty shout
Above the din was heard throughout,
And Solve Klofe, 'gainst Mornef's son,
Slew right and left till day was done.
While, all around the loose ships rowed--
Where'er they went the red stream flowed.
Chief among these was Erling bold
And Glumm the Gruff, of whom 'tis told
They rushed in thickest of the fray--
Whatever part the line gave way--
And twice, and thrice, retrieved the day.
But heart, and strength, and courage true,
Could not avail where one fought two.
King Harald, foremost in the fight,
With flashing sword, resistless might,
Pushed on and slew, and dyed with red
The bright steel cap on many a head.
Against the hero's shield in vain,
The arrow-storm sends forth its rain.
The javelins and spear-thrusts fail
To pierce his coat of ringed mail.
The King stands on the blood-stained deck;
Trampling on many a foeman's neck;
And high above the dinning stound
Of helm and axe, and ringing sound
Of blade, and shield, and raven's cry
Is heard the shout of--`Victory!'"
In this poem the scald gives only an outline of the great fight. Let us
follow more closely the action of those in whom we are peculiarly
interested.
For more than two hours the battle raged with unabated fury--victory
inclining to neither side; but as the day advanced, the energy with
which Solve Klofe pushed the right wing began to tell, and the King's
men gave way a little at that part. Harald, however, was on the alert.
He sent some of his loose ships to reinforce them, and so regained his
position. A short time after that, some of Solve's ships were boarded,
but at that moment Erling and Glumm chanced to pass in their cutters--
for they kept always close together--and they gave such a shout, while
they turned and pulled to the rescue, that the men, who were wavering,
took heart again and drove the foe overboard. Just then the ship on the
right of Solve Klofe's vessel was also boarded by the enemy. Seeing
this, Erling called to Glumm that there was need of succour there, and
they rowed swiftly to the spot.
"Art thou hard pressed, Solve?" asked Erling, as he ranged up to the
stern of his friend's ship.
Solve was so furious that he could not answer, but pointed to the ship
next his, and sprang on the edge of his own, intending to leap into that
of the enemy, and get to the forefront. At the same time Eindrid, son
of Mornef, stood up on the high foredeck of his ship with a large stone
in his hand. He was a very powerful man, and hurled the stone with such
force against Solve's shield that it battered him down, and he fell back
into his own ship much stunned. Seeing this, Erling bade two of his men
follow him, leaped into Solve's ship, and thence into the one where the
fight was sharpest. Glumm followed him closely with his long two-handed
sword, and these two fought so dreadfully that Eindrid's men were driven
back into their own ship again. Then Erling ran to the place where the
high stern was wedged between two of the enemy's ships, and sprang on
the forecastle of Eindrid's ship.
"Thou art a bold man!" said Eindrid, turning on him.
"That may be as thou sayest," replied Erling, at the same time catching
a thrust on his shield, which he returned with such interest with his
axe that Eindrid's head was nearly severed from his body. At the same
moment Glumm cut down a famous berserk who ran at him, and in a few
minutes they had cleared the deck of the ship, and taken possession of
it. But this was scarcely accomplished when a cry arose that the left
wing under King Hakon was giving way.
At once Erling and Glumm ran back to their cutters, and made towards
that part of the line, followed by several of the loose ships. Here
they found that King Hakon was very hard pressed by Sigurd of Royer, so
they pushed in among the ships, and soon Erling's well-known war-cry was
heard, and his tall form was seen sweeping men down before him with his
great axe, like a mower cutting grass. Glumm, however, did not keep
close to him this time, but made direct for Hakon's ship, for he
remembered that he was Ada's father, and thought he might do him some
service.
As he was coming near he saw Swankie, a famous berserk, fighting
furiously on board Hakon's ship, and roaring, as was the wont of
berserkers sometimes, like a wild bull. Hakon's men had formed a
shield-circle round their chief, and were defending him bravely; but the
berserk was an uncommonly stout man, very brisk and active, and
exceedingly furious, as well as dexterous with his weapons. He slew so
many men that the shield-circle was broken, and he made at Hakon just as
Glumm leaped into the ship at the stern. King Hakon was a stout man and
brave, but he was getting old, and not so active as he used to be.
Nevertheless he met Swankie like a man, and dealt him a blow on his
helmet which made him stagger. The berserk uttered a fearful roar, and
struck at Hakon so fiercely that he split the upper part of his shield
and cut open his helmet. Hakon fell, but before he could repeat the
blow Glumm was upon him.
"What! is it thou, Swankie?" he cried. "Dog, methought I had killed
thee long ago!"
"That is yet to be done," cried the berserk, leaping upon Glumm with a
sweeping blow of his sword. Glumm stooped quickly, and the blow passed
over his head; then he fetched a sudden cut at Swankie, and split him
down from the neck to the waist, saying, "It is done now, methinks," as
he drew out his sword. Glumm did not go forward, but let his men drive
back the foe, while he turned and kneeled beside Hakon.
"Has the dog hurt thee badly?" he asked, raising the old warrior's head
on his knee, and speaking in a voice of almost womanly tenderness.
Hakon made an effort to speak, but for some time was unable to do so,
and Glumm held his shield over him to keep off the stones and arrows
which fell thickly around them. After a few moments Hakon wiped away
the blood which flowed from a deep wound in his forehead, and looked up
wildly in Glumm's face. He tried again to speak, and Glumm,
misunderstanding the few words he muttered, said: "Thou art already
avenged, King Hakon; Swankie the berserk is dead."
The dying man made another effort to speak, and was successful.
"That concerns me little, Glumm. Thou lovest Ada, I know. This ring--
take it to her, say her father's last thoughts were of her. Be a good
husband, Glumm. The brooch--see."
"Which?" asked Glumm, looking at several silver brooches with which the
old warrior's armour was fastened--"this one on thy breast?"
"Aye, take it--it was--her mother's."
The warrior's spirit seemed to be relieved when he had said this. He
sank down into a state resembling sleep. Once or twice afterwards he
opened his eyes and gazed up into the bright sky with a doubtful yet
earnest and enquiring gaze. Gradually the breathing became fainter,
until it ceased altogether, and Glumm saw that the old man was dead.
Fastening the brooch on his own broad chest, and putting the ring on his
finger, Glumm rose, seized his sword, and rushed again into the thick of
the fight with tenfold more fury than he had yet displayed, and ere long
the danger that threatened the left wing was for the time averted.
Meanwhile in the centre there was an equally uncertain and obstinate
conflict--for the chiefs on either side were mighty men of valour.
Wherever Old Guttorm's voice was heard, there victory inclined. Haldor,
on the other hand, did not shout, but he laid about him with such wild
ferocity that many men quailed at the very sight of him, and wherever he
went he was victorious. It was some time before he managed to get
alongside of King Harald Fairhair's ship, but when he did so the fight
became sharp in the extreme.
All the men in King Harald's ship, except the berserks, were clad in
coats of ring mail, and wore foreign helmets, and most of them had white
shields. Besides, as has been said, each man was celebrated for
personal strength and daring, so that none of those who were opposed to
them could make head against them. The arrows and spears fell harmless
from their shields, casques, and coats of mail, and it was only now and
then--as when a shaft happened to enter a man's eye--that any fell.
When Haldor's forecastle men attacked the berserkers on the high fore
deck of the Dragon, the fighting was terrible, for the berserkers all
roared aloud and fought with the wild fury of madmen, and so fierce was
their onslaught that Haldor's men were forced at first to give back.
But Thorer the Thick guarded himself warily, and being well armed
escaped injury for a time. When he saw the berserkers beginning to
flag, he leaped forward like a lion, and hewed them down right and left,
so that his men drove the enemy back into the Dragon. Some of them
slipped on the gun-wales, and so did some of Haldor's men, all of whom
fell into the sea, and a few of them were drowned, while others were
killed, but one or two escaped by swimming.
Ulf's ship was also pretty close to the Dragon, and he wished greatly to
board it, but was so hard beset by the ship of Nicolas Skialdvarsson
that he could not do so for a long time. Here Kettle Flatnose did
prodigies of valour. He stood on the high fore-deck with his favourite
weapon, the hook, and therewith pulled a great number of men off the
enemy's deck into the sea. At last he got a footing on their gunwale,
dropped his hook, drew his sword, and soon cleared his way aft. Ulf
leaped after him, drove the men into the waist, and then the most of
them were slain, and lay in heaps one upon another. After that it was
not difficult to clear the poop. Skialdvarsson defended it well, but he
could not stand before Ulf, who finally cut off his head, and so the
ship was won.
This vessel lay alongside that of King Harald; and although the King was
fully engaged with Haldor at the time, he observed the conquest of
Skialdvarsson by Ulf, and also perceived that Ulf's men were crowding
the side of the vessel, and throwing grappling-irons into his own ship
with a view to board it; for there was a space between the ships a
little too wide for men to leap. Springing to the side, the King cut
the grappling-irons with a sweep of his sword.
"That was well tried," he said.
"It shall be tried again," cried Ulf, heaving another iron, which nearly
struck the King, but Harald's sword flashed through the air, and again
the iron was cut.
At that moment Kettle Flatnose stepped back a few paces, and with a
mighty rush leaped right over the space in all his war gear, and
alighted on the Dragon's deck within a yard of the King. It was a
tremendous leap, and so nearly beyond the compass of Kettle's powers
that he was scarcely able to retain his foothold, but stood for a moment
on the edge of the vessel with shield and sword upheaved, as he
staggered to regain his balance. Thus exposed, he might have easily
been slain; but the King, instead of using his sword, stepped forward,
and with his left hand pushed the Irishman overboard. The cheer which
greeted his daring leap had scarcely ceased to ring when he fell heavily
into the sea.
"A goodly man, and a bold attempt," said the King, with a smile, as he
turned to Jarl Rongvold. "'Twould have been a pity to slay him
outright. If he can swim he may yet live to fight another battle."
"True, sire," replied the jarl, who was looking over the side at the
place where Kettle fell; "but methinks he has struck his head on an oar,
and will never succeed in swimming towards a friendly hand."
This indeed seemed to be true; for Kettle lay with his arm over an oar,
and his head hanging down in the water, like a dead man. Yet there was
life in him, for his fingers moved. Ulf had witnessed all this, and was
on the point of attempting to leap across to Harald's ship when Kettle
fell. He paused, and, seeing that his comrade was apparently being
drowned, at once dropped sword and shield, and sprang into the sea after
him.
At that moment a number of the King's boldest and best armed men
observed that the two ships had drawn a little nearer to each other. In
a moment they leaped across the intervening space, took their opponents
by surprise, and quickly regained the ship.
While this had been going on at the poop, the fight on the forecastle
had raged with extreme fury, for Haldor the Fierce had gained a footing
on the Dragon's deck, and was engaged in mortal combat with Hake the
berserk, whom he was slowly but surely driving back. His son Erling the
Bold, who observed what was going on, had run his cutter along the stern
of his father's ship, and was hastening to his aid, when King Harald
became aware that his men were giving way, and rushed to their support.
He went forward raging with anger, and as he ran he picked up a huge
stone, which he hurled before him. Haldor was at the moment in the act
of fetching a deadly cut at Hake, whom he had disarmed. The stone
struck him full in the chest, and he fell backward just as Erling
reached his side.
A great cheer arose at this time on the right; for there the wing of the
Southland men was broken, and everywhere King Harald's men were
victorious.
"Hold thou them in check, Glumm," cried Erling to his friend, as he
quickly raised his father in his arms and bore him away to his cutter.
Glumm, who had followed his friend like his shadow, sprang forward and
engaged Hake, who had recovered his sword, and who found this new enemy
little, if at all, less formidable than the other.
Erling placed his father carefully in the cutter.
"Here, Thorer," he said, "do thou guard my father, and hold thyself and
the carles in readiness to push off. The day is lost, I see. I go to
slay the King, and will return presently."
He leaped away as he spoke, and regained the foredeck of the Dragon,
where Glumm and his men were still engaged with the berserkers, just as
the King came to the front. The instant he saw Erling he leaped upon
him with a fierce shout, and shook back his shaggy flaxen locks as a
lion might shake his mane. Erling was not a whit behind him in anxiety
to meet. He sprang upon him with a crashing blow of his great pole-axe,
which rang loudly on the King's shield, but did him no hurt. They were
a well-matched pair. Harald was fully as stout, though not quite so
tall as his opponent, whose fine silky hair was almost as bushy as that
of the King, though neither so long nor so tangled.
Men drew back and stood aside when they heard the shock and shout of
their onset, and suspended the fight around them, while they gazed on in
silent awe. For a time it seemed doubtful which was the better man; for
the King's blade whirled incessantly around his head like flashing
light, and rang on Erling's shield, which was ever upraised to meet it.
At the same time the axe of our hero, if not so swift in its gyrations,
was more tremendous in its action; more than once the King was seen to
stagger beneath its thundering blows, and once he was beaten down on one
knee. How long this might have lasted it is impossible to tell; but,
seeing that the King was likely to get the worst of it, one of his men
crept round by the outside of the ship, and coming suddenly up behind
Erling, put out his hand and caught him by the leg, causing him to
stagger backwards, so that he fell overboard. In falling our hero
caught the man by the throat, and both fell into the sea together.
It was seen that Erling dived with his foe and dragged him down as if to
force him to perish along with him, and everyone looked for a few
moments at the water, expecting to see them rise. Glumm gazed among the
rest; and he had leaped down into Haldor's ship to be ready to lend a
hand. But Erling did not rise again. Seeing this, Glumm sprang up with
sudden fury and dashed at the enemy, but by this time they had recovered
from their surprise, and now poured into the ship in such overwhelming
numbers that the men were driven back and slain, or they leaped
overboard and trusted to escape by swimming.
Meanwhile Erling the Bold having choked off his antagonist, dived under
his father's ship and came up at the stern of his own cutter, into which
he speedily clambered by means of a rope which hung over the side. He
found that his father was seated on the poop with his head resting on
the gunwale, recovering consciousness slowly, and Thorer was engaged in
the difficult task of preventing the men from leaving the vessel to
succour their comrades.
"Keep back, men," cried Erling in a voice which none dared to disobey.
"Stay where ye are and get out the oars.--Come, Thorer, follow me with a
stout man, and keep them back while I rescue Glumm."
He jumped into Haldor's ship, and ran to the fore part of the poop,
where Glumm was fighting against overwhelming odds, with the blind
desperation of a man who has resolved to sell his life as dearly as he
can. Thorer and a tall stout man followed him, and instantly assailed
King Harald's men with such fury that they gave back a little. At the
same moment Erling seized Glumm by the neck; almost strangled him;
dragged him violently to the stern, and half sprang, half tumbled with
him into the cutter, where, despite his frantic struggles to rise, he
held him down.
"Now, my brisk lads," shouted Erling, who was gasping by this time,
"come back and jump in! Push off an ell or so. Steady!"
Thorer and the other man heard the shout, and, turning at once, ran to
the stern and leaped into the cutter, which was instantly thrust off, so
that one or two of their opponents who ventured to jump after them were
left floundering in the sea.
By this time King Harald's victory was complete. Both wings had been
beaten for some time, and now the centre had given way--only one or two
of the more desperate leaders were still keeping up the fight.
As Erling rowed towards the shore he could see that all the loose
vessels of the fleet were flying up the fiord, pursued by a few of the
loose vessels of the enemy. But the greater part of both fleets being
tied together, could take no part in the chase until they were cut
asunder.
"The day is lost, father," said Erling, as he stood by the steering oar.
"I know it, my son," replied Haldor, who was now able to sit up and look
about him; "Norway is henceforth enthralled."
He said this in a tone of such deep sadness that Erling forbore to
continue the subject.
"They are cutting asunder the fleet," observed Glumm, who had recovered
self-possession, and stood looking back at the scene of the recent
conflict; "surely some of them are trying to escape."
As he spoke, one of the large vessels shot out from among the others,
and rowed rapidly away. There was desperate fighting on board of it for
a few minutes, and then a number of men were pushed or thrown overboard,
and a loud cheer of victory arose.
"Well done, Solve Klofe!" cried Erling with enthusiasm. "That is his
shout. I should know it among a thousand. He at least is bent on being
free!"
Several of Harald's ships, which had been also cut loose, immediately
gave chase, but Solve's men pulled so well that they soon left them
behind, and hoisting their sail to a light breeze which was blowing just
off the mouth of the fiord, soon doubled the point and bore away to the
south.
"Is that someone swimming in the water?" asked Erling, pointing as he
spoke to an object which moved forward among the debris of oars,
portions of clothing, and wreck, which was floating about everywhere.
One of the men at the bow oar stood up, and after a short glance, said
that he thought it was a man.
"Look out on the starboard bow. Mind your oars and be ready, someone,
to lean over the waist and catch hold of him."
As he spoke, the cutter ranged up to the object, which appeared to be
the dishevelled and blood-bespattered head of a man. He suddenly gave
vent to a wild shout--"Come on, thou tyrant! Down with ye, dog--huzza!"
At the last shout a pair of arms were swung wildly in the air, and the
next moment the man's voice was stifled in the water as he sank, while
another head appeared beside him.
"That is the voice of Kettle Flatnose, or his wraith," exclaimed Erling;
"pull gently, lads; hold water."
"Why, Ulf, is it thou?"
"Truly," exclaimed Ulf, grasping the extended hand of Glumm, "I don't
feel quite sure! Haul gently, Glumm. I've got Kettle here. Another
hand or two. Now then, heave together!"
Several stout men leaned over the side, and, acting in accordance with
these instructions, hauled Ulf and Kettle out of the sea; the former in
a state of great exhaustion, the latter almost dead, for his last dip
had well-nigh choked him.
"It has been a long swim," said Ulf, sitting down and leaning languidly
against the bulwarks, while Glumm and Haldor proceeded to chafe the
Irishman into a state of consciousness. "Once or twice I sank under
him, for he was very wild when he came to himself, after I got hold of
him, and struggled to be up and fight the King; but I held him fast.
Yet methought once or twice," added Ulf, with a smile, "that I had at
last got into Valhalla."
A horn of ale refreshed Ulf, and another of the same was shortly after
given to Kettle, by which his wandering faculties were soon restored.
By this time they were drawing near the bay at Ulfstede, and Erling
urged on the rowers, for they could see that Harald's ships were now
cast loose, and giving chase to those that endeavoured to escape, while
several of the largest, including the Dragon, made direct for the land.
"Our whole effort now," said Haldor, "must be to rescue the women."
"That will not be easy," observed Ulf gloomily.
"But it is not impossible," said Erling with decision. "We shall have
time to get into the woods, and so round to the cave. By the way, does
anyone know aught of Hakon of Drontheim?"
"He is dead," said Glumm.
"Dead!"
At that moment Haldor started up with a wild exclamation, and pointed
towards the spot on which his own dwelling stood, where, above the
trees, there arose a cloud of dense black smoke. The truth was soon all
too plain, for, on rounding the point which had hitherto concealed the
bay from their view, several of the enemy's largest ships were seen with
their bows on the shore. It was evident that part of the left wing of
the enemy, which was first victorious, had, unobserved by them, made for
the shore, and landed a large force of men, who had hastened to
Ulfstede, and, finding it deserted, had pushed on to Haldorstede, which
they had set on fire.
"Now indeed would death be welcome!" cried Haldor, stamping fiercely on
the deck, while every feature of his face blazed with wrath.
We need scarcely say that the hearts of all had sunk within them, but
Erling said--"Death would be unwelcome yet, father. The men, no doubt,
are killed, but be sure they will not hurt the women while King Harald
is on his way to the stede. We may yet die in defending them, if we
cannot save them."
"True, my son," said Haldor, clasping his hands, and looking upwards
with a solemnity of expression that was in strong contrast with his
recent burst of passion; "we may perchance save them, as thou sayest;
but woe is me for poor Alric!"
"Alric is safe, I am certain," said Erling energetically, as he turned a
meaning glance on Glumm.
"How knowest thou that?" asked Haldor.
Erling hesitated to reply, not wishing to raise hopes that after all
might prove to be fallacious.
Before the question could be repeated the cutter's keel grated on the
sand of a small bay which was close to the large one, and concealed from
it by a small rocky islet. Here they all jumped ashore--all except
Kettle Flatnose, who, on attempting to rise, found himself so weak that
he fell down again, and nearly fainted.
"This is bad," said Erling. "But come, we have no time to waste. Give
me the chief command of our men, father; I have a plan in my head."
"Do as thou wilt," said Haldor, with a strange mixture of despair,
resignation, and ferocity in his tone.
"Come then, form up, men, and follow me!"
So saying, Erling lifted Kettle in his arms, and hurried away with him
as if he had been no heavier than a little boy! He led the way to the
secret entrance to the cave, where, true as steel to his trust, little
Alric was found with a few men guarding the two warships of Erling and
Glumm.