At Reykium on Skeid dwelt one Runolf Thorstein's son. His son's
name was Hildiglum. He went out on the night of the Lord's day,
when nine weeks were still to winter; he heard a great crash, so
that he thought both heaven and earth shook. Then he looked into
the west "airt," and he thought he saw thereabouts a ring of
fiery hue, and within the ring a man on a grey horse. He passed
quickly by him, and rode hard. He had a flaming firebrand in his
hand, and he rode so close to him that he could see him plainly.
He was as black as pitch, and he sung this song with a mighty
voice:
"Here I ride swift steed,
His Bank flecked with rime,
Rain from his mane drips,
Horse mighty for harm;
Flames flare at each end,
Gall glows in the midst,
So fares it with Flosi's redes
As this flaming brand flies;
And so fares it with Flosi's redes
As this flaming brand flies."
Then he thought he hurled the firebrand east towards the fells
before him, and such a blaze of fire leapt up to meet it that he
could not see the fells for the blaze. It seemed as though that
man rode east among the flames and vanished there.
After that he went to his bed, and was senseless a long time,
but at last he came to himself. He bore in mind all that had
happened, and told his father, but he bade him tell it to Hjallti
Skeggi's son. So he went and told Hjallti, but he said he had
seen "`the Wolf's ride,' and that comes ever before great
tidings."