Earl Eirik was in the forehold of his ship, where a cover of shields (1)
had been set up. In the fight, both hewing weapons, sword, and axe, and
the thrust of spears had been used; and all that could be used as weapon
for casting was cast. Some used bows, some threw spears with the hand.
So many weapons were cast into the Serpent, and so thick flew spears and
arrows, that the shields could scarcely receive them, for on all sides
the Serpent was surrounded by war-ships. Then King Olaf's men became so
mad with rage, that they ran on board of the enemies ships, to get at
the people with stroke of sword and kill them; but many did not lay
themselves so near the Serpent, in order to escape the close encounter
with battle-axe or sword; and thus the most of Olaf's men went overboard
and sank under their weapons, thinking they were fighting on plain
ground. So says Halfred:--
"The daring lads shrink not from death;--
O'erboard they leap, and sink beneath
The Serpent's keel: all armed they leap,
And down they sink five fathoms deep.
The foe was daunted at the cheers;
The king, who still the Serpent steers,
In such a strait--beset with foes--
Wanted but some more lads like those."
ENDNOTES: (1) Both in land and sea fights the commanders appear to have
been protected from missile weapons,--stones, arrows,
spears,--by a shieldburg: that is, by a party of men
bearing shields surrounding them in such a way that the
shields were a parapet, covering those within the circle.
The Romans had a similar military arrangement of shields in
sieges--the testudo.--L.