On Thomasmas, before Yule (Dec. 21), the king left the harbour as soon
as day appeared. With a good but rather strong gale he sailed northwards
past Jadar. The weather was rainy, with dark flying clouds in the sky.
The spies went immediately in through the Jadar country when the king
sailed past it; and as soon as Erling heard that the king was sailing
past from the East, he let the war-horn call all the people on board,
and the whole force hastened to the ships, and prepared for battle. The
king's ship passed by Jadar at a great rate; but thereafter turned
in towards the land, intending to run up the fjords to gather men and
money. Erling Skjalgson perceived this, and sailed after him with a
great force and many ships. Swiftly their vessels flew, for they had
nothing on board but men and arms: but Erling's ship went much faster
than the others; therefore he took in a reef in the sails, and waited
for the other vessels. Then the king saw that Erling with his fleet
gained upon him fast; for the king's ships were heavily laden, and were
besides water-soaked, having been in the sea the whole summer, autumn,
and winter, up to this time. He saw also that there would be a great
want of men, if he should go against the whole of Erling's fleet when it
was assembled. He hailed from ship to ship the orders to let the sails
gently sink, and to unship the booms and outriggers, which was done.
When Erling saw this he calls out to his people, and orders them to get
on more sail. "Ye see," says he, "that their sails are diminishing, and
they are getting fast away from our sight." He took the reef out of the
sails of his ship, and outsailed all the others immediately; for Erling
was very eager in his pursuit of King Olaf.