There were two men, the one called Gauka-Thorer, the other Afrafaste,
who were vagabonds and great robbers, and had a company of thirty men
such as themselves. These two men were larger and stronger than other
men, and they wanted neither courage nor impudence. These men heard
speak of the army that was crossing the country, and said among
themselves it would be a clever counsel to go to the king, follow him to
his country, and go with him into a regular battle, and try themselves
in this work; for they had never been in any battle in which people
were regularly drawn up in line, and they were curious to see the king's
order of battle. This counsel was approved of by their comrades, and
accordingly they went to the road on which King Olaf was to pass.
When they came there they presented themselves to the king, with their
followers, fully armed. They saluted him, and he asked what people they
were. They told their names, and said they were natives of the place;
and told their errand, and that they wished to go with the king. The
king said, it appeared to him there was good help in such folks. "And I
have a great inclination," said he, "to take such; but are ye Christian
men?"
Gauka-Thorer replies, that he is neither Christian nor heathen. "I and
my comrades have no faith but on ourselves, our strength, and the luck
of victory; and with this faith we slip through sufficiently well."
The king replies, "A great pity it is that such brave slaughtering
fellows did not believe in Christ their Creator."
Thorer replies, "Is there any Christian man, king, in thy following, who
stands so high in the air as we two brothers?"
The king told them to let themselves be baptized, and to accept the true
faith. "Follow me then, and I will advance you to great dignities; but
if ye will not do so, return to your former vocation."
Afrafaste said he would not take on Christianity, and he turned away.
Then said Gauka-Thorer, "It is a great shame that the king drives
us thus away from his army, and I never before came where I was not
received into the company of other people, and I shall never return
back on this account." They joined accordingly the rear with other
forest-men, and followed the troops. Thereafter the king proceeded west
up to the keel-ridge of the country.