On the one side of Kalf Arnason stood his two relations, Olaf and Kalf,
with many other brave and stout men. Kalf was a son of Arnfin Arnmodson,
and a brother's son of Arne Arnmodson. On the other side of Kalf Arnason
stood Thorer Hund. King Olaf hewed at Thorer Hund, and struck him across
the shoulders; but the sword would not cut, and it was as if dust flew
from his reindeer-skin coat. So says Sigvat:--
"The king himself now proved the power
Of Fin-folk's craft in magic hour,
With magic song; for stroke of steel
Thor's reindeer coat would never feel,
Bewitched by them it turned the stroke
Of the king's sword,--a dust-like smoke
Rose from Thor's shoulders from the blow
Which the king though would end his foe."
Thorer struck at the king, and they exchanged some blows; but the king's
sword would not cut where it met the reindeer skin, although Thorer was
wounded in the hands. Sigvat sang thus of it:--
"Some say that Thorer's not right bold;
Why never yet have I been told
Of one who did a bolder thing
Than to change blows with his true king.
Against his king his sword to wield,
Leaping across the shield on shield
Which fenced the king round in the fight,
Shows the dog's (1) courage--brave, not bright."
The king said to Bjorn the marshal, "Do thou kill the dog on whom steel
will not bite." Bjorn turned round the axe in his hands, and gave Thorer
a blow with the hammer of it on the shoulder so hard that he tottered.
The king at the same moment turned against Kalf and his relations, and
gave Olaf his death-wound. Thorer Hund struck his spear right through
the body of Marshal Bjorn, and killed him outright; and Thorer said, "It
is thus we hunt the bear." (2) Thorstein Knarrarsmid struck at King Olaf
with his axe, and the blow hit his left leg above the knee. Fin Arnason
instantly killed Thorstein. The king after the wound staggered towards
a stone, threw down his sword, and prayed God to help him. Then Thorer
Hund struck at him with his spear, and the stroke went in under his
mail-coat and into his belly. Then Kalf struck at him on the left side
of the neck. But all are not agreed upon Kalf having been the man who
gave him the wound in the neck. These three wounds were King Olaf's
death; and after the king's death the greater part of the forces which
had advanced with him fell with the king. Bjarne Gullbrarskald sang
these verses about Kalf Arnason:--
"Warrior! who Olaf dared withstand,
Who against Olaf held the land,
Thou hast withstood the bravest, best,
Who e'er has gone to his long rest.
At Stiklestad thou wast the head;
With flying banners onwards led
Thy bonde troops, and still fought on,
Until he fell--the much-mourned one."