244. OF THE BONDES OF VERADAL.

The bondes who had their homes in Veradal went to the chiefs Harek and

Thorer, and complained of their distress, saying, "The fugitives who

have escaped from the battle have proceeded up over the valley of

Veradal, and are destroying our habitations, and there is no safety for

us to travel home so long as they are in the valley. Go after them with

war-force, and let no mother's son of them escape with life; for that is

what they intended for us if they had got the upper hand in the battle,

and the same they would do now if they met us hereafter, and had better

luck than we. It may also be that they will linger in the valley if they

have nothing to be frightened for, and then they would not proceed very

gently in the inhabited country." The bondes made many words about this,

urging the chiefs to advance directly, and kill those who had escaped.

Now when the chiefs talked over this matter among themselves, they

thought there was much truth in what the bondes said. They resolved,

therefore, that Thorer Hund should undertake this expedition through

Veradal, with 600 men of his own troops. Then, towards evening, he set

out with his men; and Thorer continued his march without halt until he

came in the night to Sula, where he heard the news that Dag Hringson had

come there in the evening, with many other flocks of the king's men, and

had halted there until they took supper, but were afterwards gone up

to the mountains. Then Thorer said he did not care to pursue them up

through the mountains, and he returned down the valley again, and they

did not kill many of them this time. The bondes then returned to their

homes, and the following day Thorer, with his people, went to their

ships. The part of the king's men who were still on their legs concealed

themselves in the forests, and some got help from the people.

Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway · 第 550 / 1013 题