The fifth day (Thursday), Thorer Hund came down the valley of Veradal
to Stiklestad; and many people, both chiefs and bondes, accompanied him.
The field of battle was still being cleared, and people were carrying
away the bodies of their friends and relations, and were giving the
necessary help to such of the wounded as they wished to save; but
many had died since the battle. Thorer Hund went to where the king had
fallen, and searched for his body; but not finding it, he inquired if
any one could tell him what had become of the corpse, but nobody could
tell him where it was. Then he asked the bonde Thorgils, who said, "I
was not in the battle, and knew little of what took place there; but
many reports are abroad, and among others that King Olaf has been seen
in the night up at Staf, and a troop of people with him: but if he fell
in the battle, your men must have concealed him in some hole, or under
some stone-heap." Now although Thorer Hund knew for certain that the
king had fallen, many allowed themselves to believe, and to spread
abroad the report, that the king had escaped from the battle, and would
in a short time come again upon them with an army. Then Thorer went
to his ships, and sailed down the fjord, and the bonde-army dispersed,
carrying with them all the wounded men who could bear to be removed.