Now when Harald came to Sicily he plundered there also, and sat down
with his army before a strong and populous castle. He surrounded the
castle; but the walls were so thick there was no possibility of breaking
into it, and the people of the castle had enough of provisions, and all
that was necessary for defence. Then Harald hit upon an expedient.
He made his bird-catchers catch the small birds which had their nests
within the castle, but flew into the woods by day to get food for their
young. He had small splinters of tarred wood bound upon the backs of the
birds, smeared these over with wax and sulphur, and set fire to them. As
soon as the birds were let loose they all flew at once to the castle to
their young, and to their nests, which they had under the house roofs
that were covered with reeds or straw. The fire from the birds seized
upon the house roofs; and although each bird could only carry a small
burden of fire, yet all at once there was a mighty flame, caused by so
many birds carrying fire with them and spreading it widely among the
house roofs. Thus one house after the other was set on fire, until the
castle itself was in flames. Then the people came out of the castle and
begged for mercy; the same men who for many days had set at defiance
the Greek army and its leader. Harald granted life and safety to all who
asked quarter, and made himself master of the place.