7. BATTLE AT ANOTHER CASTLE.

There was another castle before which Harald had come with his army.

This castle was both full of people and so strong, that there was no

hope of breaking into it. The castle stood upon a flat hard plain. Then

Harald undertook to dig a passage from a place where a stream ran in a

bed so deep that it could not be seen from the castle. They threw out

all the earth into the stream, to be carried away by the water. At this

work they laboured day and night, and relieved each other in gangs;

while the rest of the army went the whole day against the castle, where

the castle people shot through their loop-holes. They shot at each other

all day in this way, and at night they slept on both sides. Now when

Harald perceived that his underground passage was so long that it must

be within the castle walls, he ordered his people to arm themselves. It

was towards daybreak that they went into the passage. When they got to

the end of it they dug over their heads until they came upon stones laid

in lime which was the floor of a stone hall. They broke open the floor

and rose into the hall. There sat many of the castle-men eating and

drinking, and not in the least expecting such uninvited wolves; for

the Varings instantly attacked them sword in hand, and killed some, and

those who could get away fled. The Varings pursued them; and some seized

the castle gate, and opened it, so that the whole body of the army

got in. The people of the castle fled; but many asked quarter from the

troops, which was granted to all who surrendered. In this way Harald got

possession of the place, and found an immense booty in it.

Heimskringla; Or, The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway · 第 642 / 1013 题