Two Iceland men were then with Harald; the one was Haldor (1), a son of
the gode Snorre, who brought this account to Iceland; the other was Ulf
Uspakson, a grandson of Usvifer Spake. Both were very strong men, bold
under arms, and Harald's best friends; and both were in this play. Now
when some days were passed the castle people showed more courage, and
would go without weapons upon the castle wall, while the castle gates
were standing open. The Varings observing this, went one day to their
sports with the sword under their cloaks, and the helmet under their
hats. After playing awhile they observed that the castle people were
off their guard; and instantly seizing their weapons, they made at the
castle gate. When the men of the castle saw this they went against them
armed completely, and a battle began in the castle gate. The Varings had
no shields, but wrapped their cloaks round their left arms. Some of
them were wounded, some killed, and all stood in great danger. Now came
Harald with the men who had remained in the camp, to the assistance
of his people; and the castle-men had now got out upon the walls, from
which they shot and threw stones down upon them; so that there was a
severe battle, and those who were in the castle gates thought that help
was brought them slower than they could have wished. When Harald came to
the castle gate his standard-bearer fell, and Harald said to Haldor,
"Do thou take up the banner now." Haldor took up the banner, and said
foolishly, "Who will carry the banner before thee, if thou followest it
so timidly as thou hast done for a while?" But these were words more
of anger than of truth; for Harald was one of the boldest of men under
arms. Then they pressed in, and had a hard battle in the castle; and the
end was that Harald gained the victory and took the castle. Haldor
was much wounded in the face, and it gave him great pain as long as he
lived.
ENDNOTES: (1) One of the descendants of this Haldor was Snorre
Sturlason, the author of "Heimskringla".