A little after this it happened that Harald and Svein one evening were
sitting at table drinking and talking together, and Svein asked Harald
what valuable piece of all his property he esteemed the most.
He answered, it was his banner Land-waster.
Svein asked what was there remarkable about it, that he valued it so
highly.
Harald replied, it was a common saying that he must gain the victory
before whom that banner is borne, and it had turned out so ever since he
had owned it.
Svein replies, "I will begin to believe there is such virtue in the
banner when thou hast held three battles with thy relation Magnus, and
hast gained them all."
Then answered Harald with an angry voice, "I know my relationship to
King Magnus, without thy reminding me of it; and although we are now
going in arms against him, our meeting may be of a better sort."
Svein changed colour, and said, "There are people, Harald, who say that
thou hast done as much before as only to hold that part of an agreement
which appears to suit thy own interest best."
Harald answers, "It becomes thee ill to say that I have not stood by an
agreement, when I know what King Magnus could tell of thy proceedings
with him."
Thereupon each went his own way. At night, when Harald went to sleep
within the bulwarks of his vessel, he said to his footboy, "I will not
sleep in my bed to-night, for I suspect there may be treachery abroad.
I observed this evening that my friend Svein was very angry at my free
discourse. Thou shalt keep watch, therefore, in case anything happen in
the night." Harald then went away to sleep somewhere else, and laid a
billet of wood in his place. At midnight a boat rowed alongside to the
ship's bulwark; a man went on board, lifted up the cloth of the tent of
the bulwarks, went up, and struck in Harald's bed with a great ax, so
that it stood fast in the lump of wood. The man instantly ran back to
his boat again, and rowed away in the dark night, for the moon was
set; but the axe remained sticking in the piece of wood as an evidence.
Thereupon Harald waked his men and let them know the treachery intended.
"We can now see sufficiently," said he, "that we could never match Svein
if he practises such deliberate treachery against us; so it will be best
for us to get away from this place while we can. Let us cast loose our
vessel and row away as quietly as possible." They did so, and rowed
during the night northwards along the land; and then proceeded night and
day until they came to King Magnus, where he lay with his army. Harald
went to his relation Magnus, and there was a joyful meeting betwixt
them. So says Thiodolf:--
"The far-known king the order gave,
In silence o'er the swelling wave,
With noiseless oars, his vessels gay
From Denmark west to row away;
And Olaf's son, with justice rare,
Offers with him the realm to share.
People, no doubt, rejoiced to find
The kings had met in peaceful mind."
Afterwards the two relatives conversed with each other and all was
settled by peaceful agreement.