Harald Gille was a tall, slender-grown man, of a long neck and face,
black eyes, and dark hair, brisk and quick, and wore generally the
Irish dress of short light clothes. The Norse language was difficult for
Harald, and he brought out words which many laughed at. Harald sat late
drinking one evening. He spoke with another man about different things
in the west in Ireland; and among other things, said that there were
men in Ireland so swift of foot that no horse could overtake them in
running. Magnus, the king's son, heard this, and said, "Now he is lying,
as he usually does."
Harald replies, "It is true that there are men in Ireland whom no horse
in Norway could overtake." They exchanged some words about this, and
both were drunk. Then said Magnus, "Thou shalt make a wager with me, and
stake thy head if thou canst not run so fast as I ride upon my horse,
and I shall stake my gold ring."
Harald replies, "I did not say that I could run so swiftly; but I said
that men are to be found in Ireland who will run as fast; and on that I
would wager."
The king's son Magnus replies, "I will not go to Ireland about it; we
are wagering here, and not there."
Harald on this went to bed, and would not speak to him more about it.
This was in Oslo. The following morning, when the early mass was over,
Magnus rode up the street, and sent a message to Harald to come to him.
When Harald came he was dressed thus. He had on a shirt and trousers
which were bound with ribands under his foot-soles, a short cloak, an
Irish hat on his head, and a spear-shaft in his hand. Magnus set up a
mark for the race. Harald said, "Thou hast made the course too long;"
but Magnus made it at once even much longer, and said it was still
too short. There were many spectators. They began the race, and Harald
followed always the horse's pace; and when they came to the end of the
race course, Magnus said, "Thou hadst hold of the saddle-girth, and the
horse dragged thee along." Magnus had his swift runner, the Gautland
horse. They began the race again, and Harald ran the whole race-course
before the horse. When came to the end Harald asked, "Had I hold of the
saddle-girths now?"