We herried
first in Friesland, next in Saxland, and then all the way to Flanders;
so sings Halfred the scald:--

"`Gundalf's axe of shining steel
For the sly wolf left many a meal.
The ill-shaped Saxon corpses lay
Heap'd up--the witch-wife's horses' prey.
She rides by night, at pools of blood,
Where Friesland men in daylight stood,
Her horses slake their thirst, and fly
On to the field where Flemings lie.'"

[Note. Ravens were the witch-wife's horses.]

The old warrior half recited half sang these lines in a rich full voice,
and then paused a few seconds, while a slight murmur arose from the
earnest listeners around him.

"Thereafter," resumed Guttorm, "we sailed to England, and ravaged far
and wide in the land. We sailed all the way north to Northumberland,
where we plundered, and thence to Scotland, where we marauded far and
wide. Then we went to the Hebrides and fought some battles, and after
that south to Man, which we herried. We ravaged far around in Ireland,
and steered thence to Bretland, which we laid waste with fire and
sword--also the district of Cumberland. Then we went to Valland, [the
west coast of France] from which we fared away for the south coast of
England, but missed it and made the Scilly Isles. After that we went to
Ireland again, and came to a harbour, into which we ran--but in a
friendly way, for we had as much plunder as our ships could carry.

"Now, while we were there, a summons to a Thing went through the
country, and when the Thing was assembled, a queen called Gyda came to
it. She was a sister of Olaf Quarram, who was King of Dublin. Gyda was
very wealthy, and her husband had died that year. In the territory
there was a man called Alfin, who was a great champion and single-combat
man. He had paid his addresses to Gyda, but she gave for answer that
she would choose a husband for herself; and on that account the Thing
was assembled, that she might choose a husband. Alfin came there
dressed out in his best clothes, and there were many well-dressed men at
the meeting. Gundalf and some of his men had gone there also, out of
curiosity, but we had on our bad-weather clothes, and Gundalf wore a
coarse over-garment. We stood apart from the rest of the crowd, Gyda
went round and looked at each, to see if any appeared to her a suitable
man. Now when she came to where we were standing, she passed most of us
by with a glance; but when she passed me, I noticed that