force him to perish along with him, and everyone looked for a few
moments at the water, expecting to see them rise. Glumm gazed among the
rest; and he had leaped down into Haldor's ship to be ready to lend a
hand. But Erling did not rise again. Seeing this, Glumm sprang up with
sudden fury and dashed at the enemy, but by this time they had recovered
from their surprise, and now poured into the ship in such overwhelming
numbers that the men were driven back and slain, or they leaped
overboard and trusted to escape by swimming.

Meanwhile Erling the Bold having choked off his antagonist, dived under
his father's ship and came up at the stern of his own cutter, into which
he speedily clambered by means of a rope which hung over the side. He
found that his father was seated on the poop with his head resting on
the gunwale, recovering consciousness slowly, and Thorer was engaged in
the difficult task of preventing the men from leaving the vessel to
succour their comrades.

"Keep back, men," cried Erling in a voice which none dared to disobey.
"Stay where ye are and get out the oars.--Come, Thorer, follow me with a
stout man, and keep them back while I rescue Glumm."

He jumped into Haldor's ship, and ran to the fore part of the poop,
where Glumm was fighting against overwhelming odds, with the blind
desperation of a man who has resolved to sell his life as dearly as he
can. Thorer and a tall stout man followed him, and instantly assailed
King Harald's men with such fury that they gave back a little. At the
same moment Erling seized Glumm by the neck; almost strangled him;
dragged him violently to the stern, and half sprang, half tumbled with
him into the cutter, where, despite his frantic struggles to rise, he
held him down.

"Now, my brisk lads," shouted Erling, who was gasping by this time,
"come back and jump in! Push off an ell or so. Steady!"

Thorer and the other man heard the shout, and, turning at once, ran to
the stern and leaped into the cutter, which was instantly thrust off, so
that one or two of their opponents who ventured to jump after them were
left floundering in the sea.

By this time King Harald's victory was complete. Both wings had been
beaten for some time, and now the centre had given way--only one or two
of the more desperate leaders were still keeping up the fight.

As Erling rowed towards the shore he could see that all the loose
vessels of the fleet were flying up the fiord, pursued