castle walls, threw open the castle gates,
and shouted to the Varings, urging them, and jeering at them, and
telling them to come into the castle, and that they were no more fit for
battle than so many poultry. Harald told his men to make as if they did
not know what to do, or did not understand what was said. "For," says
he, "if we do make an assault we can effect nothing, as they can throw
their weapons under their feet among us; and if we get in the castle
with a party of our people, they have it in their power to shut them in.
and shut out the others; for they have all the castle gates beset with
men. We shall therefore show them the same scorn they show us, and
let them see we do not fear them. Our men shall go out upon the plain
nearest to the castle; taking care, however, to keep out of bow-shot.
All our men shall go unarmed, and be playing with each other, so that
the castle-men may see we do not regard them or their array." Thus it
went on for some days, without anything being done.

9. OF ULF AND HALDOR.

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 tak