the king, and then went to Sveinke, and told him the
king's gracious intentions. "We will be glad," said they, "if ye can
be reconciled. The king requires, indeed that thy absence shall be for
three years; but, if we know the truth rightly, we expect that before
that time he will find he cannot do without thee in this part of the
country. It will be to thy own future honour, therefore, to agree to
this."

Sveinke replies, "What condition is better than this? Tell the king that
I shall not vex him longer with my presence here, and accept of my goods
and estates on this condition."

Thereupon he went home with his men, and set off directly; for he had
prepared everything beforehand. Kolbjorn remains behind, and makes
ready a feast for King Magnus, which also was thought of and prepared.
Sveinke, on the other hand, rides up to Gautland with all the men he
thought proper to take with him. The king let himself be entertained in
guest-quarters at his house, returned to Viken, and Sveinke's estates
were nominally the king's, but Kolbjorn had them under his charge. The
king received guest-quarters in Viken, proceeded from thence northwards,
and there was peace for a while; but now that the Elfgrims were without
a chief, marauding gangs infested them, and the king saw this eastern
part of the kingdom would be laid waste. It appeared to him, therefore,
most suitable and advisable to make Sveinke himself oppose the stream,
and twice he sent messages to him. But he did not stir until King Magnus
himself was south in Denmark, when Sveinke and the king met, and made
a full reconciliation; on which Sveinke returned home to his house and
estates, and was afterwards King Magnus's best and trustiest friend,
who strengthened his kingdom on the eastern border; and their friendship
continued as long as they lived.

9. KING MAGNUS MAKES WAR ON THE SOUTHERN HEBUDES.

King Magnus undertook an expedition out of the country, with many fine
men and a good assortment of shipping. With this armament he sailed out
into the West sea, and first came to the Orkney Islands. There he took
the two earls, Paul and Erlend, prisoners, and sent them east to Norway,
and placed his son Sigurd as chief over the islands, leaving some
counsellors to assist him. From thence King Magnus, with his followers,
proceeded to the Southern Hebudes, and when he came there began to burn
and lay waste the inhabited places, killing the people and plundering
wherever