f King Harald Gille's fourth son, who was fostered by Kyrpingaorm.
He also was chosen king, and got a fourth part of the country; but
Magnus was deformed in his feet, lived but a short time, and died in his
bed. Einar Skulason speaks of them:--

"The generous Eystein money gave;
Sigurd in fight was quick and brave;
Inge loved well the war-alarm;
Magnus to save his land from harm.
No country boasts a nobler race
The battle-field, or Thing, to grace.
Four brothers of such high pretence
The sun ne'er shone upon at once."

14. MURDER OF OTTAR BIRTING.

After King Harald Gille's death Queen Ingerid married Ottar Birting,
who was a lendermen and a great chief, and of a Throndhjem family, who
strengthened King Inge's government much while he was in his childhood.
King Sigurd was not very friendly to Ottar; because, as he thought,
Ottar always took King Inge's side. Ottar Birting was killed north in
the merchant town (Nidaros), in an assault upon him in the twilight as
he was going to the evening song. When he heard the whistling of the
blow he held up his cloak with his hands against it; thinking, no doubt,
it was a snowball thrown at him, as young boys do in the streets. Ottar
fell by the stroke; but his son, Alf Hrode, who just at the same moment
was coming into the churchyard, saw his father's fall, and saw that the
man who had killed him ran east about the church. Alf ran after him, and
killed him at the corner of the choir; and people said that he had good
luck in avenging his father, and afterwards was much more respected than
he had been before.

15. BEGINNING OF KING EYSTEIN.

King Eystein Haraldson was in the interior of the Throndhjem district
when he heard of Ottar's murder, and summoned to him the bonde-army,
with which he proceeded to the town; and he had many men. Ottar's
relations and other friends accused King Sigurd, who was in the town,
of having instigated this deed; and the bondes were much enraged against
him. But the king offered to clear himself by the ordeal of iron, and
thereby to establish the truth of his denial; and accordingly a peace
was made. King Sigurd went to the south end of the country, and the
ordeal was never afterwards heard of.

16. BEGINNING OF ORM THE KING-BROTHER.

Queen Ingerid had a son to Ivar Sneis, and he was called Orm, and got
the surname of King-brother. He was a handsome man in appearance, and
became a great