Reyr, and Simon's sons; Nikolas
Skialdvarson; Eindride, a son of Jon Mornef, who was the most gallant
and popular man in the Throndhjem country; and many other lendermen and
warriors. Now when they saw that King Inge's men with many ships were
rowing out of the river, Hakon and his men believed they were going to
fly; and therefore they cut their land-ropes with which they lay fast at
the piles, seized their oars, and rowed after them in pursuit. The
ships ran fast down with the stream; but when they came further down
the river, abreast of the ness, they saw King Inge's main strength lying
quiet at the island Hising. King Inge's people saw Hakon's ships under
way, and believed they were coming to attack them; and now there was
great bustle and clash of arms, and they encouraged each other by a
great war-shout. Hakon with his fleet turned northwards a little to the
land, where there was a turn in the bight of the river, and where there
was no current. They made ready for battle, carried land-ropes to the
shore, turned the stems of their ships outwards, and bound them all
together. They laid the large East-country traders without the
other vessels, the one above, the other below, and bound them to the
long-ships. In the middle of the fleet lay the king's ship, and next to
it Sigurd's; and on the other side of the king's ship lay Nikolas, and
next to him Endride Jonson. All the smaller ships lay farther off, and
they were all nearly loaded with weapons and stones.

8. SIGURD OF REYR'S SPEECH.

Then Sigurd of Reyr made the following speech: "Now there is hope that
the time is come which has been promised us all the summer, that we
shall meet King Inge in battle. We have long prepared ourselves for
this; and many of our comrades have boasted that they would never fly
from or submit to King Inge and Gregorius, and now let them remember
their words. But we who have sometimes got the toothache in our
conflicts with them, speak less confidently; for it has happened, as
all have heard, that we very often have come off without glory. But,
nevertheless, it is now necessary to fight manfully, and stand to it
with steadiness; for the only escape for us is in victory. Although we
have somewhat fewer men than they, yet luck determines which side shall
have the advantage, and God knows that the right is on our side. Inge
has killed two of his brothers; and it is obvious to all men that the
mulct he intends to pay King Hakon for