in getting hold of Olaf Trygvason, to conduct him to Norway, where
Gunhild would bring him up. The king gave Hakon people with him, and he
rode with them to Hakon the Old, where Hakon desired, with many friendly
expressions, that Olaf should go with him. Hakon the Old returned a
friendly answer, saying that it depended entirely upon Olaf's mother.
But Astrid would on no account listen to the proposal; and the
messengers had to return as they came, and to tell King Eirik how the
matter stood. The ambassadors then prepared to return home, and asked
the king for some assistance to take the boy, whether Hakon the Old
would or not. The king gave them again some attendants; and when they
came to Hakon the Old, they again asked for the boy, and on his refusal
to deliver him they used high words and threatened violence. But one of
the slaves, Buste by name, attacked Hakon, and was going to kill him;
and they barely escaped from the thralls without a cudgelling, and
proceeded home to Norway to tell Gunhild their ill success, and that
they had only seen Olaf.

5. OF SIGURD EIRIKSON.

Astrid had a brother called Sigurd, a son of Eirik Bjodaskalle, who had
long been abroad in Gardarike (Russia) with King Valdemar, and was there
in great consideration. Astrid had now a great inclination to travel to
her brother there. Hakon the Old gave her good attendants, and what was
needful for the journey, and she set out with some merchants. She had
then been two years (A.D. 965-966) with Hakon the Old, and Olaf was
three years of age. As they sailed out into the Baltic, they were
captured by vikings of Eistland, who made booty both of the people and
goods, killing some, and dividing others as slaves. Olaf was separated
from his mother, and an Eistland man called Klerkon got him as his share
along with Thorolf and Thorgils. Klerkon thought that Thorolf was too
old for a slave, and that there was not much work to be got out of him,
so he killed him; but took the boys with him, and sold them to a man
called Klerk for a stout and good ram. A third man, called Reas, bought
Olaf for a good cloak. Reas had a wife called Rekon, and a son by her
whose name was Rekone. Olaf was long with them, was treated well, and
was much beloved by the people. Olaf was six years in Eistland in this
banishment (A.D. 987-972).

6. OLAF IS SET FREE IN EISTLAND.

Sigurd, the son of Eirik (Astrid's brother), came into Eistland from
Novgorod, on King Valde