laf, "It
never can be King Svein's intention to venture with the Danish force
alone, to give battle to thee with such a powerful army; but if thou
hast any suspicion that evil is on foot, I will follow thee with my
force (at that time it was considered a great matter to have Jomsborg
vikings with an army), and I will give thee eleven well-manned ships."
The king accepted this offer; and as the light breeze of wind that
came was favourable, he ordered the ships to get under weigh, and the
war-horns to sound the departure. The sails were hoisted and all the
small vessels, sailing fastest, got out to sea before the others. The
earl, who sailed nearest to the king's ship, called to those on board to
tell the king to sail in his keel-track: "For I know where the water
is deepest between the islands and in the sounds, and these large ships
require the deepest." Then the earl sailed first with his eleven ships,
and the king followed with his large ships, also eleven in number; but
the whole of the rest of the fleet sailed out to sea. Now when Earl
Sigvalde came sailing close under the island Svold, a skiff rowed out
to inform the earl that the Danish king's army was lying in the harbour
before them. Then the earl ordered the sails of his vessels to be
struck, and they rowed in under the island. Haldor the Unchristian
says:--

"From out the south bold Trygve's son
With one-and-seventy ships came on,
To dye his sword in bloody fight,
Against the Danish foeman's might.
But the false earl the king betrayed;
And treacherous Sigvalde, it is said,
Deserted from King Olaf's fleet,
And basely fled, the Danes to meet."

It is said here that King Olaf and Earl Sigvalde had seventy sail of
vessels: and one more, when they sailed from the south.

111. CONSULTATION OF THE KINGS.

The Danish King Svein, the Swedish King Olaf, and Earl Eirik, were there
with all their forces (1000). The weather being fine and clear sunshine,
all these chiefs, with a great suite, went out on the isle to see the
vessels sailing out at sea, and many of them crowded together; and they
saw among them one large and glancing ship. The two kings said, "That is
a large and very beautiful vessel: that will be the Long Serpent."

Earl Eirik replied, "That is not the Long Serpent." And he was right;
for it was the ship belonging to Eindride of Gimsar.

Soon after they saw another vessel coming sailing along much larg