there were but few people remaining beside the ship's
mast, he determined to board; and he entered the Serpent with four
others. Then came Hyrning, the king's brother-in-law, and some others
against him, and there was the most severe combat; and at last the earl
was forced to leap back on board his own ship again, and some who
had accompanied him were killed, and others wounded. Thord Kolbeinson
alludes to this:--

"On Odin's deck, all wet with blood,
The helm-adorned hero stood;
And gallant Hyrning honour gained,
Clearing all round with sword deep stained.
The high mountain peaks shall fall,
Ere men forget this to recall."

Now the fight became hot indeed, and many men fell on board the Serpent;
and the men on board of her began to be thinned off, and the defence to
be weaker. The earl resolved to board the Serpent again, and again he
met with a warm reception. When the forecastle men of the Serpent saw
what he was doing, they went aft and made a desperate fight; but so many
men of the Serpent had fallen, that the ship's sides were in many places
quite bare of defenders; and the earl's men poured in all around into
the vessel, and all the men who were still able to defend the ship
crowded aft to the king, and arrayed themselves for his defence. So says
Haldor the Unchristian:--

"Eirik cheers on his men,--
'On to the charge again!'
The gallant few
Of Olaf's crew
Must refuge take
On the quarter-deck.
Around the king
They stand in ring;
Their shields enclose
The king from foes,
And the few who still remain
Fight madly, but in vain.
Eirik cheers on his men--
'On to the charge again!'"

121. THE SERPENT'S DECKS CLEARED.

Kolbjorn the marshal, who had on clothes and arms like the kings,
and was a remarkably stout and handsome man, went up to king on the
quarter-deck. The battle was still going on fiercely even in the
forehold (1). But as many of the earl's men had now got into the Serpent
as could find room, and his ships lay all round her, and few were the
people left in the Serpent for defence against so great a force; and in
a short time most of the Serpent's men fell, brave and stout though they
were. King Olaf and Kolbjorn the marshal both sprang overboard, each on
his own side of the ship; but the earl's men had laid out boats around
the Serpent, and killed those who leaped overboard. Now when the k