other
passing well forthwith entered they into fellowship.

The peasants hailed him for their King, and they covenanted together to
seek Earl Hakon, & to make search up into Gaulardal where if
peradventure he was to be found in any of the houses there, deemed they
it likeliest would he be at Rimul since all men knew for why.

Thora was the dearest friend to him in that valley. So thither went
they, and sought the Earl both without and within but of him could they
find no trace; and Olaf summoned the people together out in the yard,
and standing on the rock which was beside the swine-sty spake unto them,
and the words that he uttered were that he would reward with riches and
honour the man who would work mischief to Earl Hakon.

This speech was heard both by the Earl and Kark. Now by them in the sty
had they a light there with them, and the Earl said: 'Why art thou so
pale, yet withal as black as earth? Is it in thy heart, Kark, that thou
shouldst betray me?' 'Nay,' said Kark, 'we two were born on the
self-same night, and long space will there not be twixt the hour of our
deaths.' Towards evening went King Olaf away, & when it was night Kark
slept, and the Earl kept watch, but Kark was troubled in his sleep. Then
the Earl awakened him & asked him whereof he dreamt, and he said: 'I was
now even at Ladir, and Olaf Tryggvason placed a gold ornament about my
neck.'

The Earl answered: 'A blood-red ring will it be that Olaf Tryggvason
will lay about thy neck, shouldst thou meet with him. Beware now, and
betray me not, & thou shalt be treated well by me as heretofore.' Then
stay they both sleepless each watching the other, as it might be, but
nigh daybreak fell the Earl asleep and was troubled at once, so troubled
that he drew his heels up under him & his head likewise under him, and
made as though he would rise up, calling aloud and in a fearsome way.
Then grew Kark afeard & filled with horror, so it came to pass that he
drew a large knife from his belt and plunged it into the throat of the
Earl cutting him from ear to ear. Thus was encompassed the death of Earl
Hakon.

Then cut Kark off the head of the Earl and hasted him away with it, and
the day following came he with it to Ladir unto King Olaf, and there
told he him all that had befallen them on their flight, as hath already
been set forth. Afterwards King Olaf let Kark be taken away thence, &
his head be sundered from his trunk.

|| Thereafter to Nidarholm went