h to the dawn of day, and there was much movement among
the ships, craft both large and small, some rowing to land, others to
sea.

Vandrad steered there where thought he there was most sea-room betwixt
the craft, & whensoever any of the Norwegian ships rowed nigh them said
the Earl's men who they were, & then all let them go as they listed.
Vandrad steered along the shore & did not put to land ere they had come
past the place where there was a great throng of ships.

|| Thereafter walked they to the homestead of Karl at about the hour when
the light began to wax, and so went they into the living-room, and
beheld Karl but now clad. To him told the men from the Earl on what
mission had they come, and Karl said that first must they eat, & caused
food to be set before them, & himself fetched them water for
hand-washing. Then came the housewife into the chamber and straightway
said she: 'Wondrous is it that we gat no sleep nor rest all night
through, for the tumult and noise.' Karl answered: 'Knowest thou not
that the Kings fought together yesternight?' She asked: 'Who won?' Karl
answered: 'The Norwegians won.' 'Belike our King hath fled again,' said
she. Karl replied: 'In a bad way are we with our King for he is both
halt & craven.' Then spake Vandrad: 'The King is not craven, but neither
he is victorious.' Now Vandrad was the last to wash his hands, and when
he took the towel he dried himself in the midst thereof; but the
housewife seized it and pulled it from him, saying: 'Little good canst
thou do; 'tis the way of common folk to wet all the towel at once.'
Vandrad answered: 'I shall yet come thither where I may dry myself
midmost in the towel.' Then sat they at meat for a while but afterwards
went out, and there was the horse standing ready, and that son of Karl
who was to bear Vandrad company sat another horse, and together rode
they forth to the forest. But the men from the Earl went back to their
boat, & rowed out again to their ship.

|| Harald and his men pursued the fugitives a short way, and thereafter
returned to those ships which had been deserted. And then searched they
the slain, finding in the King's ship a number of dead men; yet not
among them was the body of King Svein; natheless was it deemed certain
that he must have fallen. King Harald let the corses of his men be laid
out, or the wounds bound up of them that required it. Then caused he the
bodies of the men of Svein to be borne ashore, & sent wo