ner that both master and mistress
would repent them of this business, & uttering grievous threats they gat
them gone. Now in all four directions of the countryside did Orm send
out war-arrows, and with them word that all men should rise against
Hakon the Earl to slay him. Moreover he let Haldor of Skerdingsted be
told, and forthwith Haldor also made despatch of the war-arrow.

Not long before this had the Earl taken the wife of a man named
Bryniolf, and from that piece of work had arisen a great pother, and
something nigh the assembling together of an host.

So after receiving the message aforesaid all the people hastened
together and made their way to Medalhus, but to the Earl coming news of
their motions thereon left he the house together with his men and went
to a deep valley which is now called Jarlsdal (the Earl's valley), and
therein they hid themselves. The day thereafter kept the Earl watch on
the peasant host. The peasants had encompassed all the footways, though
they were mostly of a mind that the Earl had made off to his ships.
These were now commanded by his son Erling, a young man of singular
promise.

When night fell sent the Earl his men away from him, bidding them take
to the forest tracks out to Orkadal, 'No one will harm ye if I am
nowhere nigh,' he said. 'Send also word to Erling to go out of the fjord
so that we may meet in More. I shall find a means to hide me from the
peasants.' Then the Earl departed and a thrall of his named Kark bore
him company.

Ice was there on the Gaul river, but the Earl set his horse at it & they
came through, with the loss of his cloak, to a cave which has since been
called Jarlshellir (the Earl's cave), and therein slept they soundly.
When Kark awakened recounted he unto the Earl a dream he had dreamt: how
a man black & ill to behold had come nigh the cave, and he was afeared
would enter it, and this man had told him that 'Ulli' was dead.

Then said the Earl, 'Erling must have been slain.' For the second time
Thormod Kark slept and he cried out in his sleep, and when he awoke told
his dream, namely that he had seen the self-same man coming down again,
& he had bidden Kark tell the Earl that now all the sounds were closed.

And Kark telling Earl Hakon his dream said he thought it might betoken a
short life for him. Thereafter they arose and went to the homestead of
Rimul, whence sent the Earl Kark to Thora bidding her come privily to
him. This did she in haste, and