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had just fled from。
Thyri； looking round the world； saw no likely road for her； but to Olaf
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Tryggveson in Norway； to beg protection from the most heroic man she
knew of in the world。 Olaf； except by renown； was not known to her； but
by renown he well was。 Olaf； at sight of her； promised protection and
asylum against all mortals。 Nay； in discoursing with Thyri Olaf perceived
more and more clearly what a fine handsome being； soul and body； Thyri
was； and in a short space of time winded up by proposing marriage to
Thyri； who； humbly； and we may fancy with what secret joy； consented to
say yes； and become Queen of Norway。 In the due months they had a little
son； Harald； who； it is credibly recorded； was the joy of both his parents；
but who； to their inexpressible sorrow； in about a year died； and vanished
from them。 This； and one other fact now to be mentioned； is all the
wedded history we have of Thyri。
The other fact is； that Thyri had； by inheritance or covenant； not
depending on her marriage with old Burislav； considerable properties in
Wendland； which； she often reflected； might be not a little behooveful to
her here in Norway； where her civil…list was probably but straitened。 She
spoke of this to her husband； but her husband would take no hold； merely
made her gifts； and said； 〃Pooh； pooh； can't we live without old Burislav
and his Wendland properties？〃 So that the lady sank into ever deeper
anxiety and eagerness about this Wendland object； took to weeping； sat
weeping whole days； and when Olaf asked； 〃What ails thee； then？〃 would
answer； or did answer once； 〃What a different man my father Harald
Gormson was ＇vulgarly called Blue…tooth＇； compared with some that are
now kings！ For no King Svein in the world would Harald Gormson have
given up his own or his wife's just rights！〃 Whereupon Tryggveson started
up； exclaiming in some heat； 〃Of thy brother Svein I never was afraid； if
Svein and I meet in contest； it will not be Svein； I believe； that conquers；〃
and went off in a towering fume。 Consented； however； at last； had to
consent； to get his fine fleet equipped and armed； and decide to sail with it
to Wendland to have speech and settlement with King Burislav。
Tryggveson had already ships and navies that were the wonder of the
North。 Especially in building war ships； the Crane； the Serpent； last of all
the Long Serpent；＇7＇he had； for size； for outward beauty； and inward
perfection of equipment； transcended all example。
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This new sea expedition became an object of attention to all neighbors；
especially Queen Sigrid the Proud and Svein Double…Beard； her now king；
were attentive to it。
〃This insolent Tryggveson；〃 Queen Sigrid would often say； and had
long been saying； to her Svein； 〃to marry thy sister without leave had or
asked of thee； and now flaunting forth his war navies； as if he； king only
of paltry Norway； were the big hero of the North！ Why do you suffer it；
you kings really great？〃
By such persuasions and reiterations； King Svein of Denmark； King
Olaf of Sweden； and Jarl Eric； now a great man there； grown rich by
prosperous sea robbery and other good management； were brought to take
the matter up； and combine strenuously for destruction of King Olaf
Tryggveson on this grand Wendland expedition of his。 Fleets and forces
were with best diligence got ready； and； withal； a certain Jarl Sigwald； of
Jomsburg； chieftain of the Jomsvikings； a powerful； plausible； and
cunning man； was appointed to find means of joining himself to
Tryggveson's grand voyage； of getting into Tryggveson's confidence； and
keeping Svein Double…Beard； Eric； and the Swedish King aware of all his
movements。
King Olaf Tryggveson； unacquainted with all this； sailed away in
summer； with his splendid fleet； went through the Belts with prosperous
winds； under bright skies； to the admiration of both shores。 Such a fleet；
with its shining Serpents； long and short； and perfection of equipment and
appearance； the Baltic never saw before。 Jarl Sigwald joined with new
ships by the way： 〃Had；〃 he too； 〃a visit to King Burislav to pay； how
could he ever do it in better company？〃 and studiously and skilfully
ingratiated himself with King Olaf。 Old Burislav； when they arrived；
proved altogether courteous； handsome； and amenable； agreed at once to
Olaf's claims for his now queen； did the rites of hospitality with a
generous plenitude to Olaf； who cheerily renewed acquaintance with that
country； known to him in early days （the cradle of his fortunes in the
viking line）； and found old friends there still surviving； joyful to meet him
again。 Jarl Sigwald encouraged these delays； King Svein and Co。 not being
yet quite ready。 〃Get ready！〃 Sigwald directed them； and they diligently
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did。 Olaf's men； their business now done； were impatient to be home； and
grudged every day of loitering there； but； till Sigwald pleased； such his
power of flattering and cajoling Tryggveson； they could not get away。
At length； Sigwald's secret messengers reporting all ready on the part
of Svein and Co。； Olaf took farewell of Burislav and Wendland； and all
gladly sailed away。 Svein； Eric； and the Swedish king； with their combined
fleets； lay in wait behind some cape in a safe little bay of some island； then
called Svolde； but not in our time to be found； the Baltic tumults in the
fourteenth century having swallowed it； as some think； and leaving us
uncertain whether it was in the neighborhood of Rugen Island or in the
Sound of Elsinore。 There lay Svein； Eric； and Co。 waiting till Tryggveson
and his fleet came up； Sigwald's spy messengers daily reporting what
progress he and it had made。 At length； one bright summer morning； the
fleet made appearance； sailing in loose order； Sigwald； as one acquainted
with the shoal places； steering ahead； and showing them the