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but only advancing； hardly got to Breeden on the other side of the hill： 〃A
man has come to Loar who is called Olaf；〃 said Gudbrand； 〃and will force
upon us another faith than we had before； and will break in pieces all our
Gods。 He says he has a much greater and more powerful God； and it is
wonderful that the earth does not burst asunder under him； or that our God
lets him go about unpunished when he dares to talk such things。 I know
this for certain； that if we carry Thor； who has always stood by us； out of
our Temple that is standing upon this farm； Olaf's God will melt away； and
he and his men be made nothing as soon as Thor looks upon them。〃
Whereupon the Bonders all shouted as one man； 〃Yea！〃
Which tremendous message they even forwarded to Olaf； by
Gudbrand's younger son at the head of 700 armed men； but did not terrify
Olaf with it； who； on the contrary； drew up his troops； rode himself at the
head of them； and began a speech to the Bonders； in which he invited them
to adopt Christianity； as the one true faith for mortals。
Far from consenting to this； the Bonders raised a general shout；
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smiting at the same time their shields with their weapons； but Olaf's men
advancing on them swiftly； and flinging spears； they turned and ran；
leaving Gudbrand's son behind； a prisoner； to whom Olaf gave his life：
〃Go home now to thy father； and tell him I mean to be with him soon。〃
The son goes accordingly； and advises his father not to face Olaf； but
Gudbrand angrily replies： 〃Ha； coward！ I see thou； too； art taken by the
folly that man is going about with；〃 and is resolved to fight。 That night；
however； Gudbrand has a most remarkable Dream； or Vision： a Man
surrounded by light； bringing great terror with him； who warns Gudbrand
against doing battle with Olaf。 〃If thou dost； thou and all thy people will
fall； wolves will drag away thee and thine； ravens will tear thee in stripes！〃
And lo； in telling this to Thord Potbelly； a sturdy neighbor of his and
henchman in the Thing； it is found that to Thord also has come the self
same terrible Apparition！ Better propose truce to Olaf （who seems to have
these dreadful Ghostly Powers on his side）； and the holding of a Thing； to
discuss matters between us。 Thing assembles； on a day of heavy rain。
Being all seated； uprises King Olaf； and informs them： 〃The people of
Lesso； Loar； and Vaage； have accepted Christianity； and broken down their
idol…houses： they believe now in the True God； who has made heaven and
earth； and knows all things；〃 and sits down again without more words。
〃Gudbrand replies； 'We know nothing about him of whom thou
speakest。 Dost thou call him God； whom neither thou nor any one else can
see？ But we have a God who can be seen every day； although he is not out
to…day because the weather is wet； and he will appear to thee terrible and
very grand； and I expect that fear will mix with thy very blood when he
comes into the Thing。 But since thou sayest thy God is so great； let him
make it so that to…morrow we have a cloudy day； but without rain； and
then let us meet again。'
〃The king accordingly returned home to his lodging； taking
Gudbrand's son as a hostage； but he gave them a man as hostage in
exchange。 In the evening the king asked Gudbrand's son What their God
was like？ He replied that he bore the likeness of Thor； had a hammer in
his hand； was of great size； but hollow within； and had a high stand； upon
which he stood when he was out。 'Neither gold nor silver are wanting
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about him； and every day he receives four cakes of bread； besides meat。'
They then went to bed； but the king watched all night in prayer。 When day
dawned the king went to mass； then to table； and from thence to the Thing。
The weather was such as Gudbrand desired。 Now the Bishop stood up in
his choir…robes； with bishop's coif on his head； and bishop's crosier in his
hand。 He spoke to the Bonders of the true faith； told the many wonderful
acts of God； and concluded his speech well。
〃Thord Potbelly replies； 'Many things we are told of by this learned
man with the staff in his hand； crooked at the top like a ram's horn。 But
since you say； comrades； that your God is so powerful； and can do so
many wonders； tell him to make it clear sunshine to…morrow forenoon； and
then we shall meet here again； and do one of two things；either agree with
you about this business； or fight you。' And they separated for the day。〃
Overnight the king instructed Kolbein the Strong； an immense fellow；
the same who killed Gunhild's two brothers； that he； Kolbein； must stand
next him to…morrow； people must go down to where the ships of the
Bonders lay； and punctually bore holes in every one of them； _item_； to
the farms where their horses wore； and punctually unhalter the whole of
them； and let them loose： all which was done。 Snorro continues：
〃Now the king was in prayer all night； beseeching God of his goodness
and mercy to release him from evil。 When mass was ended； and morning
was gray； the king went to the Thing。 When he came thither； some
Bonders had already arrived； and they saw a great crowd coming along；
and bearing among them a huge man's image； glancing with gold and
silver。 When the Bonders who were at the Thing saw it； they started up；
and bowed themselves down before the ugly idol。 Thereupon it was set
down upon the Thing field； and on the one side of it sat the Bonders； and
on the other the King and his people。
〃Then Dale Gudbrand stood up and said； 'Where now； king； is thy God？
I think he will now carry his head lower； and neither thou； nor the man
with the horn； sitting beside thee there； whom thou callest Bishop； are so
bold to…day as on the former days。 For now our God； who rules over all； is
come； and looks on you with an angry eye； and now I see well enough that
you are terrified； and scarcely dare raise your eyes。 Throw away now all
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your opposition； and believe in the God who has your fate wh