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wife to Earl Godwin （〃Gudin Ulfnadsson；〃 as Snorro calls him） a very
memorable Englishman； whose son and hers； King Harald； _Harold_ in
English books； is the memorablest of all。 These things ought to be better
known to English antiquaries； and will perhaps be alluded to again。
This pretty little victory or affront； gained over Knut in _Lymfjord_；
was among the last successes of Olaf against that mighty man。 Olaf； the
skilful captain he was； need not have despaired to defend his Norway
against Knut and all the world。 But he learned henceforth； month by
month ever more tragically； that his own people； seeing softer prospects
under Knut； and in particular the chiefs of them； industriously bribed by
Knut for years past； had fallen away from him； and that his means of
defence were gone。 Next summer； Knut's grand fleet sailed； unopposed；
along the coast of Norway； Knut summoning a Thing every here and there；
and in all of them meeting nothing but sky…high acclamation and
acceptance。 Olaf； with some twelve little ships； all he now had； lay quiet in
some safe fjord； near Lindenaes； what we now call the Naze； behind some
little solitary isles on the southeast of Norway there； till triumphant Knut
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
had streamed home again。 Home to England again 〃Sovereign of Norway〃
now； with nephew Hakon appointed Jarl and Vice…regent under him！ This
was the news Olaf met on venturing out； and that his worst anticipations
were not beyond the sad truth all； or almost all； the chief Bonders and men
of weight in Norway had declared against him； and stood with triumphant
Knut。
Olaf； with his twelve poor ships； steered vigorously along the coast to
collect money and force；if such could now anywhere be had。 He himself
was resolute to hold out； and try。 〃Sailing swiftly with a fair wind；
morning cloudy with some showers；〃 he passed the coast of Jedderen；
which was Erling Skjalgson's country； when he got sure notice of an
endless multitude of ships； war…ships； armed merchant ships； all kinds of
shipping…craft； down to fishermen's boats； just getting under way against
him； under the command of Erling Skjalgson； the powerfulest of his
subjects； once much a friend of Olaf's but now gone against him to this
length； thanks to Olaf's severity of justice； and Knut's abundance in gold
and promises for years back。 To that complexion had it come with Erling；
sailing with this immense assemblage of the naval people and populace of
Norway to seize King Olaf； and bring him to the great Knut dead or alive。
Erling had a grand new ship of his own； which far outsailed the
general miscellany of rebel ships； and was visibly fast gaining distance on
Olaf himself；who well understood what Erling's puzzle was； between the
tail of his game （the miscellany of rebel ships； namely） that could not
come up； and the head or general prize of the game which was crowding
all sail to get away； and Olaf took advantage of the same。 〃Lower your
sails！〃 said Olaf to his men （though we must go slower）。
〃Ho you； we have lost sight of them！〃 said Erling to his； and put on all
his speed； Olaf going； soon after this； altogether invisible；behind a little
island that he knew of； whence into a certain fjord or bay （Bay of Fungen
on the maps）； which he thought would suit him。 〃Halt here； and get out
your arms；〃 said Olaf； and had not to wait long till Erling came bounding
in； past the rocky promontory； and with astonishment beheld Olaf's fleet of
twelve with their battle…axes and their grappling…irons all in perfect
readiness。 These fell on him； the unready Erling； simultaneous； like a
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
cluster of angry bees； and in a few minutes cleared his ship of men
altogether； except Erling himself。 Nobody asked his life； nor probably
would have got it if he had。 Only Erling still stood erect on a high place on
the poop； fiercely defensive； and very difficult to get at。 〃Could not be
reached at all；〃 says Snorro； 〃except by spears or arrows； and these he
warded off with untiring dexterity； no man in Norway； it was said； had
ever defended himself so long alone against many；〃an almost invincible
Erling； had his cause been good。 Olaf himself noticed Erling's behavior；
and said to him； from the foredeck below； 〃Thou hast turned against me
to…day； Erling。〃 〃The eagles fight breast to breast；〃 answers he。 This was a
speech of the king's to Erling once long ago； while they stood fighting； not
as now； but side by side。 The king； with some transient thought of
possibility going through his head； rejoins； 〃Wilt thou surrender； Erling？〃
〃That will I；〃 answered he； took the helmet off his head； laid down sword
and shield； and went forward to the forecastle deck。 The king pricked； I
think not very harshly； into Erling's chin or beard with the point of his
battle…axe； saying； 〃I must mark thee as traitor to thy Sovereign； though。〃
Whereupon one of the bystanders； Aslak Fitiaskalle； stupidly and fiercely
burst up； smote Erling on the head with his axe； so that it struck fast in his
brain and was instantly the death of Erling。 〃Ill…luck attend thee for that
stroke； thou hast struck Norway out of my hand by it！〃 cried the king to
Aslak； but forgave the poor fellow； who had done it meaning well。 The
insurrectionary Bonder fleet arriving soon after； as if for certain victory；
was struck with astonishment at this Erling catastrophe； and being now
without any leader of authority； made not the least attempt at battle； but；
full of discouragement and consternation； thankfully allowed Olaf to sail
away on his northward voyage； at discretion； and themselves went off
lamenting； with Erling's dead body。
This small victory was the last that Olaf had over his many enemies at
present。 He sailed along； still northward； day after day； several important
people joined him； but the news from landward grew daily more ominous：
Bonders busily arming to rear of him； and ahead； Hakon still more busily
at Trondhjem； now near by； 〃and he will end thy days； King； if he have
strength enough！〃 Olaf