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immediate annihilation between such a pair of dragons； and work out
Norway for himself withal。 In the end he found he must take solidly to
Blue…tooth's side of the question； and that they two must provide a recipe
for Gold Harald and Norway both at once。
〃It is as much as your life is worth to speak again of sharing this
Danish kingdom；〃 said Hakon very privately to Gold Harald； 〃but could
not you； my golden friend； be content with Norway for a kingdom； if one
helped you to it？〃
〃That could I well；〃 answered Harald。
〃Then keep me those nine war…ships you have just been rigging for a
new viking cruise； have these in readiness when I lift my finger！〃
That was the recipe contrived for Gold Harald； recipe for King
Greyfell goes into the same vial； and is also ready。
Hitherto the Hakon…Blue…tooth disturbances in Norway had amounted
to but little。 King Greyfell； a very active and valiant man； has constantly；
without much difficulty； repelled these sporadic bits of troubles； but
Greyfell； all the same； would willingly have peace with dangerous old
Blue…tooth （ever anxious to get his clutches over Norway on any terms） if
peace with him could be had。 Blue…tooth； too； professes every willingness；
inveigles Greyfell； he and Hakon do； to have a friendly meeting on the
Danish borders； and not only settle all these quarrels； but generously settle
Greyfell in certain fiefs which he claimed in Denmark itself； and so swear
everlasting friendship。 Greyfell joyfully complies； punctually appears at
the appointed day in Lymfjord Sound； the appointed place。 Whereupon
Hakon gives signal to Gold Harald； 〃To Lymfjord with these nine ships of
yours； swift！〃 Gold Harald flies to Lymfjord with his ships； challenges
King Harald Greyfell to land and fight； which the undaunted Greyfell；
though so far outnumbered； does； and； fighting his very best； perishes
there； he and almost all his people。 Which done； Jarl Hakon； who is in
readiness； attacks Gold Harald； the victorious but the wearied； easily beats
Gold Harald； takes him prisoner； and instantly hangs and ends him； to the
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huge joy of King Blue…tooth and Hakon； who now make instant voyage to
Norway； drive all the brother under…kings into rapid flight to the Orkneys；
to any readiest shelter； and so； under the patronage of Blue…tooth； Hakon；
with the title of Jarl； becomes ruler of Norway。 This foul treachery done on
the brave and honest Harald Greyfell is by some dated about A。D。 969； by
Munch； 965； by others； computing out of Snorro only； A。D。 975。 For there
is always an uncertainty in these Icelandic dates （say rather； rare and rude
attempts at dating； without even an 〃A。D。〃 or other fixed 〃year one〃 to go
upon in Iceland）； though seldom； I think； so large a discrepancy as here。
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
CHAPTER V。
HAKON JARL。
Hakon Jarl； such the style he took； had engaged to pay some kind of
tribute to King Blue…tooth； 〃if he could；〃 but he never did pay any；
pleading always the necessity of his own affairs； with which excuse；
joined to Hakon's readiness in things less important； King Blue…tooth
managed to content himself； Hakon being always his good neighbor； at
least； and the two mutually dependent。 In Norway； Hakon； without the title
of king； did in a strong…handed； steadfast； and at length； successful way；
the office of one； governed Norway （some count） for above twenty years；
and； both at home and abroad； had much consideration through most of
that time； specially amongst the heathen orthodox； for Hakon Jarl himself
was a zealous heathen； fixed in his mind against these chimerical Christian
innovations and unsalutary changes of creed； and would have gladly
trampled out all traces of what the last two kings （for Greyfell； also； was
an English Christian after his sort） had done in this respect。 But he wisely
discerned that it was not possible； and that； for peace's sake； he must not
even attempt it； but must strike preferably into 〃perfect toleration；〃 and
that of 〃every one getting to heaven or even to the other goal in his own
way。〃 He himself； it is well known； repaired many heathen temples （a
great 〃church builder〃 in his way！）； manufactured many splendid idols；
with much gilding and such artistic ornament as there was；in particular；
one huge image of Thor； not forgetting the hammer and appendages； and
such a collar （supposed of solid gold； which it was not quite； as we shall
hear in time） round the neck of him as was never seen in all the North。
How he did his own Yule festivals； with what magnificent solemnity； the
horse…eatings； blood…sprinklings； and other sacred rites； need not be told。
Something of a 〃Ritualist；〃 one may perceive； perhaps had Scandinavian
Puseyisms in him； and other desperate heathen notions。 He was
universally believed to have gone into magic； for one thing； and to have
dangerous potencies derived from the Devil himself。 The dark heathen
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mind of him struggling vehemently in that strange element； not altogether
so unlike our own in some points。
For the rest； he was evidently； in practical matters； a man of sharp；
clear insight； of steadfast resolution； diligence； promptitude； and managed
his secular matters uncommonly well。 Had sixteen Jarls under him； though
himself only Hakon Jarl by title； and got obedience from them stricter than
any king since Haarfagr had done。 Add to which that the country had years
excellent for grass and crop； and that the herrings came in exuberance；
tokens； to the thinking mind； that Hakon Jarl was a favorite of Heaven。
His fight with the far…famed Jomsvikings was his grandest exploit in
public rumor。 Jomsburg； a locality not now known； except that it was near
the mouth of the River Oder； denoted in those ages the impregnable castle
of a certain hotly corporate； or 〃Sea Robbery Association （limited）；〃 which；
for some generations； held the Baltic in terror； and plunder