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alone。 Then Earl Ulf and his fellows saw they had but two roads to take； either to go to the king and leave all to his mercy； or to fly the country。 All pressed Hardaknut to go to his father； which advice he followed。 When they met he fell at his father's feet； and laid his seal； which accompanied the kingly title； on his knee。 King Canute took Hardaknut by the hand； and placed him in as high a seat as he used to sit in before。 Earl UIf sent his son Svein； who was a sister's son of King Canute； and the same age as Hardaknut； to the king。 He prayed for grace and reconciliation for his father； and offered himself as hostage for the earl。 King Canute ordered him to tell the earl to assemble his men and ships； and come to him； and then they would talk of reconciliation。 The earl did so。
159。 FORAY IN SCANIA。
When King Olaf and King Onund heard that King Canute was come from the West； and also that he had a vast force； they sailed east to Scania； and allowed themselves to ravage and burn in the districts there； and then proceeded eastward along the land to the frontier of Sweden。 As soon as the country people heard that King Canute was come from the West； no one thought of going into the service of the two kings。
Now the kings sailed eastward along the coast； and brought up in a river called Helga； and remained there some time。 When they heard that King Canute was coming eastward with his forces against them； they held a council； and the result was； that King Olaf with his people went up the country to the forest； and to the lake out of which the river Helga flows。 There at the riverhead they made a dam of timber and turf； and dammed in the lake。 They also dug a deep ditch； through which they led several waters； so that the lake waxed very high。 In the river…bed they laid large logs of timber。 They were many days about this work； and King Olaf had the management of this piece of artifice； but King Onund had only to command the fleet and army。 When King Canute heard of the proceedings of the two kings； and of the damage they had done to his dominions； he sailed right against them to where they lay in Helga river。 He had a War…force which was one half greater than that of both the kings together。 Sigvat speaks of these things：
〃The king； who shields His Jutland fields From scaith or harm By foeman's arm； Will not allow Wild plundering now： ‘The greatest he； On land or sea。'〃
160。 BATTLE IN HELGA RIVER。
One day； towards evening； King Onund's spies saw King Canute coming sailing along； and he was not far off。 Then King Onund ordered the war…horns to sound； on which his people struck their tents； put on their weapons； rowed out of the harbour and east round the land； bound their ships together； and prepared for battle。 King Onund made his spies run up the country to look for King Olaf； and tell him the news。 Then King Olaf broke up the dam； and let the river take its course。 King Olaf travelled down in the night to his ships。 When King Canute came outside the harbour； he saw the forces of the kings ready for battle。 He thought that it would be too late in the day to begin the fight by the time his forces could be ready； for his fleet required a great deal of room at sea； and there was a long distance between the foremost of his ships and the hindmost； and between those outside and those nearest the land； and there was but little wind。 Now； as Canute saw that the Swedes and Norwegians had quitted the harbour； he went into it with as many ships as it could hold； but the main strength of the fleet lay without the harbour。 In the morning； when it was light； a great part of the men went on shore； some for amusement； some to converse with the people of other ships。 They observed nothing until the water came rushing over them like a waterfall； carrying huge trees； which drove in among their ships； damaging all they struck； and the water covered all the fields。 The men on shore perished； and many who were in the ships。 All who could do it cut their cables； so that the ships were loose； and drove before the stream； and were scattered here and there。 The great dragon； which King Canute himself was in； drove before the stream； and as it could not so easily be turned with oars； drove out among Olaf's and Onund's ships。 As they knew the ship； they laid her on board on all quarters。 But the ship was so high in the hull； as if it were a castle； and had besides such a numerous and chosen crew on board； well armed and exercised； that it was not easy to attack her。 After a short time also Earl Ulf came up with his fleet； and then the battle began； and King Canute's fleet gathered together from all quarters。 But the kings Olaf and Onund； seeing they had for this time got all the victory that fate permitted them to gain； let their ships retreat； cast themselves loose from King Canute's ship； and the fleets separated。 But as the attack had not been made as King Canute had determined； he made no further attempt； and the kings on each side arranged their fleets and put their ships in order。 When the fleets were parted； and each sailing its course； Olaf and Onund looked over their forces； and found they had suffered no loss of men。 In the meantime they saw that if they waited until King Canute got his large fleet in order to attack them； the difference of force was so great that for them there was little chance of victory。 It was also evident that if the battle was renewed； they must suffer a great loss of men。 They took the resolution； therefore； to row with the whole fleet eastward along the coast。 Observing that King Canute did not pursue them； they raised up their masts and set sail。 Ottar Svarte tells thus of it in the poem he composed upon King Canute the Great：
〃The king； in battle fray； Drove the Swedish host away： The wolf did not miss prey； Nor the raven on that day。 Great Canute might deride Two kings if he had pride； For at Helga river's side They would not his sword abide。〃
Thord Sjarekson also sang these lines in his death song of King Olaf：
〃King Olaf； Agder's lord； Ne'er shunned the Jutland king； But with his blue…edged sword Broke many a panzer ring。 King Canute was not slow： King Onund filled the plain With dead； killed by his bow： The wolf howled o'er the slain。〃
161。 KING OLAF AND KING ONUND'S PLANS。
King Olaf and King Onund sailed eastward to the Swedish king's dominions； and one day； towards evening； landed at a place called Barvik； where they lay all night。 But then it was observed of the Swedes that they were home…sick； for the greater part of their forces sailed eastward along the land in the night； and did not stop their course until they came home to their houses。 Now when King Onund observed this he ordered； as soon as the day dawned； to sound the signal for a House…thing； and the whole people went on shore； and the Thing sat down。 Then King Onund took up the word； and spake thus： 〃So it is； King Olaf； that； as you know； we have been assembled in summer； and have forayed wide around in Denmark； and have gained