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The earl leant over the ship's side to him。 Then the man in the boat said； 〃Earl； I will accept of my life from thee； if thou wilt give it。〃
Then the earl raised himself up； called two men who were friends dear to him； and said to them； 〃Go into the boat； bring Vandrad to the land； attend him to my friend's Karl the bonde； and tell Karl； as a token that these words come from me； that he let Vandrad have the horse which I gave to him yesterday； and also his saddle； and his son to attend him。〃
Thereupon they went into the boat and took the oars in hand； while Vandrad steered。 This took place just about daybreak； while the vessels were in movement； some rowing towards the land； some towards the sea； both small and great。 Vandrad steered where he thought there was most room between the vessels； and when they came near to Norway's ships the earl's men gave their names and then they all allowed them to go where they pleased。 Vandrad steered along the shore； and only set in towards the land when they had come past the crowd of ships。 They then went up to Karl the bonde's farm； and it was then beginning to be light。 They went into the room where Karl had just put on his clothes。 The earl's men told him their message and Karl said they must first take some food； and he set a table before them and gave them water to wash with。
Then came the housewife into the room and said； 〃I wonder why we could get no peace or rest all night with the shouting and screaming。〃
Karl replies； 〃Dost thou not know that the kings were fighting all night？〃
She asked which had the better of it。
Karl answered； 〃The Northmen gained。〃
〃Then；〃 said she； 〃our king will have taken flight。〃
〃Nobody knows；〃 says Karl； 〃whether he has fled or is fallen。〃
She says； 〃What a useless sort of king we have！ He is both slow and frightened。〃
Then said Vandrad； 〃Frightened he is not； but he is not lucky。〃
Then Vandrad washed his hands； but he took the towel and dried them right in the middle of the cloth。 The housewife snatched the towel from him； and said； 〃Thou hast been taught little good； it is wasteful to wet the whole cloth at one time。
Vandrad replies； 〃I may yet come so far forward in the world as to be able to dry myself with the middle of the towel。〃
Thereupon Karl set a table before them and Vandrad sat down between them。 They ate for a while and then went out。 The horse was saddled and Karl's son ready to follow him with another horse。 They rode away to the forest； and the earl's men returned to the boat； rowed to the earl's ship and told the success of their expedition。
67。 OF KING HARALD。
King Harald and his men followed the fugitives only a short way； and rowed back to the place where the deserted ships lay。 Then the battle…place was ransacked； and in King Svein's ship was found a heap of dead men； but the king's body was not found； although people believed for certain that he had fallen。 Then King Harald had the greatest attention paid to the dead of his men； and had the wounds of the living bound up。 The dead bodies of Svein's men were brought to the land； and he sent a message to the peasants to come and bury them。 Then he let the booty be divided； and this took up some time。 The news came now that King Svein had come to Seeland； and that all who had escaped from the battle had joined him； along with many more； and that he had a great force。
68。 FIN ARNASON GETS QUARTER。
Earl Fin Arnason was taken prisoner in the battle； as before related； and when he was led before King Harald the king was very merry； and said； 〃Fin； we meet here now； and we met last in Norway。 The Danish court has not stood very firmly by thee； and it will be a troublesome business for Northmen to drag thee； a blind old man； with them； and preserve thy life。〃
The earl replies； 〃The Northmen find it very difficult now to conquer； and it is all the worse that thou hast the command of them。〃
Then said King Harald； 〃Wilt thou accept of life and safety； although thou hast not deserved it？〃
The earl replies； 〃Not from thee； thou dog。〃
The king： 〃Wilt thou； then； if thy relation Magnus gives thee quarter？〃
Magnus； King Harald's son； was then steering the ship。
The earl replies； 〃Can the whelp rule over life and quarter？〃
The king laughed； as if he found amusement in vexing him。 〃Wilt thou accept thy life； then； from thy she…relation Thorer？〃
The earl： 〃Is she here？〃
〃She is here；〃 said the king。
Then Earl Fin broke out with the ugly expressions which since have been preserved； as a proof that he was so mad with rage that he could not govern his tongue：
〃No wonder thou hast bit so strongly； if the mare was with thee。〃
Earl Fin got life and quarter and the king kept him a while about him。 But Fin was rather melancholy and obstinate in conversation； and King Harald said； 〃I see； Fin； that thou dost not live willingly in company with me and thy relations； now I will give thee leave to go to thy friend King Svein。〃
The earl said； 〃I accept of the offer willingly； and the more gratefully the sooner I get away from hence。〃
The king afterwards let Earl Fin be landed and the traders going to Halland received him well。 King Harald sailed from thence to Norway with his fleet； and went first to Oslo； where he gave all his people leave to go home who wished to do so。
69。 OF KING SVEIN。
King Svein； it is told； sat in Denmark all that winter； and had his kingdom as formerly。 In winter he sent men north to Halland for Karl the bonde and his wife。 When Karl came the king called him to him and asked him if he knew him； or thought he had ever seen him before。
Karl replies； 〃I know thee； sire； and knew thee before； the moment I saw thee； and God be praised if the small help I could give was of any use to thee。〃
The king replies； 〃I have to reward thee for all the days I have to live。 And now； in the first place； I will give thee any farm in Seeland thou wouldst desire to have； and； in the next place； will make thee a great man； if thou knowest how to conduct thyself。〃
Karl thanked the king for his promise； and said he had now but one thing to ask。
The king asked what that was。
Karl said that he would ask to take his wife with him。
The king said； 〃I will not let thee do that； but I will provide thee a far better and more sensible wife。 But thy wife can keep the bonde…farm ye had before and she will have her living from it。〃
The king gave Karl a great and valuable farm； and provided him a good marriage； and he became a considerable man。 This was reported far and wide and much praised； and thus it came to be told in Norway。
70。 OF THE TALK OF THE COURT…MEN。
King Harald stayed in Oslo the winter after the battle at Nis… river （A。D。 1063）。 In autumn； when the men came from the south； there was much talk and many stories about the battle which they had fought at Nis…river； and every one who had been there thought he could tell something about it。 Once some of them sat in a cellar and drank； and were very merry and talkative。 They talked about the Nis…river battle； and who had earne'd the greatest praise and renown。 They all agreed that no man there had been a