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he drove along night and day。 He sent spies out upon the upper ridges； and also southwards into the Fjords； and he proceeded north to meet Eirik with his men。 This appears from Eirik's lay：
〃The earl； well skilled in war to speed O'er the wild wave the viking…steed； Now launched the high stems from the shore； Which death to Sigvalde's vikings bore。 Rollers beneath the ships' keels crash； Oar…blades loud in the grey sea splash； And they who give the ravens food Row fearless through the curling flood。〃
Eirik hastened southwards with his forces the shortest way he could。
42。 OF THE JOMSBORG VIKINGS。
Earl Sigvalde steered with his fleet northwards around Stad； and came to the land at the Herey Isles。 Although the vikings fell in with the country people； the people never told the truth about what the earl was doing； and the vikings went on pillaging and laying waste。 They laid to their vessels at the outer end of Hod Island； landed； plundered； and drove both men and cattle down to the ships； killing all the men able to bear arms。
As they were going back to their ships； came a bonde； walking near to Bue's troop； who said to them； 〃Ye are not doing like true warriors； to be driving cows and calves down to the strand； while ye should be giving chase to the bear； since ye are coming near to the bear's den。〃
〃What says the old man？〃 asked some。 〃Can he tell us anything about Earl Hakon？〃
The peasant replies； 〃The earl went yesterday into the Hjorundarfjord with one or two ships； certainly not more than three； and then he had no news about you。〃
Bue ran now with his people in all haste down to the ships； leaving all the booty behind。 Bue said； 〃Let us avail ourselves now of this news we have got of the earl； and be the first to the victory。〃 When they came to their ships they rode off from the land。 Earl Sigvalde called to them； and asked what they were about。 They replied； 〃The earl is in the fjord；〃 on which Earl Sigvalde with the whole fleet set off； and rowed north about the island Hod。
43。 BATTLE WITH THE JOMSBORG VIKINGS。
The earls Hakon and Eirik lay in Halkelsvik； where all their forces were assembled。 They had 150 ships； and they had heard that the Jomsborg vikings had come in from sea； and lay at the island Hod； and they； in consequence； rowed out to seek them。 When they reached a place called Hjorungavag they met each other； and both sides drew up their ships in line for an attack。 Earl Sigvalde's banner was displayed in the midst of his army； and right against it Earl Hakon arranged his force for attack。 Earl Sigvalde himself had 20 ships； but Earl Hakon had 60。 In Earl's army were these chiefs； Thorer Hjort from Halogaland； and Styrkar from Gimsar。 In the wing of the opposite array of the Jomsborg vikings was Bue the Thick； and his brother Sigurd； with 20 ships。 Against him Earl Eirik laid himself with 60 ships； and with him were these chiefs； Gudbrand Hvite from the Uplands； and Thorkel Leira from Viken。 In the other wing of the Jomsborg vikings' array was Vagn Akason with 20 ships； and against him stood Svein the son of Hakon； in whose division was Skegge of Yrjar at Uphaug； and Rognvald of Aervik at Stad； with 60 ships。 It is told in the Eirik's lay thus：
〃The bonde's ships along the coast Sailed on to meet the foemen's host； The stout earl's ships； with eagle flight； Rushed on the Danes in bloody fight。 The Danish ships； of court…men full； Were cleared of men； and many a hull Was driving empty on the main； With the warm corpses of the slain。〃
Eyvind Skaldaspiller says also in the 〃Haleygja…tal〃：
〃Twas at the peep of day； Our brave earl led the way； His ocean horses bounding His war…horns loudly sounding！ No joyful morn arose For Yngve Frey's base foes These Christian island…men Wished themselves home again。〃
Then the fleets came together； and one of the sharpest of conflicts began。 Many fell on both sides； but the most by far on Hakon's side； for the Jomsborg vikings fought desperately； sharply； and murderously； and shot right through the shields。 So many spears were thrown against Earl Hakon that his armour was altogether split asunder； and he threw it off。 So says Tind Halkelson：
〃The ring…linked coat of strongest mail Could not withstand the iron hail； Though sewed with care and elbow bent； By Norn （1）； on its strength intent。 The fire of battle raged around； Odin's steel shirt flew all unbound！ The earl his ring…mail from him flung； Its steel rings on the wet deck rung； Part of it fell into the sea； A part was kept； a proof to be How sharp and thick the arrow…flight Among the sea…steeds in this fight。〃
ENDNOTES： （1） Norn； one of the Fates； stands here for women； whose business it was to sew the rings of iron upon the cloth which made these ring…mail coats or shirts。 The needles； although some of them were of gold； appear to have been without eyes； and used like shoemaker's awls。 L。
44。 EARL SIGVALDE'S FLIGHT。
The Jomsborg vikings had larger and higher…sided ships； and both parties fought desperately。 Vagn Akason laid his ship on board of Svein Earl Hakon's son's ship； and Svein allowed his ship to give way； and was on the point of flying。 Then Earl Eirik came up； and laid his ship alongside of Vagn； and then Vagn gave way； and the ships came to lie in the same position as before。 Thereupon Eirik goes to the other wing； which had gone back a little； and Bue had cut the ropes； intending to pursue them。 Then Eirik laid himself； board to board； alongside of Bue's ship； and there was a severe combat hand to hand。 Two or three of Eirik's ships then laid themselves upon Bue's single vessel。 A thunder…storm came on at this moment； and such a heavy hail…storm that every hailstone weighed a pennyweight。 The Earl Sigvalde cut his cable； turned his ship round； and took flight。 Vagn Akason called to him not to fly； but as Earl Sigvalde paid no attention to what he said； Vagn threw his spear at him； and hit the man at the helm。 Earl Sigvalde rowed away with 35 ships； leaving 25 of his fleet behind。
45。 BUE THROWS HIMSELF OVERBOARD。
Then Earl Hakon laid his ship on the other side of Bue's ship； and now came heavy blows on Bue's men。 Vigfus； a son of Vigaglum； took up an anvil with a sharp end； which lay upon the deck； and on which a man had welded the hilt to his sword just before； and being a very strong man cast the anvil with both hands at the head of Aslak Holmskalle； and the end of it went into his brains。 Before this no weapon could wound this Aslak； who was Bue's foster…brother； and forecastle commander； although he could wound right and left。 Another man among the strongest and bravest was Havard Hoggande。 In this attack Eirik's men boarded Bue's ship； and went aft to the quarter…deck where Bue stood。 There Thorstein Midlang cut at Bue across his nose； so that the nosepiece of his helmet was cut in two； and he got a great wound； but Bue； in turn； cut at Thorstein's side； so that the sword cut the man through。