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f。 At that time his sons Kalf and Fin were with the king； and in great favour。 The wife whom Olver of Eggja had left was young and handsome； of great family； and rich； so that he who got her might be considered to have made an excellent marriage； and her land was in the gift of the king。 She and Olver had two sons； who were still in infancy。 Kalf Arneson begged of the king that he would give him to wife the widow of Olver； and out of friendship the king agreed to it； and with her he got all the property Olver had possessed。 The king at the same time made him his lenderman； and gave him an office in the interior of the Throndhjem country。 Kalf became a great chief； and was a man of very great understanding。
117。 KING OLAF'S JOURNEY TO THE UPLANDS。
When King Olaf had been seven years （A。D。 1015…1021） in Norway the earls Thorfin and Bruse came to him； as before related； in the summer； from Orkney； and he became master of their land。 The same summer Olaf went to North and South More； and in autumn to Raumsdal。 He left his ships there； and came to the Uplands； and to Lesjar。 Here he laid hold of all the best men； and forced them； both at Lesjar and Dovre； either to receive Christianity or suffer death； if they were not so lucky as to escape。 After they received Christianity； the king took their sons in his hands as hostages for their fidelity。 The king stayed several nights at a farm in Lesjar called Boar； where he placed priests。 Then he proceeded over Orkadal and Lorodal； and came down from the Uplands at a place called Stafabrekka。 There a river runs along the valley； called the Otta； and a beautiful hamlet； by name Loar； lies on both sides of the river； and the king could see far down over the whole neighbourhood。 〃A pity it is；〃 said the king； 〃so beautiful a hamlet should be burnt。〃 And he proceeded down the valley with his people； and was all night on a farm called Nes。 The king took his lodging in a loft； where he slept himself； and it stands to the present day； without anything in it having been altered since。 The king was five days there； and summoned by message…token the people to a Thing； both for the districts of Vagar； Lear； and Hedal； and gave out the message along with the token； that they must either receive Christianity and give their sons as hostages； or see their habitations burnt。 They came before the king； and submitted to his pleasure； but some fled south down the valley。
118。 THE STORY OF DALE…GUDBRAND。
There was a man called Dale…Gudbrand； who was like a king in the valley （Gudbrandsdal）； but was only herse in title。 Sigvat the skald compared him for wealth and landed property to Erling Skjalgson。 Sigvat sang thus concerning Erling：
〃I know but one who can compare With Erling for broad lands and gear Gudbrand is he； whose wide domains Are most like where some small king reigns。 These two great bondes； I would say； Equal each other every way。 He lies who says that he can find One by the other left behind。〃
Gudbrand had a son； who is here spoken of。 Now when Gudbrand received the tidings that King Olaf was come to Lear； and obliged people to accept Christianity； he sent out a message…token； and summoned all the men in the valley to meet him at a farm called Hundthorp。 All came； so that the number could not be told； for there is a lake in the neighbourhood called Laugen； so that people could come to the place both by land and by water。 There Gudbrand held a Thing with them； and said； 〃A man is come to Loar who is called Olaf； and will force upon us another faith than what we had before； and will break in pieces all our gods。 He says that he has a much greater and more powerful god； and it is wonderful that the earth does not burst asunder under him； or that our god lets him go about unpunished when he dares to talk such things。 I know this for certain； that if we carry Thor； who has always stood by us； out of our temple that is standing upon this farm； Olaf's god will melt away； and he and his men be made nothing so soon as Thor looks upon them。〃 Then the bondes all shouted as one person that Olaf should never get away with life if he came to them； and they thought he would never dare to come farther south through the valley。 They chose out 700 men to go northwards to Breida； to watch his movements。 The leader of this band was Gudbrand's son； eighteen years of age； and with him were many other men of importance。 When they came to a farm called Hof they heard of the king； and they remained three nights there。 People streamed to them from all parts； from Lesjar； Loar； and Vagar； who did not wish to receive Christianity。 The king and Bishop Sigurd fixed teachers in Loaf and in Vagar。 From thence they went round Vagarost； and came down into the valley at Sil； where they stayed all night； and heard the news that a great force of men were assembled against them。 The bondes who were in Breida heard also of the king's arrival； and prepared for battle。 As soon as the king arose in the morning he put on his armour； and went southwards over the Sil plains； and did not halt until he came to Breida； where he saw a great army ready for battle。 Then the king drew up his troops； rode himself at the head of them； and began a speech to the bondes； in which he invited them to adopt Christianity。 They replied； 〃We shall give thee something else to do to…day than to be mocking us；〃 and raised a general shout； striking also upon their shields with their weapons。 Then the king's men ran forward and threw their spears； but the bondes turned round instantly and fled； so that only few men remained behind。 Gudbrand's son was taken prisoner； but the king gave him his life； and took him with him。 The king was four days here。 Then the king said to Gudbrand's son； 〃Go home now to thy father； and tell him I expect to be with him soon。〃
He went accordingly； and told his father the news； that they had fallen in with the king； and fought with him； but that their whole army； in the very beginning； took flight。 〃I was taken prisoner；〃 said he； 〃but the king gave me my life and liberty； and told me to say to thee that he will soon be here。 And now we have not 200 men of the force we raised against him； therefore I advise thee； father； not to give battle to that man。〃
Says Gudbrand； 〃It is easy to see that all courage has left thee； and it was an unlucky hour ye went out to the field。 Thy proceeding will live long in the remembrance of people； and I see that thy fastening thy faith on the folly that man is going about with has brought upon thee and thy men so great a disgrace。〃
But the night after； Gudbrand dreamt that there came to him a man surrounded by light； who brought great terror with him； and said to him； 〃Thy son made no glorious expedition against King Olaf； but still less honour wilt thou gather for thyself by holding a battle with him。 Thou with all thy people wilt fall； wolves will drag thee； and all thine； away； ravens wilt tear thee in stripes。〃 At this dreadful vision he was much afraid； and tells it to Thord Istermage； who was chief over the valley。 He replies； 〃The very same vision came to me。〃 In the morning they o