Thorer Hund struck his spear right through the body of Marshal Bjorn, and killed him outright; and Thorer said, "It is thus we hunt the bear." (2) Thorstein Knarrarsmid struck at King Olaf with his axe, and the blow hit his left leg above the knee.Fin Arnason instantly killed Thorstein.The king after the wound staggered towards a stone, threw down his sword, and prayed God to help him.Then Thorer Hund struck at him with his spear, and the stroke went in under his mail-coat and into his belly.Then Kalf struck at him on the left side of the neck.But all are not agreed upon Kalf having been the man who gave him the wound in the neck.These three wounds were King Olaf's death; and after the king's death the greater part of the forces which had advanced with him fell with the king.Bjarne Gullbrarskald sang these verses about Kalf Arnason: --"Warrior! who Olaf dared withstand, Who against Olaf held the land, Thou hast withstood the bravest, best, Who e'er has gone to his long rest.
At Stiklestad thou wast the head;
With flying banners onwards led Thy bonde troops, and still fought on, Until he fell -- the much-mourned one."Sigvat also made these verses on Bjorn: --"The marshal Bjorn, too, I find, A great example leaves behind, How steady courage should stand proof, Though other servants stand aloof.
To Russia first his steps he bent, To serve his master still intent;And now besides his king he fell, --A noble death for skalds to tell."
ENDNOTES:
(1) Thorer's name was Hund -- the dog; and a play upon Thorer Hund's name was intended by the skald.-- L.
(2) Bjorn, the marshal's name, signifies a bear.-- L.
241.BEGINNING OF DAG HRINGSON'S ATTACK.
Dag Hringson still kept up the battle, and made in the beginning so fierce an assault that the bondes gave way, and some betook themselves to flight.There a great number of the bondes fell, and these lendermen, Erlend of Gerde and Aslak of Finey; and the banner also which they had stood under was cut down.This onset was particularly hot, and was called Dag's storm.But now Kalf Arnason, Harek of Thjotta, and Thorer Hund turned against Dag, with the array which had followed them, and then Dag was overwhelmed with numbers; so he betook himself to flight with the men still left him.There was a valley through which the main body of the fugitives fled, and men lay scattered in heaps on both sides; and many were severely wounded, and many so fatigued that they were fit for nothing.The bondes pursued only a short way; for their leaders soon returned back to the field of battle, where they had their friends and relations to look after.
240.KING OLAF'S MIRACLE SHOWN TO THORER HUND.
Thorer Hund went to where King Olaf's body lay, took care of it, laid it straight out on the ground, and spread a cloak over it.
He told since that when he wiped the blood from the face it was very beautiful; and there was red in the cheeks, as if he only slept, and even much clearer than when he was in life.The king's blood came on Thorer's hand, and ran up between his fingers to where he had been wounded, and the wound grew up so speedily that it did not require to be bound up.This circumstance was testified by Thorer himself when King Olaf's holiness came to be generally known among the people; and Thorer Hund was among the first of the king's powerful opponents who endeavoured to spread abroad the king's sanctity.
243.OF KALF ARNASON'S BROTHERS.
Kalf Arnason searched for his brothers who had fallen, and found Thorberg and Fin.It is related that Fin threw his dagger at him, and wanted to kill him, giving him hard words, and calling him a faithless villain, and a traitor to his king.Kalf did not regard it, but ordered Fin and Thorberg to be carried away from the field.When their wounds were examined they were found not to be deadly, and they had fallen from fatigue, and under the weight of their weapons.Thereafter Kalf tried to bring his brothers down to a ship, and went himself with them.As soon as he was gone the whole bonde-army, having their homes in the neighbourhood, went off also, excepting those who had friends or relations to look after, or the bodies of the slain to take care of.The wounded were taken home to the farms, so that every house was full of them; and tents were erected over some.But wonderful as was the number collected in the bonde-army, no less wonderful was the haste with which this vast body was dispersed when it was once free; and the cause of this was, that the most of the people gathered together from the country places were longing for their homes.
244.OF THE BONDES OF VERADAL.