While Olaf was in Ireland he was once on an expedition which went by sea.As they required to make a foray for provisions on the coast, some of his men landed, and drove down a large herd of cattle to the strand.Now a peasant came up, and entreated Olaf to give him back the cows that belonged to him.Olaf told him to take his cows, if he could distinguish them; "but don't delay our march." The peasant had with him a large house-dog, which he put in among the herd of cattle, in which many hundred head of beasts were driven together.The dog ran into the herd, and drove out exactly the number which the peasant had said he wanted; and all were marked with the same mark, which showed that the dog knew the right beasts, and was very sagacious.Olaf then asked the peasant if he would sell him the dog."I would rather give him to you," said the peasant.Olaf immediately presented him with a gold ring in return, and promised him his friendship in future.
This dog was called Vige, and was the very best of dogs, and Olaf owned him long afterwards.
36.HARALD GORMSON SAILS AGAINST ICELAND.
The Danish king, Harald Gormson, heard that Earl Hakon had thrown off Christianity, and had plundered far and wide in the Danish land.The Danish king levied an army, with which he went to Norway; and when he came to the country which Earl Hakon had to rule over he laid waste the whole land, and came with his fleet to some islands called Solunder.Only five houses were left standing in Laeradal; but all the people fled up to the mountains, and into the forest, taking with them all the moveable goods they could carry with them.Then the Danish king proposed to sail with his fleet to Iceland, to avenge the mockery and scorn all the Icelanders had shown towards him; for they had made a law in Iceland, that they should make as many lampoons against the Danish king as there were headlands in his country; and the reason was, because a vessel which belonged to certain Icelanders was stranded in Denmark, and the Danes took all the property, and called it wreck.One of the king's bailiffs called Birger was to blame for this; but the lampoons were made against both.In the lampoons were the following lines: --"The gallant Harald in the field Between his legs lets drop his shield;Into a pony he was changed.
And kicked his shield, and safely ranged.
And Birger, he who dwells in halls For safety built with four stone walls, That these might be a worthy pair, Was changed into a pony mare."37.HARALD SENDS A WARLOCK TO ICELAND.
King Harald told a warlock to hie to Iceland in some altered shape, and to try what he could learn there to tell him: and he set out in the shape of a whale.And when he came near to the land he went to the west side of Iceland, north around the land, where he saw all the mountains and hills full of guardian-spirits, some great, some small.When he came to Vapnafjord he went in towards the land, intending to go on shore; but a huge dragon rushed down the dale against him with a train of serpents, paddocks, and toads, that blew poison towards him.Then he turned to go westward around the land as far as Eyjafjord, and he went into the fjord.Then a bird flew against him, which was so great that its wings stretched over the mountains on either side of the fjord, and many birds, great and small, with it.Then he swam farther west, and then south into Breidafjord.When he came into the fjord a large grey bull ran against him, wading into the sea, and bellowing fearfully, and he was followed by a crowd of land-spirits.From thence he went round by Reykjanes, and wanted to land at Vikarsskeid, but there came down a hill-giant against him with an iron staff in his hands.He was a head higher than the mountains, and many other giants followed him.He then swam eastward along the land, and there was nothing to see, he said, but sand and vast deserts, and, without the skerries, high-breaking surf; and the ocean between the countries was so wide that a long-ship could not cross it.At that time Brodhelge dwelt in Vapnafjord, Eyjolf Valgerdson in Eyjafjord, Thord Geller in Breidafjord, and Thorod Gode in Olfus.Then the Danish king turned about with his fleet, and sailed back to Denmark.
Hakon the earl settled habitations again in the country that had been laid waste, and paid no scat as long as he lived to Denmark.
38.HARALD GORMSON'S DEATH.