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man； grinned sardonically at the sight。 〃Hah； I see thou hast no mind to
take commands from me； thou art of too high a humor to take commands。〃
To which； says Snorro； Boy Olaf answered little except by laughing； till
Sigurd saddled for himself； and rode away。 His mother Aasta appears to
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have been a thoughtful； prudent woman； though always with a fierce
royalism at the bottom of her memory； and a secret implacability on that
head。
At the age of twelve Olaf went to sea； furnished with a little fleet； and
skilful sea…counsellor； expert old Rane； by his Foster…father； and set out to
push his fortune in the world。 Rane was a steersman and counsellor in
these incipient times； but the crew always called Olaf 〃King；〃 though at
first； as Snorro thinks； except it were in the hour of battle； he merely
pulled an oar。 He cruised and fought in this capacity on many seas and
shores； passed several years； perhaps till the age of nineteen or twenty； in
this wild element and way of life； fighting always in a glorious and
distinguished manner。 In the hour of battle； diligent enough 〃to amass
property；〃 as the Vikings termed it； and in the long days and nights of
sailing； given over； it is likely； to his own thoughts and the unfathomable
dialogue with the ever…moaning Sea； not the worst High School a man
could have； and indeed infinitely preferable to the most that are going
even now； for a high and deep young soul。
His first distinguished expedition was to Sweden： natural to go thither
first； to avenge his poor father's death； were it nothing more。 Which he did；
the Skalds say； in a distinguished manner； making victorious and
handsome battle for himself； in entering Maelare Lake； and in getting out
of it again； after being frozen there all winter； showing still more
surprising； almost miraculous contrivance and dexterity。 This was the first
of his glorious victories； of which the Skalds reckon up some fourteen or
thirteen very glorious indeed； mostly in the Western and Southern
countries； most of all in England； till the name of Olaf Haraldson became
quite famous in the Viking and strategic world。 He seems really to have
learned the secrets of his trade； and to have been； then and afterwards； for
vigilance； contrivance； valor； and promptitude of execution； a superior
fighter。 Several exploits recorded of him betoken； in simple forms； what
may be called a military genius。
The principal； and to us the alone interesting； of his exploits seem to
have lain in England； and； what is further notable； always on the anti…
Svein side。 English books do not mention him at all that I can find； but it
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is fairly credible that； as the Norse records report； in the end of Ethelred's
reign； he was the ally or hired general of Ethelred； and did a great deal of
sea…fighting； watching； sailing； and sieging for this miserable king and
Edmund Ironside； his son。 Snorro says expressly； London； the impregnable
city； had to be besieged again for Ethelred's behoof （in the interval
between Svein's death and young Knut's getting back from Denmark）； and
that our Olaf Haraldson was the great engineer and victorious captor of
London on that singular occasion；London captured for the first time。 The
Bridge； as usual； Snorro says； offered almost insuperable obstacles。 But
the engineering genius of Olaf contrived huge 〃platforms of wainscoting
＇old walls of wooden houses； in fact＇； bound together by withes；〃 these；
carried steadily aloft above the ships； will （thinks Olaf） considerably
secure them and us from the destructive missiles； big boulder stones； and
other； mischief profusely showered down on us； till we get under the
Bridge with axes and cables； and do some good upon it。 Olaf's plan was
tried； most of the other ships； in spite of their wainscoting and withes；
recoiled on reaching the Bridge； so destructive were the boulder and other
missile showers。 But Olaf's ships and self got actually under the Bridge；
fixed all manner of cables there； and then； with the river current in their
favor； and the frightened ships rallying to help in this safer part of the
enterprise； tore out the important piles and props； and fairly broke the poor
Bridge； wholly or partly； down into the river； and its Danish defenders into
immediate surrender。 That is Snorro's account。
On a previous occasion； Olaf had been deep in a hopeful combination
with Ethelred's two younger sons； Alfred and Edward； afterwards King
Edward the Confessor： That they two should sally out from Normandy in
strong force； unite with Olaf in ditto； and； landing on the Thames； do
something effectual for themselves。 But impediments； bad weather or the
like； disheartened the poor Princes； and it came to nothing。 Olaf was much
in Normandy； what they then called Walland； a man held in honor by those
Norman Dukes。
What amount of 〃property〃 he had amassed I do not know； but could
prove； were it necessary； that he had acquired some tactical or even
strategic faculty and real talent for war。 At Lymfjord； in Jutland； but some
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years after this （A。D。 1027）； he had a sea…battle with the great Knut
himself；ships combined with flood…gates； with roaring； artificial deluges；
right well managed by King Olaf； which were within a hair's…breadth of
destroying Knut； now become a King and Great； and did in effect send
him instantly running。 But of this more particularly by and by。
What still more surprises me is the mystery； where Olaf； in this
wandering； fighting； sea…roving life； acquired his deeply religious feeling；
his intense adherence to the Christian Faith。 I suppose it had been in
England； where many pious persons； priestly and other； were still to be
met with； that Olaf had gathered these doctrines； and that in those his
unfathomable dialogues with