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have taken the resolution； all of us； to fall away from thee； and to take for
ourselves another head； who will so behave that we may enjoy in freedom
the belief which is agreeable to us。 Now shalt thou； king； choose one of
these two courses before the Thing disperse。〃 〃Whereupon；〃 adds the
Chronicle； 〃all the Bonders raised a mighty shout； 'Yes； we will have it so；
as has been said。'〃 So that Jarl Sigurd had to intervene； and King Hakon to
choose for the moment the milder branch of the alternative。＇4＇ At other
Things Hakon was more or less successful。 All his days； by such methods
as there were； he kept pressing forward with this great enterprise； and on
the whole did thoroughly shake asunder the old edifice of heathendom；
and fairly introduce some foundation for the new and better rule of faith
and life among his people。 Sigurd； Jarl of Lade； his wise counsellor in all
these matters； is also a man worthy of notice。
Hakon's arrangements against the continual invasions of Eric's sons；
with Danish Blue…tooth backing them； were manifold； and for a long time
successful。 He appointed； after consultation and consent in the various
Things； so many war…ships； fully manned and ready； to be furnished
instantly on the King's demand by each province or fjord； watch…fires； on
fit places； from hill to hill all along the coast； were to be carefully set up；
carefully maintained in readiness； and kindled on any alarm of war。 By
such methods Blue…tooth and Co。's invasions were for a long while
triumphantly； and even rapidly； one and all of them； beaten back； till at
length they seemed as if intending to cease altogether； and leave Hakon
alone of them。 But such was not their issue after all。 The sons of Eric had
only abated under constant discouragement； had not finally left off from
what seemed their one great feasibility in life。 Gunhild； their mother； was
still with them： a most contriving； fierce…minded； irreconcilable woman；
diligent and urgent on them； in season and out of season； and as for King
Blue…tooth； he was at all times ready to help； with his good…will at least。
That of the alarm…fires on Hakon's part was found troublesome by his
people； sometimes it was even hurtful and provoking （lighting your alarm…
fires and rousing the whole coast and population； when it was nothing but
some paltry viking with a couple of ships）； in short； the alarm…signal
system fell into disuse； and good King Hakon himself； in the first place；
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
paid the penalty。 It is counted； by the latest commentators； to have been
about A。D。 961； sixteenth or seventeenth year of Hakon's pious； valiant；
and worthy reign。 Being at a feast one day； with many guests； on the
Island of Stord； sudden announcement came to him that ships from the
south were approaching in quantity； and evidently ships of war。 This was
the biggest of all the Blue…tooth foster…son invasions； and it was fatal to
Hakon the Good that night。 Eyvind the Skaldaspillir （annihilator of all
other Skalds）； in his famed _Hakon's Song_； gives account； and； still more
pertinently； the always practical Snorro。 Danes in great multitude； six to
one； as people afterwards computed； springing swiftly to land； and ranking
themselves； Hakon； nevertheless； at once deciding not to take to his ships
and run； but to fight there； one to six； fighting； accordingly； in his most
splendid manner； and at last gloriously prevailing； routing and scattering
back to their ships and flight homeward these six…to…one Danes。 〃During
the struggle of the fight；〃 says Snorro； 〃he was very conspicuous among
other men； and while the sun shone； his bright gilded helmet glanced； and
thereby many weapons were directed at him。 One of his henchmen；
Eyvind Finnson （_i。e。_ Skaldaspillir； the poet）； took a hat； and put it over
the king's helmet。 Now； among the hostile first leaders were two uncles of
the Ericsons； brothers of Gunhild； great champions both； Skreya； the elder
of them； on the disappearance of the glittering helmet； shouted boastfully；
'Does the king of the Norsemen hide himself； then； or has he fled？ Where
now is the golden helmet？' And so saying； Skreya； and his brother Alf with
him； pushed on like fools or madmen。 The king said； 'Come on in that way；
and you shall find the king of the Norsemen。'〃 And in a short space of time
braggart Skreya did come up； swinging his sword； and made a cut at the
king； but Thoralf the Strong； an Icelander； who fought at the king's side；
dashed his shield so hard against Skreya； that he tottered with the shock。
On the same instant the king takes his sword 〃quernbiter〃 （able to cut
_querns_ or millstones） with both hands； and hews Skreya through helm
and head； cleaving him down to the shoulders。 Thoralf also slew Alf。 That
was what they got by such over…hasty search for the king of the
Norsemen。＇5＇
Snorro considers the fall of these two champion uncles as the crisis of
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EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY。
the fight； the Danish force being much disheartened by such a sight； and
King Hakon now pressing on so hard that all men gave way before him；
the battle on the Ericson part became a whirl of recoil； and in a few
minutes more a torrent of mere flight and haste to get on board their ships；
and put to sea again； in which operation many of them were drowned； says
Snorro； survivors making instant sail for Denmark in that sad condition。
This seems to have been King Hakon's finest battle； and the most
conspicuous of his victories； due not a little to his own grand qualities
shown on the occasion。 But； alas！ it was his last also。 He was still
zealously directing the chase of that mad Danish flight； or whirl of recoil
towards their ships； when an arrow； shot Most likely at a venture； hit him
under the left armpit； and this proved his death。
He was helped into his ship； and made sail for Alrekstad； where his
chief residence in those parts was； but had to stop at a smaller place of his
（which had been his mother's； and where he himself was born）a place
called Hella （the Flat Rock）； still known as 〃Hakon's Hella；〃 faint from
l