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of the ground: the road skirts the ridge, close to the foot of which runs the bog, while a rocky brow is
above, and the passage lies between these and is no broader than a footpath. Now some of us shall go
forward round the brow to withstand them if they advance; but some shall hide here in the wood, and
leap out at their back when they have got on before us. And take we such heed that none escape. They
did as Ulf bade: Ulf went forward round the brow and ten men with him.
Egil and his men went on their way knowing nought of this plan till they came into the narrow path.
Then out leapt men behind them, and drove at them with weapons. They faced about and defended
themselves. Now also dashed at them those who were in front of the rocky brow; and when Egil saw
that, he turned to meet them. Quick were the blows exchanged between them; and Egil smote down
some in the narrow pass, but some turned back to where there was more level space. Egil dashed after
them. There fell Ulf. And in the end Egil slew there single-handed eleven men. Then he went where
his comrades were keeping the pass before eight men: there were some wounded on either side. But
when Egil came, then at once the Vermians fled to the wood hard by. Five escaped, all sore wounded,
but three fell there. Egil had many wounds, but none serious.
They then continued their journey. He bound his comrades wounds, none of which were mortal. They
sat in the sledge, and drove for the rest of the day.
But the Vermians who escaped took their horses, and dragged themselves from the wood eastwards to
inhabited parts. There they got their wounds bound. Procuring companions, they made their way to the
earl, and told him of their misadventure. They told how both the Ulfs had fallen, twenty-five men were
dead, and but five escaped with life, and they all wounded and bruised. The earl then asked what were
the tidings of Egil and his comrades. They answered: We know not for sure how much they were
wounded; but full boldly did they set on us when we were eight and they four; then we fled. Five
reached the wood, but three perished; yet, for all we could see, Egil and his men were as fresh as ever.
The earl said that their journey had been as bad as could be. I could have been content we should have
great loss of life, had ye but slain these Northmen; but now when they come west from the wood and
tell these tidings to Norway s king, then may we expect from him the very hardest terms.
Chapter 79 - Egil comes to Thorfinn s. The harrying of king
Hacon.
Egil traveled on till he came westward out of the wood. They made for Thorfinn s that evening, where
they were well received: their wounds were bound up, and they stayed there several nights. Helga, the
master s daughter, was now on her feet, and whole of her ailment. For this she and all the family
thanked Egil. He and his rested there themselves and their beasts.
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The man who had graved the runes for Helga dwelt not far off. It now came out that he had asked her
to wife, but Thorfinn would not give her. Then this landowner s son would fain beguile her, but she
would not consent. So he thought to grave for her love-runes, but he did not understand them aright,
and graved that wherefrom she took her sickness.
And when Egil was ready to depart, Thorfinn and his son escorted them on the road: they being thus
ten or twelve in company. They went with them all that day as a guard against Armod and his
house-carles. But when the tidings were heard how Egil s band had fought against overwhelming odds
in the wood and conquered, then Armod thought it hopeless to raise shield against Egil: wherefore he
with all his men sat at home. Egil and Thorfinn exchanged gifts at parting, and pledged themselves to
friendship. Then Egil and his men went their way, and no tidings are told of their journey before they
came to Thorstein s.
There their wounds were healed. Egil stayed there till spring. But Thorstein sent messengers to king
Hacon to bring him the tribute for which Egil had gone to Vermaland. Who, when they came before
the king, told him the tidings of what had been done in Egil s journey, and brought him the tribute.
The king was now sure that what he had before suspected was true, namely, that earl Arnvid had
caused the slaying of the two companies of messengers sent eastwards by him. The king said that
Thorstein should have leave to dwell in the land, and should be reconciled to him. Then the
messengers returned home; and on coming to Thorstein s told him that the king was well pleased with
this Vermaland journey, and that Thorstein was now to have reconciliation and friendship with the
king.
King Hacon in the summer went eastwards to Vik: whence he journeyed still eastwards to Vermaland
with a large force. Earl Arnvid fled away; but the king took large fines from those landowners whom
he thought guilty against him according to the report of those who went after the tribute. He set over
the land another earl, taking hostages of him and of the landowners. In this expedition Hacon went far
and wide about western Gautland and subdued it, as is told in his Saga, and is found in the poems
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