Eyvind Skaldaspiller says also in the "Haleygja-tal":-- "Twas at the peep of day,-- Our brave earl led the way; His ocean horses bounding-- His war-horns loudly sounding! No joyful morn arose For Yngve Frey's base foes These Christian island-men Wished themselves home again." Then the fleets came together, and one of the sharpest of conflicts began. Many fell on both sides, but the most by far on Hakon's side; for the Jomsborg vikings fought desperately, sharply, and murderously, and shot right through the shields. So many spears were thrown against Earl Hakon that his armour was altogether split asunder, and he threw it off. So says Tind Halkelson:-- "The ring-linked coat of strongest mail Could not withstand the iron hail, Though sewed with care and elbow bent, By Norn (1), on its strength intent. The fire of battle raged around,-- Odin's steel shirt flew all unbound! The earl his ring-mail from him flung, Its steel rings on the wet deck rung; Part of it fell into the sea,-- A part was kept, a proof to be How sharp and thick the arrow-flight Among the sea-steeds in this fight." ENDNOTES: (1) Norn, one of the Fates, stands here for women, whose business it was to sew the rings of iron upon the cloth which made these ring-mail coats or shirts. The needles, although some of them were of gold, appear to have been without eyes, and used like shoemaker's awls.--L. 44. EARL SIGVALDE'S FLIGHT. The Jomsborg vikings had larger and higher-sided ships; and both parties fought desperately. Vagn Akason laid his ship on board of Svein Earl Hakon's son's ship, and Svein allowed his ship to give way, and was on the point of flying. Then Earl Eirik came up, and laid his ship alongside of Vagn, and then Vagn gave way, and the ships came to lie in the same position as before. Thereupon Eirik goes to the other wing, which had gone back a little, and Bue had cut the ropes, intending to pursue them. Then Eirik laid himself, board to board, alongside of Bue's ship, and there was a severe combat hand to hand. Two or three of Eirik's ships then laid themselves upon Bue's single vessel. A thunder-storm came on at this moment, and such a heavy hail-storm that every hailstone weighed a pennyweight. The Earl Sigvalde cut his cable, turned his ship round, and took flight. Vagn Akason called to him not to fly; but as Earl Sigvalde paid no attention to what he said, Vagn threw his spear at him, and hit the man at the helm. Earl Sigvalde rowed away with 35 ships, leaving 25 of his fleet behind. 45. BUE THROWS HIMSELF OVERBOARD.