The battle commenced and became very severe, and many people were slain. King Svein made a violent attack on the "Long Serpent," but was soon compelled to retreat. Then Olaf the Swede came up with his fifteen ships, but he fared no better, and the king himself had a narrow escape from death. When Earl Erik came up with his ships the fight became most severe, and a great number of people fell. The men from the smaller ships soon began to seek refuge on board the "Long Serpent," and at last all King Olaf Trygvason's ships were cleared of men except the "Long Serpent." Then Earl Erik brought his ship up to the side of the "Serpent," and the fight went on with battle-axe and sword. Einar Thambaskelfer stood at the mast of the "Serpent" and sent deadly arrows from his bow. He sent an arrow at Earl Erik, which hit the tiller-end just above the earl's head so hard that it entered the wood up to the arrow-shaft. The earl had hardly time to ask whose shot it was, when another arrow flew between his arm and his side, and clear through a board behind him. Again Einar drew his bow, when it was hit by an arrow from the enemy and broke in two. "What was it that broke with such a noise?" cried King Olaf. "Norway, king, from thy hands," answered Einar. "Not so," said the king, "take my bow and shoot," and the king threw his own bow to Einar. Einar took the bow, and drew it over the head of the arrow. "Too weak, too weak," said he, "is the bow of the king," and, throwing it aside, he took sword and shield, and fought desperately. Finally, after a terrible combat, the earl's men boarded the "Serpent," and the few men who were left were killed or leaped overboard. King Olaf held his shield over his head when he threw himself in the water, and was drowned. Among the last men to leave the ship were Einar Thambaskelfer, who was captured in the water, and Thorkel Nefia, who swam ashore. King Olaf Trygvason was thirty-six years old when he fell at Svolder. His widow, Queen Thyra, died shortly afterward from grief. CHAPTER XII _The Discovery of America_