When only a few men were left on the _Long Serpent_ around the mast amidships, Erik Jarl boarded it with fourteen men. Then came against him King Olaf's brother-in-law, Hyrning, with his followers, and between them ensued a hard fight. It was ended by Erik Jarl's retreating onto the _Bardi_, which took away the dead and the wounded, and in their stead brought fresh and rested men. When Erik had prepared his men, he said to Thorkel the High, a wise and powerful chief: "Often have I been in battles, and never have I before found men equally brave and so skilled in fighting as those on the _Long Serpent_, nor have I seen a ship so hard to conquer. Now, as thou art one of the wisest of men, give me the best advice thou knowest as to how the _Long Serpent_ may be won!" Thorkel replied: "I cannot give thee sure advice, but I can say what seems to me best to do. Thou must take large timbers, and let them fall from thy ship upon the gunwales of the _Long Serpent_, so that it will careen; then thou wilt find it the easier to board the ship." Erik Jarl did as Thorkel had told him. King Olaf and his men defended themselves with the utmost bravery and manliness; they slew many of their foes, both on the _Jarn Bardi_ and on other ships which lay near theirs. When the defenders of the _Long Serpent_ began to thin out, Erik Jarl boarded it and met with a warm reception. Olaf Tryggvasson shot at him with spears. The first flew past his right side, the second his left, and the third struck the fore part of the ship above his head. Then King Olaf said: "Never before did I thus miss a man; great is the Jarl's luck." In a short time most of King Olaf's champions fell, though they were both strong and valiant. Among them Hyrning, Thorgier, Vikar, and Ulf the Red, and many other brave men who left a famous name behind. The _Long Serpent_ was now cleared of men and captured, but Olaf Tryggvasson was never seen or heard of more. He probably threw himself into the sea not to survive his defeat. "It was a grand fight, Captain Larsen!" I exclaimed, as the narrator concluded his story. I thanked the captain, and after this we all went to our bunks to sleep. The following day was Sunday. There was no buying or selling of fish. Every man was shaved and wore clean linen; the church was crowded with fishermen, and the afternoon was spent in making social visits. I had fished with the four boats of our house, and now I made my preparations for sailing northward. Our catch of fish and that in several neighboring fishing settlements during the fishing season had amounted to over twenty-two millions of cod. CHAPTER XXXI SAILING ALONG THE COAST OF FINMARKEN.--HAMMERFEST, THE MOST NORTHERN TOWN IN THE WORLD.--SCHOOLS.--FRUHOLMEN, THE MOST NORTHERN LIGHTHOUSE IN THE WORLD.--AMONG THE SEA LAPPS.--MEN AND WOMEN SAILORS.