This will I not hide from comrades, Though ’tis right one’s chief to follow, Yet am I myself unwilling Thus to meet the son of Brúsi. When these Earls so fierce in battle Close in fight, then will our case be Hard beyond the case of most men In this trial of our friendship. Earl Thorfinn selected the ablest of his men to man his ship, and then he went to see Kálf Arnason, and asked his assistance. He said that Kálf would not be able to buy king Magnus’s friendship, since he had already been banished, and was therefore unable to keep the king’s favour, even when they were once reconciled. “You may be sure,” he added, “that if Rögnvald overcomes me, and he and King Magnus become masters here in the west, you will not be welcome in this quarter, but if I come off victorious you shall lack nothing that it is in my power to give you. If we two keep together we shall be a match for any one here in the west, and I hardly think you will allow yourself to lie crouching aside like a cat among stones while I am fighting for behoof of us both. Moreover our ties are so close that it is more seemly for us to aid each other, since you have no ties of blood or affinity with our enemies.” When Kálf heard Thorfinn’s persuasions he called his men and gave orders to fall to and fight on the side of Earl Thorfinn. Now Thorfinn and Kálf both rowed back to the fight, and when they arrived Thorfinn’s men were ready to fly, and many of them had been slain. The Earl pushed his ship forward against that of Earl Rögnvald, and a fierce fight ensued. As is said by Arnór Jarlaskáld— Then I saw the two wealth-givers Hewing down each other’s warriors. Fierce the fight was in the Pentland, As the sea swelled and the red rain Crimsoned all the yielding timbers, While from shield-rims sweat of hot blood Dripping, stained the warriors’ garments. Kálf attacked Rögnvald’s smaller ships, and speedily cleared them, as there was a great difference in the height of the ships. When the hired troops from Norway saw the vessels beside them cleared they cut away their ship and fled. Then only a few ships remained with Earl Rögnvald, and the victory began to lean the other way. So says Arnór Jarlaskáld:— Then the prince so fierce in battle, Valiant kinsman of the Vikings, All the old land might have conquered With assistance of the Islesmen. Fewer were his slaughtered heroes; But the chief’s strong men in helmets, All the way to northern Hjaltland, Chased the weak and flying remnant.