The Earl replied: “I foresee that your power will be greatest here; and your ways do not lead from home.” Hrollaug said: “Father, would you like me to go?” The Earl replied: “It will never be your fortune to become an Earl. Your way lies towards Iceland. There you will increase your family, and it will be a noble one.” Then Einar, his youngest son, came forward and said: “Would you like me to go to the Islands? One thing I will promise, which will be very acceptable to you—viz. that I shall never more come into your presence; little honour do I enjoy at home, and it is hardly likely that my success will be less elsewhere than it is here.” The Earl said: “You are not likely to become a chief, on account of your birth, for all your kin on the mother’s side are thrall-born; but it is true that the sooner you go and the longer you stay the more agreeable it will be to me.” Earl Rögnvald gave him a fully-equipped vessel, with twenty benches, and King Harald gave him the title of Earl. THE VIKINGS SLAIN. 182. Einar sailed to Hjaltland, and there many men gathered round him. Then he went to the Orkneys to meet Kálf Skurfa and Thórir Tréskegg. There was a great battle, and both the Vikings were killed. This was said about it: Tré-skegg gave he to the Trows: Skurfa fell before Torf-Einar. Then Einar took possession of the lands, and soon became a great chief. He was the man who first cut turf (peat) from the ground for fuel at Torfnes in Scotland, for fuel was scarce in the Islands. Einar was a tall man, ugly, and with one eye, yet he was very keen-sighted. BATTLE BETWEEN EARL EINAR AND PRINCE HALFDAN. 183. When the sons of Harald Harfagri grew up they became men of great violence and turbulence, as has been told before. The sons of Snæfríd, Hálfdán Hálegg (high legs) and Gudröd Liomi (splendour) killed Rögnvald, Earl of Mœri. King Harald became very angry at this, and Hálfdán had to flee over seas to the west, but Gudröd became reconciled to his father. When Hálfdán Hálegg came to the Orkneys, Earl Einar fled from the Islands to Scotland, and Hálfdán became King over the Islands. Earl Einar came back during the same year, and when they met there was a great battle, in which Einar had the victory, and Hálfdán fled away. Einar sang this song: Why are not the spear-shafts flying, From the hands of Hrólf and Hrollaug, Thickly ’gainst the press of warriors? Now, my father! I avenge thee. While we here are closed in battle, Sits Earl Thórir all the evening, Silent o’er his cheerless drink.