“King Sverri was at Bergen (Björgyn) with his host, and all his ships lay ready and war-girdled at the gangways” (Sverri’s Saga, c. 52). When King Svein of Denmark was pursuing King Harald with an overwhelming force, “He (Harald) bid the men lighten his (ship) by throwing overboard malt, wheat, and pork, and to cut holes in the ale-barrels: this helped awhile. Then he had _viggyrdils_, vats, and empty barrels, as well as the prisoners of war, thrown into the sea” (Harald Hardradi’s Saga, c. 35). “We will carry out on the boards (i.e. the sides of the ship) _vigfleki_, and defend ourselves as best we can, but not attack them” (Flateyjarbok). A man with his shields protected the rowers from the missiles of the enemy; but in spite of this, many were often killed. Three men were generally stationed in each _half-room_, one for rowing, one for protecting the rower, and one for fighting. Erling Skakki said to King Ingi: “If we now attack them and row against the current, and have three men in every _half-room_, then one must row, the other protect him, and we shall then have not more than one-third of our host in the fight” (Hakon Herdibreid’s Saga, c. 6). “When the men on board the jarl’s ships began to fall and get wounded, and the line of men on their gunwales got thin, King Olaf’s men went on board. Their standard was carried on board the ship next to the jarl’s, and followed by the king himself” (St. Olaf’s Saga, ch. 48). Stones were extensively used in sea fights. Svein Ulfsson,[158] King of Denmark, fought a battle outside Árós (Aarhus) against King Magnus of Norway, of which it is said, “Svein’s men armed themselves and tied together their ships. There at once ensued a hard battle.... They fought in the stems. Only those who stood there could reach to use their swords; those who stood in the foreroom used _kesjas_ (a kind of lance), and those still farther aft shorter javelins or large arrows; some threw stones with slings, while those who were aft of the mast used bows” (Magnus the Good, c. 31). “A battle was fought at the mouth of the Gauta river between the kings Ingi and Hakon; there were thrown down on them _kesjas_ (spears), and stones so large, that they were forced to retreat” (Hakon Herdibreid’s Saga, c. 2). Cables were stretched across the mouths of rivers or harbours, in order to prevent the ships of the enemy from entering.