The Viking Age. Volume 2 (of 2): The early history, manners, and customs of the ancestors of the English-speaking nationsDu Chaillu, Paul B. (Paul Belloni)
History
The Viking Age. Volume 2 (of 2): The early history, manners, and customs of the ancestors of the English-speaking nations
“It is told that Odd sailed from Hrafnista when he got a fair wind, and
nothing is said of their journey before they came to Sweden, where a
cape ran out from the mainland into the sea; they put up tents on their
ships there. Odd went ashore for news; he saw that fifteen ships lay on
the other side of the cape and that war-tents were ashore. He saw plays
going on near the tents. Hjalmar and Thord steered these ships. Odd went
back to his ships and told this news. Gudmund (his foster-brother) asked
what they should do. Odd said: ‘We will divide our men in two halves;
you shall go with your ships past the ness and raise a battle-cry
against those who are ashore; I will land with the other half and go
along the forest and there raise another battle-cry; then it may be that
they get somewhat startled; I think they will flee away into the forest
and that no more is needed.’ It is told of Hjalmar and his men that they
were not in the least startled when they heard the battle-cry of
Gudmund. When they heard another battle-cry upon land they stopped the
play while it lasted and then continued as before. Now Odd and Gudmund
went to the other side of the ness and met. Odd said: ‘I know not for
certain whether these men are so full of fear whom we have found here.’
‘What wilt thou now do?’ said Gudmund. ‘That is soon told,’ said Odd;
‘we will not steal at these men; we will stay this night at the ness
(cape) till morning.’ Next morning they went ashore with all their men
towards Hjalmar, who had his men war-dressed when he saw them go up on
land and went to meet them. Hjalmar asked when they met who was the
leader. Odd answered: ‘There are more chiefs than one here.’ ‘What is
thy name?’ said Hjalmar. ‘My name is Odd, son of Grim Lodinkinni (hairy
cheek) from Hranfista.’ ‘Art thou the Odd who went to Bjarmaland shortly
ago, and what is thy errand hither?’ Odd said: ‘I wish to know which of
us is the greater man.’ ‘How many ships hast thou?’ asked Hjalmar. ‘I
have five ships,’ said Odd, ‘and how many have you?’ ‘We have fifteen
ships,’ answered Hjalmar. ‘That is great odds,’ said Odd. ‘Ten
ship-crews shall not take part in the battle,’ said Hjalmar, ‘and man
fight against man.’ Both made themselves ready for battle, arrayed their
men and fought all day. At night the peace-shield was raised, and
Hjalmar asked Odd how he liked the fight of that day; Odd answered:
‘Well.’ ‘Wilt thou play this game oftener?’ said Hjalmar. ‘No other
intention have I,’ answered Odd, ‘for I never found better or hardier
champions; we will begin the battle again in full daylight.’ This was
done; the men went to their war-booths and dressed their wounds. Next
morning both arrayed their men for battle and fought all that day; when
it began to grow dark a peace-shield was raised. Odd asked how Hjalmar
liked the fighting of that day; he said: ‘Well.’ ‘Wilt thou,’ said
Hjalmar, ‘try this game the third day?’ Odd replied: ‘Then we shall
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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