HAKON THE GOOD. 27 And in a short space of time braggart Skreya did come up, swinging his sword, and made a cut at the king; but Thoralf the Strong, an Icelander, who fought at the king's side, dashed his shield so hard against Skreya, that he tottered with the shock. On the same instant the king takes his sword ' quembiter ' (able to cut querns or mil I -stones) with both hands, and hews Skreya through helm and head, cleaving him down to the shoulders. Thoralf also slew Alf. That was what they got by such over-hasty search for the king of the Norsemen.* Snorro considers the fall of these two champion uncles as the crisis of the fight; the Danish force being much disheartened by such a sight, and King Hakon now pressing on so hard that all men gave way before him, the battle on the Ericson part became a whirl of recoil ; and in a few minutes more a torrent of mere flight and haste to get on board their ships, and put to sea again; in which opera- tion many of them were drowned, says Snorro ; sur- vivors making instant sail for Denmark in that sad condition.
- Laing's Snorro, i. 344.
