KINGS OF NORWAY. 11 for a while?" But these were words more of anger s aga t x. than of truth ; for Harald was one of the boldest of men under arms. Then they pressed in, and had a hard battle in the castle ; and the end was that Harald gained the victory, and took the castle. Haldor was much wounded in the face, and it gave him great pain as long as he lived. The fourth castle which Harald came to was the Chapter X. greatest of all we have been speaking about. It was Battle at so strong that there was no possibility of breaking ^J"j"'"*'^ into it. They surrounded the castle, so that no sup- plies could get into it. When they had remained here a short time Harald fell sick, and he betook him- self to his bed. He had his tent put up a little from the camp, for he found quietness and rest out of the clamour and clang of armed men. His men Avent usually in companies to or from him to hear his orders ; and the castle people observing there was something new among the Y^eringers, sent out spies to discover what this might mean. When the spies came back to the castle they had to tell of the illness of the com- mander of the Vaeringers, and that no assault on that account had been made on the castle. A while after this Harald' s strength began to fail, at which his men were very melancholy and cast down ; all which was news to the castle-men. At last Harald's sickness increased so rapidly that his death was expected through all the army. Thereafter the Vasringers went to the castle-men ; told them, in a parley, of the death of their commander ; and begged of the priests to grant him burial in the castle. When the castle people heard this news, there were many among them who ruled over cloisters or other great establishments within the place, and who were very eager to get the corpse for their church, knowing that upon that there would follow very rich presents. A great many priests, therefore, clothed themselves in all their robes,
