218 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA xiiT. piers*, and shot at the heathens. But when the fight slackened the burgesses fled up to the to-Yn, and from thence into the castle ; and the men took with them all their valuable articles, and such goods as they could carry. Solveig and her daughters, with two other women, went on shore, when the Yendlanders took possession of the merchant vessels. Now the Yend- landers landed, and mustered their men, and dis- covered their loss. Some of them went up into the town, some on board the merchant ships, and took all the goods they pleased ; and then they set fire to the town, and burnt it and the ships. They hastened then with all their army to assault the castle. Chapter Kins; Rcttlbur made an offer to those who were in The second the castlc that they should go out, and he would give battle. them their lives, weapons, clothes, silver, and gold ; but all exclaimed against it, and went out on the for- tification : some shot, some threw stones, some sharp stakes. It A^as a great battle, in which many fell on both sides, but by far the most of the Vendlanders. Solveig came up to a large farm called Solberg, and brou":lit the news. A messao;e war-token was there split, and sent out to Skurhage, where there happened to be a joint ale-drinking feast, and many men were assembled. A bonder called Olver Stormund was there, who immediately sprang up, took helmet and shield, and a great axe in his hand, and said, " Stand up, brave lads, and take your weapons. Let us go help the townspeople ; for it would appear shameful to every man who heard of it, if we sit here sipping our ale, while good men in the town are losing their lives by our neglect." Many made an objection, and said they would only
- The piers here spoken of are merely wooden gangways or stages
on piles from the shore to the ship; and every warehouse or dwelling on the side of a river or harbour has such a pier for itself in Norway.
