der of Beintein. KINGS OF NORWAY. 241 rowed out against them. Vatn-Orm's ship was the saga xiv. nearest, and he let his ship fall behind the line, and Sigurd rowed clear past, and thus escaped with one ship and the loss of many men. This verse was made upon Yatn-Orm*: —
- ' The water-serpent, people say.
From Portyria slipped away." Sigurd Slembidiakn sailed from thence to Den- Chapter VI. mark ; and at that time a man was lost in his ship, The mur whose name was Kolbein Thorliotsson of Batalderf in Hadaland. He was sitting in a boat which was made fast to the vessel, and upset because she was sailing quickly. When they came south to Denmark, Sigurd's ship itself was cast away ; but he got to Aalburg, and was there in winter. The summer after Mas^nus and Sio:urd sailed too^ether from the south with seven ships, and came unexpectedly in the night to Lister, where they laid their ships on the land. Beintein Kolbeinsson, a court-man of King Inge, and a very brave man, was there. Sigurd and his men jumped on shore at daylight, came unex- pectedly on the people, surrounded the house, and were setting fire to the buildings ; but Beintein came out of a storehouse with his weapons, well armed, and stood within the door with drawn sword, his shield before him, helmet on, and ready to defend himself. The door was somewhat low. Sigurd asked which of his lads had most desire to go in against Beintein, which he called brave man's work ; but none was very hurried to make ready for it. Beintein, who heard what was spoken, said, Whoever of you comes shall find weapons in his way." It was dark in the store-room,
- Vatn-Orm, the name of this man, means the water-serpent, and
appears to have been a favourite name for war-ships also : hence the pun in the lines upon Vatn-Orm. t One of those who murdered King Harald Gille. VOL. III. R
