heimskringla-第73章
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re； and said he would bring the money there； and Fin with his men went on shore。 Then Thorer came and paid silver； of which； from one purse； there were weighed ten marks。 Thereafter Thorer brought many knotted nightcaps； and in some was one mark； in others half a mark； and in others some small money。 〃This is money my friends and other good people have lent me；〃 said he； 〃for I think all my travelling money is gone。〃 Then Thorer went back again to his ship； and returned； and paid the silver by little and little； and this lasted so long that the day was drawing towards evening。 When the Thing had closed the people had gone to their vessels； and made ready to depart； and as fast as they were ready they hoisted sail and set out； so that most of them were under sail。 When Fin saw that they were most of them under sail； he ordered his men to get ready too； but as yet little more than a third part of the mulct had been paid。 Then Fin said； 〃This goes on very slowly； Thorer； with the payment。 I see it costs thee a great deal to pay money。 I shall now let it stand for the present； and what remains thou shalt pay to the king himself。〃 Fin then got up and went away。
Thorer replies； 〃I am well enough pleased； Fin； to part now； but the good will is not wanting to pay this debt； so that both thou and the king shall say it is not unpaid。〃
Then Fin went on board his ship； and followed the rest of his fleet。 Thorer was late before he was ready to come out of the harbour。 When the sails were hoisted he steered out over Westfjord； and went to sea； keeping south along the land so far off that the hill…tops were half sunk； and soon the land altogether was sunk from view by the sea。 Thorer held this course until he got into the English sea； and landed in England。 He betook himself to King Canute forthwith； and was well received by him。 It then came out that Thorer had with him a great deal of property； and； with other things； all the money he and Karle had taken in Bjarmaland。 In the great liquor…casks there were sides within the outer sides； and the liquor was between them。 The rest of the casks were filled with furs； and beaver and sable skins。 Thorer was then with King Canute。 Fin came with his forces to King Olaf； and related to him how all had gone upon his voyage； and told at the same time his suspicion that Thorer had left the country； and gone west to England to King Canute。 〃And there I fear he will cause as much trouble。〃
The king replies； 〃I believe that Thorer must be our enemy； and it appears to me always better to have him at a distance than near。〃
150。 DISPUTE BETWEEN HAREK AND ASMUND。
Asmund Grankelson had been this winter （A。D。 1027） in Halogaland in his sheriffdom； and was at home with his father Grankel。 There lies a rock out in the sea； on which there is both seal and bird catching； and a fishing ground； and egg…gathering； and from old times it had been an appendage to the farm which Grankel owned； but now Harek of Thjotta laid claim to it。 It had gone so far； that some years he had taken by force all the gain of this rock； but Asmund and his father thought that they might expect the king's help in all cases in which the right was upon their side。 Both father and son went therefore in spring to Harek； and brought him a message and tokens from King Olaf that he should drop his claim。 Harek answered Asmund crossly； because he had gone to the king with such insinuations 〃for the just right is upon my side。 Thou shouldst learn moderation； Asmund； although thou hast so much confidence in the king's favour。 It has succeeded with thee to kill some chiefs； and leave their slaughter unpaid for by any mulct； and also to plunder us； although we thought ourselves at least equal to all of equal birth； and thou art far from being my equal in family。〃
Asmund replies； 〃Many have experienced from thee； Harek； that thou art of great connections； and too great power； and many in consequence have suffered loss in their property through thee。 But it is likely that now thou must turn thyself elsewhere； and not against us with thy violence； and not go altogether against law； as thou art now doing。〃 Then they separated。
Harek sent ten or twelve of his house…servants with a large rowing boat； with which they rowed to the rock； took all that was to be got upon it； and loaded their boat。 But when they were ready to return home； Asmund Grankelson came with thirty men； and ordered them to give up all they had taken。 Harek's house… servants were not quick in complying； so that Asmund attacked them。 Some of Harek's men were cudgelled； some wounded； some thrown into the sea； and all they had caught was taken from on board of their boat； and Asmund and his people took it along with them。 Then Harek's servants came home； and told him the event。 Harek replies； 〃That is called news indeed that seldom happens； never before has it happened that my people have been beaten。〃
The matter dropped。 Harek never spoke about it； but was very cheerful。 In spring； however； Harek rigged out a cutter of twenty seats of rowers； and manned it with his house…servants； and the ship was remarkably well fitted out both with people and all necessary equipment； and Harek went to the levy； but when he came to King Olaf； Asmund was there before him。 The king summoned Harek and Asmund to him； and reconciled them so that they left the matter entirely to him。 Asmund then produced witnesses to prove that Grankel had owned the rock； and the king gave judgment accordingly。 The case had a one…sided result。 No mulct was paid for Harek's house…servants； and the rock was declared to be Grankel's。 Harek observed it was no disgrace to obey the king's decision； whatever way the case itself was decided。
151。 THOROD'S STORY。
Thorod Snorrason had remained in Norway； according to King Olaf's commands； when Geller Thorkelson got leave to go to Iceland； as before related。 He remained there （A。D。 1027） with King Olaf； but was ill pleased that he was not free to travel where he pleased。 Early in winter； King Olaf； when he was in Nidaros； made it known that he would send people to Jamtaland to collect the scat； but nobody had any great desire to go on this business； after the fate of those whom King Olaf had sent before； namely； Thrand White and others； twelve in number； who lost their lives； as before related； and the Jamtalanders had ever since been subject to the Swedish king。 Thorod Snorrason now offered to undertake this journey； for he cared little what became of him if he could but become his own master again。 The king consented； and Thorod set out with eleven men in company。 They came east to Jamtaland； and went to a man called Thorar； who was lagman； and a person in high estimation。 They met with a hospitable reception； and when they had been there a while； they explained their business to Thorar。 He replied； that other men and chiefs of the country had in all respects as much power and right to give an answer as he had； and for that purpose he would call together a Thing。 It was so done； the message…token was sent out； and a numerous Thing assembled。 Thorar went to the Thing； but the messengers in the meantime remained at home。 At the Thing； Thorar laid the business before the people； but all were unanimous that no scat should be paid to the king of Norway； and some were for hanging the messengers； others for sacrificing them to the gods。 At last it was resolved to hold them fast until the king of Sweden's sheriffs arrived； and they could treat them as they pleased with consent of the people； and that； in the meantime； this decision should be concealed； and the messengers treated well； and detained under pretext that they must wait until the scat is collected； and that they should be separated； and placed two and two； as if for the convenience of boarding them。 Thorod and another remained in Thorar's house。 There was a great Yule feast and ale…drinking； to which each brought his own liquor； for there were many peasants in the village； who all drank in company together at Yule。 There was another village not far distant； where Thorar's brother…in…law dwelt； who was a rich and powerful man； and had a grown…up son。 The brothers…in…law intended to pass the Yule in drinking feasts； half of it at the house of the one and half with the other； and the feast began at Thorar's house。 The brothers…in…law drank together； and Thorod and the sons of the peasants by themselves； and it was a drinking match。 In the evening words arose； and comparisons between the men of Sweden and of Norway； and then between their kings both of former times and at the present； and of the manslaughters and robberies that had taken place between the countries。 Then said the peasants sons； 〃If our king has lost most people； his sheriffs will make it even with the lives of twelve men when they come from the south after Yule； and ye little know； ye silly fools； why ye are kept here。〃 Thorod took notice of these words； and many made jest about it； and scoffed at them and their king。 When the ale began to talk out of the hearts of the Jamtalanders； what Thorod had before long suspected became evident。 The day after Thorod and his comrade took all their clothes and weapons； and laid them ready； and at night； when the people were all asleep； they fled to the forest。 The next morning； when the Jamtalanders were aware of their flight； men set out after them with dogs to trace them； and found them in a wood in which they had concealed themselves。 They brought them home to a room in which there was a deep cellar； into which they were thrown； and the door locked upon them。 They had little meat； and only the clothes they had on them。 In the middle of Yule； Thorar； with all his freeborn men； went to his brother's…in…law； where he was to be a guest until the last of Yule。 Thorar's slaves were to keep guard upon the cellar； and they were provided with plenty of liquor； but as they observed no moderation in drinking； they became towards evening confused in the head with the ale。 As they were quite drunk； those who had to bring meat to the prisoners in the cellar said among themselves that they should want for nothing。 Thorod amused the slaves by singing to them。 They said he was a clever man； and gave him a large candle that was lighted； and the slaves who were in went to call the others to come in； but they were all so confused with the ale； that in going out they neither locked the cellar nor the room after them。 Now Thorod and his comrades tore up their skin clothes in strips； knotted them together； made a noose at one end； and threw up the rope on the floor of the room。 It fastened itself around a chest； by which they tried to haul themselves up。 Thorod lifted up his comrade until he stood on his shoulders； and from thence scrambled up through the hatchhole。 There was no want of ropes in the chamber； and he threw a rope down to Thorod； but when he tried to draw him up； he could not move him from the spot。 Then Thorod told him to cast the rope over a cross…beam that was in the house； make a loop in it； and place as much wood and stones in the loop as would outweigh him； and the heavy weight went down into the cellar； and Thorod was drawn up by it。 Now they took as
