Part 42 - Of The Jomsborg Vikings

Earl Sigvalde steered with his fleet northwards around Stad, and came to the land at the Herey Isles. Although the vikings fell in with the country people, the people never told the truth about what the earl was doing; and the vikings went on pillaging and laying waste.

They laid to their vessels at the outer end of Hod Island, landed, plundered, and drove both men and cattle down to the ships, killing all the men able to bear arms.

As they were going back to their ships, came a bonde, walking near to Bue's troop, who said to them,

"Ye are not doing like true warriors, to be driving cows and calves down to the strand, while ye should be giving chase to the bear, since ye are coming near to the bear's den."

"What says the old man?"

asked some.

"Can he tell us anything about Earl Hakon?"

The peasant replies,

"The earl went yesterday into the Hjorundarfjord with one or two ships, certainly not more than three, and then he had no news about you."

Bue ran now with his people in all haste down to the ships, leaving all the booty behind.

Bue said,

"Let us avail ourselves now of this news we have got of the earl, and be the first to the victory."

When they came to their ships they rode off from the land. Earl Sigvalde called to them, and asked what they were about. They replied,

"The earl is in the fjord;"

on which Earl Sigvalde with the whole fleet set off, and rowed north about the island Hod.