第146章

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.