Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 9, 2025
Now it was in this part of Norway that Earl Hakon's power had always been greatest, and so zealous had Hakon been in the keeping up of pagan customs that many of the chief men of those parts withstood all King Olaf's efforts to win them over to Christianity, and during his absence in Halogaland these men did all they could to undo the good work that he had done in the earliest days of his reign.
The name of "Ole" was enigmatic, mysterious, and even dangerous-looking to Hakon Jarl; who at length sent out a confidential spy to investigate this "Ole;" a feat which the confidential spy did completely accomplish, by no means to Hakon's profit!
Sunbeam of the Grove, when next demanded of her Bonder, has the whole neighborhood assembled in arms round her; rumor of Tryggveson is fast making it the whole country. Hakon's insolent messengers are cut in pieces; Hakon finds he cannot fly under cover too soon. With a single slave he flies that same night; but whitherward?
As the ships sailed eastward across the sea Thorir thought this matter over, and it came into his mind that it would be better for Hakon's safety that Olaf Triggvison should never be allowed to reach his intended destination. On a certain night Olaf stood alone at the forward rail of his ship, looking dreamily out upon the sea.
Then Earl Eric, Hakon's son, who loved brave men, said, "Vagn, wilt thou accept life?" "That I will," said the bold viking, "if thou give it to all of us who are still alive." "Loose the prisoners!" cried the young earl, and it was done. Thus of the famous band of Jomsvikings twelve yet lived to do many a valiant deed in days to come.
Accordingly it was in Dublin, as above noted, that Hakon's spy found him; and from the Liffey that his squadron sailed, through the Hebrides, through the Orkneys, plundering and baptizing in their strange way, toward such success as we have seen. Tryggveson made a stout, and, in effect, victorious and glorious struggle for himself as king.
Hakon the Good; so one still finds him worthy of being called. The sorrow on Hakon's death, Snorro tells us, was so great and universal, "that he was lamented both by friends and enemies; and they said that never again would Norway see such a king."
And at the outboard end of it swung, black against the red fires of the sky, the body of the man who had wrought the trouble. He had found the death which he deserved. "Hakon's word," said Asbiorn quietly. "You mind what he said." I remembered, and it came to me that Asbiorn had done right. I do not know what else could have been done with such a man.
Maybe there was another thought mixed up with all this. I will not say that it might not have had the first place. Gerda was in Hakon's care now, and I would not be far from her. Now, there was the bustle of clearing ship for action.
With him were two men, dressed in somewhat the same way as himself. They were Hakon's English chaplains, and they could not understand his Erse. "Malcolm," he said, "what of our brethren on the island? There are the wild Danes yet there on the shore. I can see them."
Word Of The Day
Others Looking