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But they had wounded Havelok again; and Biorn was at his wit's end, for he had had to take part in the fight this time. The men were mad with battle, and forgot who he was, as it seemed. And now some raised a cry for bows. That was the worst thing that we had to fear, and Raven called to us, "Into the house, brothers, and keep them out of it till the jarl comes. He will hear, or be sent for."
A great feast for the victor was now given by Jarl Herröd, and when Ragnar saw the loveliness of Tora, he was glad to ask her for his queen, while she was equally glad to have such a hero for her spouse. A splendid bridal followed and the victor took his beautiful bride home. This exploit gave Ragnar great fame and he received the surname of Lodbrok, on account of the strange coat he had worn.
Such is one version of the story; the other is a more sinister tale, that his half-sister Margret cast Jarl Paul into a dungeon and had him murdered, and, so far as the Saga relates, he left no issue.
Here, too, lived my father, Grim, with us in a good house which had been his father's before him. Well loved by Jarl Sigurd was Grim, who had ever been his faithful follower, and was the best seaman in all the town. He was also the most skilful fisher on our coasts, being by birth a well-to-do freeman enough, and having boats of his own since he could first sail one.
"I never paid tribute to King Belé, though he was an old friend of mine," said the jarl, as Frithiof ended his speech, "nor will I to his sons. If they want aught of me, let them come and take it." "It was by no choice of my own that I came upon such an errand," returned Frithiof, "and I shall be well content to carry back your answer."
Knut, finding nothing pass the Sound worth much blockading, went ashore; "and the day before Michaelmas," says Snorro, "rode with a great retinue to Roeskilde." Snorro continues his tragic narrative of what befell there: "There Knut's brother-in-law, Jarl Ulf, had prepared a great feast for him. The Jarl was the most agreeable of hosts; but the King was silent and sullen.
It got to be so vicious that no one dared come near it except the maiden and the man who fed it, and his task was no light one, for it devoured an ox at a single meal. The jarl was sorry enough now that he had given his daughter such a present.
A great battle ensued near the Norse stronghold of Turfness, probably Burghead, where peat is found in abundance, though now submerged; and the battle was fought at Standing Stane in the parish of Duffus, three miles and a half E.S.E. of Burghead, on the 14th of August 1040. The Saga gives the following description of the jarl and of the fighting:
"By Baldur, here is a wedding! Gold and jewels to be had for the taking!" But my horse was across the road, and my axe was in the way, and I cried to Ingvar as the men began to handle their weapons. "Mercy, Jarl Ingvar! This is my sister's wedding that Eadgyth of whom your own sister would ever ask so much." "Hold!" roared the chief, and his men stayed, wondering.
A line of shields hung along each side, helmeted heads gleamed here and there, and high in the stern the rising sun made a form shine like a statue of silver flame as he waved farewell to those on shore, who cheerily waved and shouted farewells back again. Jarl Sigurd was now too old to take the seas; and Edith Fairhair was still Edith Fairhair. Ulf the Silent had still his fame to win.
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