Then she got him a seat in the highest room, and he spent the
winter with the king in much honour.
4. OF HRUT’S CRUISE
When the spring came he asked about Soti, and found out he had
gone south to Denmark with the inheritance. Then Hrut went to
Gunnhillda and tells her what Soti had been about. Gunnhillda
said, “I will give thee two longships, full manned, and along
with them the bravest man, Wolf the Unwashed, our overseer of
guests; but still go and see the king before thou settest off.”
Hrut did so; and when he came before the king, then he told the
king of Soti’s doings, and how he had a mind to hold on after
him.
The king said, “What strength has my mother handed over to thee?”
“Two longships and Wolf the Unwashed to lead the men,” says
Hrut.
“Well given,” says the king. ” Now I will give thee other two
ships, and even then thou’lt need all the strength thou’st got.”
After that he went down with Hrut to the ship, and said, “fare
thee well.” Then Hrut sailed away south with his crews.
5. ATLI ARNVID SON’S SLAYING
There was a man named Atli, son of Arnvid, Earl of East Gothland.
He had kept back the taxes from Hacon Athelstane’s foster child,
and both father and son had fled away from Jemtland to Gothland.
After that, Atli held on with his followers out of the Maelar by
Stock Sound, and so on towards Denmark, and now he lies out in
Oresound.(1) He is an outlaw both of the Dane-King and of the
Swede-King. Hrut held on south to the Sound, and when he came
into it he saw a many ships in the Sound. Then Wolf said,
“What’s best to be done now, Icelander?”
“Hold on our course,” said Hrut, “for `nothing venture, nothing
have.’ My ship and Auzur’s shall go first, but thou shalt lay
thy ship where thou likest.”
“Seldom have I had others as a shield before me,” says Wolf, and
lays his galley side by side with Hrut’s ship; and so they hold
on through the Sound. Now those who are in the Sound see that
ships are coming up to them, and they tell Atli.
He answered, “Then may be there’ll be gain to be got.”
After that men took their stand on board each ship; “but my
ship,” says Atli, “shall be in the midst of the fleet.”
Meantime Hrut’s ships ran on, and as soon as either side could
hear the other’s hail, Atli stood up and said, “Ye fare unwarily.
Saw ye not that warships were in the Sound. But what’s the name
of your chief?”
Hrut tells his name.
“Whose man art thou,” says Atli.
“One of king Harold Grayfell’s bodyguard.”
Atli said. “‘Tis long since any love was lost between us, father
and son, and your Norway kings.”
“Worse luck for thee,” says Hrut.
“Well,” says Atli, “the upshot of our meeting will be, that thou
