"Sound the horns!" said Olaf the King; On the Day of Doom! Louder and louder the war-horns sang As a drop of blood. Drifting down on the Danish fleet Of the Serpent flashed. King Olaf stood on the quarter-deck, And in many a fold Hung his crimson cloak. On the forecastle Ulf the Red Watched the lashing of the ships; "If the Serpent lie so far ahead, We shall have hard work of it here," On his bearded lips. King Olaf laid an arrow on string, "Have I a coward on board? said he. “Shoot it another way, O King!" Sullenly answered Ulf, The old sea-wolf; "You have need of me!" In front came Svend, the King of the Danes, Sweeping down with his fifty rowers ; To the right, the Swedish king with his thanes; And on board of the Iron Beard Earl Eric steered To the left with his oars. "These soft Danes and Swedes," said the King, "At home with their wives had better stay, Than come within reach of my Serpent's sting: But where Eric the Norseman leads Heroic deeds Will be done to-day!" Then as together the vessels crashed, Eric severed the cables of hide, With which King Olaf's ships were lashed, And left them to drive and drift With the currents swift Of the outward tide. Louder the war-horns growl and snarl, Olaf the King! 66 XX. EINAR TAMBERSKELVER. It was Einar Tamberskelver From his yew-bow, tipped with silver, First an arrow struck the tiller, Just above his head; Sing, O Eyvind Skaldaspiller," Then Earl Eric said. "Sing the song of Hakon dying, Sing his funeral wail! " Turning to a Lapland yeoman, Said Earl Eric, "Shoot that bowman Sooner than the word was spoken Flew the yeoman's shaft; Einar's bow in twain was broken, Einar only laughed. "What was that?" said Olaf, standing On the quarter-deck. "Something heard I like the stranding Of a shattered wreck." Einar then, the arrow taking From the loosened string, Answered, "That was Norway breaking From thy hand, O King! "Thou art but a poor diviner," "Take my bow, and swifter, Einar, But the bow was thin and narrow; At the first assay, O'er its head he drew the arrow, Flung the bow away; Said, with hot and angry temper Flushing in his cheek, "Olaf! for so great a Kämper Are thy bows too weak!" Then, with smile of joy defiant Scaled he, light and self-reliant, Loose his golden locks were flowing, XXI. KING OLAF'S DEATH-DRINK. All day has the battle raged, The vengeance of Eric the Earl. The decks with blood are red, They drift as wrecks on the tide, Ah! never shall Norway again Or asleep in the billows blue! On the deck stands Olaf the King, |