me for a friend； take care that this man be not killed before Sunday。〃 Thereupon Skjalg and his men set off； took a rowing boat which he had； and rowed south as fast as they could； and came to Jadar with the first glimpse of morning。 They went up instantly to the house； and to the loft in which Erling slept。 Skjalg rushed so hard against the door that it burst asunder at the nails。 Erling and the others who were within started up。 He was in one spring upon his legs； grasped his shield and sword； and rushed to the door； demanding who was there。 Skjalg named himself； and begs him to open the door。 Erling replies； 〃It was most likely to be thee who hast behaved so foolishly； or is there any one who is pursuing thee？〃 Thereupon the door was unlocked。 Then said Skjalg； 〃Although it appears to thee that I am so hasty； I suppose our relation Asbjorn will not think my proceedings too quick； for he sits in chains there in the north at Augvaldsnes； and it would be but manly to hasten back and stand by him。〃 The father and son then had a conversation together； and Skjalg related the whole circumstances of Thorer Sel's murder。
126。 OF THORARIN NEFIULFSON。
King Olaf took his seat again when everything in the hall was put in order； and was enraged beyond measure。 He asked how it was with the murderer。 He was answered； that he was sitting out upon the doorstep under guard。
The king says； 〃Why is he not put to death？〃
Thorarin Nefiulfson replies； 〃Sire； would you not call it murder to kill a man in the night…time？〃
The king answers； 〃Put him in irons then； and kill him in the morning。〃
Then Asbjorn was laid in chains； and locked up in a house for the night。 The day after the king heard the morning mass； and then went to the Thing； where he sat till high mass。 As he was going to mass he said to Thorarin； 〃Is not the sun high enough now in the heavens that your friend Asbjorn may be hanged？〃
Thorarin bowed before the king； and said； 〃Sire； it was said by Bishop Sigurd on Friday last； that the King who has all things in his power had to endure great temptation of spirit； and blessed is he who rather imitates him； than those who condemned the man to death； or those who caused his slaughter。 It is not long till tomorrow； and that is a working day。〃
The king looked at him； and said； 〃Thou must take care then that he is not put to death to…day； but take him under thy charge； and know for certain that thy own life shall answer for it if he escape in any way。〃
Then the king went away。 Thorarin went also to where Asbjorn lay in irons； took off his chains； and brought him to a small room； where he had meat and drink set before him； and told him what the king had determined in case Asbjorn ran away。 Asbjorn replies； that Thorarin need not be afraid of him。 Thorarin sat a long while with him during the day； and slept there all night。 On Saturday the king arose and went to the early mass； and from thence he went to the Thing； where a great many bondes were assembled； who had many complaints to be determined。 The king sat there long in the day； and it was late before the people went to high mass。 Thereafter the king went to table。 When he had got meat he sat drinking for a while； so that the tables were not removed。 Thorarin went out to the priest who had the church under his care； and gave him two marks of silver to ring in the Sabbath as soon as the king's table was taken away。 When the king had drunk as much as he wished the tables were removed。 Then said the king； that it was now time for the slaves to go to the murderer and put him to death。 In the same moment the bell rang in the Sabbath。
Then Thorarin went before the king； and said； 〃The Sabbath…peace this man must have； although he has done evil。〃
The king said； 〃Do thou take care； Thorarin； that he do not escape。〃
The king then went to the church； and attended the vesper service； and Thorarin sat the whole day with Asbjorn。 On Sunday the bishop visited Asbjorn； confessed him； and gave him orders to hear high mass。 Thorarin then went to the king； and asked him to appoint men to guard the murderer。 〃I will now；〃 he said； 〃be free of this charge。〃 The king thanked him for his care； and ordered men to watch over Asbjorn； who was again laid in chains。 When the people went to high mass Asbjorn was led to the church； and he stood outside of the church with his guard； but the king and all the people stood in the church at mass。
127。 ERLING'S RECONCILIATION WITH KING OLAF。
Now we must again take up our story where we left it； that Erling and his son Skjalg held a council on this affair； and according to the resolution of Erling； and of Skjalg and his other sons； it was determined to assemble a force and send out message…tokens。 A great multitude of people accordingly came together。 They got ready with all speed； rigged their ships； and when they reckoned upon their force they found they had nearly 1500 men。 With this war…force they set off； and came on Sunday to Augvaldsnes on Karmt Island。 They went straight up to the house with all the men； and arrived just as the Scripture lesson was read。 They went directly to the church； took Asbjorn； and broke off his chains。 At the tumult and clash of arms all who were outside of the church ran into it； but they who were in the church looked all towards them； except the king； who stood still； without looking around him。 Erling and his sons drew up their men on each side of the path which led from the church to the hall； and Erling with his sons stood next to the hall。 When high mass was finished the king went immediately out of the church； and first went through the open space between the ranks drawn up； and then his retinue； man by man； and as he came to the door Erling placed himself before the door； bowed to the king； and saluted him。 The king saluted him in return； and prayed God to help him。 Erling took up the word first； and said； 〃My relation； Asbjorn； it is reported to me； has been guilty of misdemeanor； king； and it is a great one； if he has done anything that incurs your displeasure。 Now I am come to entreat for him peace； and such penalties as you yourself may determine； but that thereby he redeem life and limb； and his remaining here in his native land。〃
The king replies； 〃It appears to me； Erling； that thou thinkest the case of Asbjorn is now in thy own power； and I do not therefore know why thou speakest now as if thou wouldst offer terms for him。 I think thou hast drawn together these forces because thou are determined to settle what is between us。〃
Erling replies； 〃Thou only； king； shalt determine； and determine so that we shall be reconciled。〃
The king： 〃Thinkest thou； Erling； to make me afraid？ And art thou come here in such force with that expectation？ No； that shall not be； and if that be thy thought； I must in no way turn and fly。〃
Erling replies； 〃Thou hast no occasion to remind me how often I have come to meet thee with fewer men than thou hadst。 But now I shall not conceal what lies in my mind； namely； that it is my will that we now enter into a reconciliation； for otherwise I expect we shall never meet again。〃 Erling was then as red as blood in the face。
Now Bishop Sigurd came forward to the king and said； 〃Sire； I entreat you on God Almighty's account to be reconciled with Erling according to his offer； that the man shall retain life and limb； but that thou shalt determine according to thy pleasure all the other conditions。〃
The king replies； 〃You will determine。〃
Then said the bishop； 〃Erling； do thou give security for Asbjorn； such as the king thinks sufficient； and then leave the conditions to the mercy of the king； and leave all in his power。〃
Erling gave a surety to the king on his part； which he accepted。
Thereupon Asbjorn received his life and safety； and delivered himself into the king's power； and kissed his hand。
Erling then withdrew with his forces； without exchanging salutation with the king； and the king went into the hall； followed by Asbjorn。 The king thereafter made known the terms of reconciliation to be these： 〃In the first place； Asbjorn； thou must submit to the law of the land； which commands that the man who kills a servant of the king must undertake his service； if the king will。 Now I will that thou shalt undertake the office of bailiff which Thorer Sel had； and manage my estate here in Augvaldsnes。〃 Asbjorn replies； that it should be according to the king's will； 〃but I must first go home to my farm； and put things in order there。〃 The king was satisfied with this； and proceeded to another guest…quarter。 Asbjorn made himself ready with his comrades； who all kept themselves concealed in a quiet creek during the time Asbjorn was away from them。 They had had their spies out to learn how it went with him； and would not depart without having some certain news of him。
128。 OF THORER HUND AND ASBJORN SELSBANE。
Asbjorn then set out on his voyage； and about spring （A。D。 1023） got home to his farm。 After this exploit he was always called Asbjorn Selsbane。 Asbjorn had not been long at home before he and his relation Thorer met and conversed together； and Thorer asked Asbjorn particularly all about his journey； and about all the circumstances which had happened on the course of it。 Asbjorn told everything as it had taken place。
Then said Thorer； 〃Thou thinkest that thou hast well rubbed out the disgrace of having been plundered in last harvest。〃
〃I think so；〃 replies Asbjorn； 〃and what is thy opinion； cousin？〃
〃That I will soon tell thee；〃 said Thorer。 〃Thy first expedition to the south of the country was indeed very disgraceful； and that disgrace has been redeemed； but this expedition is both a disgrace to thee and to thy family； if it end in thy becoming the king's slave； and being put on a footing with that worst of men； Thorer Sel。 Show that thou art manly enough to sit here on thy own property； and we thy relations shall so support thee that thou wilt never more come into such trouble。〃
Asbjorn found this advice much to his mind； and before they parted it was firmly； determined that Asbjorn should remain on his farm； and not go back to the king or enter into his service。 And he did