to," said Kjartan, "so I shall go and try." Bolli replied, "That you
may do if you like." Kjartan then plunges into the river and up to
this man who was the best swimmer and drags him forthwith under and
keeps him down for awhile, and then lets him go up again. And when
they had been up for a long while, this man suddenly clutches Kjartan
and drags him under; and they keep down for such a time as Kjartan
thought quite long enough, when up they come a second time. Not a word
had either to say to the other. The third time they went down
together, and now they keep under for much the longest time, and
Kjartan now misdoubted him how this play would end, and thought he had
never before found himself in such a tight place; but at last they
come up and strike out for the bank. Then said the townsman, "Who is
this man?" Kjartan told him his name. The townsman said, "You are very
deft at swimming. Are you as good at other deeds of prowess as at
this?" Kjartan answered rather coldly, "It was said when I was in
Iceland that the others kept pace with this one. But now this one is
not worth much." The townsman replied, "It makes some odds with whom
you have had to do. But why do you not ask me anything?" Kjartan
replied, "I do not want to know your name." [Sidenote: Kjartan and
King Olaf] The townsman answered, "You are not only a stalwart man,
but you bear yourself very proudly as well, but none the less you
shall know my name, and with whom you have been having a swimming
match. Here is Olaf the king, the son of Tryggvi." Kjartan answered
nothing, but turned away forthwith without his cloak. He had on a
kirtle of red scarlet. The king was then well-nigh dressed; he called
to Kjartan and bade him not go away so soon. Kjartan turned back, but
rather slowly. The king then took a very good cloak off his shoulders
and gave it to Kjartan, saying he should not go back cloakless to his
companions. Kjartan thanked the king for the gift, and went to his own
men and showed them the cloak. His men were nowise pleased as this,