and the place where the ship lay afloat the space was no greater than
that one might well hear men talking together. Now Olaf stood forth in
the same arrayal whereof is written before, and men marvelled much how
noble was the appearance of the man who was the captain of the ship.
But when the shipmates of Olaf see how a large company of knights
rides towards them, looking a company of the bravest, they grow
hushed, for they deemed here were great odds to deal with. But when
Olaf heard the murmur which went round among his followers, he bade
them take heart, "For now our affairs are in a fair way; the Irish are
now greeting Myrkjartan, their king." Then they rode so near to the
ship, that each could hear what the other said. [Sidenote: Their talk
together] The king asked who was the master of the ship. Olaf told his
name, and asked who was the valiant-looking knight with whom he then
was talking. He answered, "I am called Myrkjartan." Olaf asked, "Are
you then a king of the Irish?" He said he was. Then the king asked
Olaf for news commonly talked of, and Olaf gave good answers as to all
news he was asked about. Then the king asked whence they had put to
sea, and whose men they were. And still the king asked, more
searchingly than before, about Olaf's kindred, for the king found that
this man was of haughty bearing, and would not answer any further than
the king asked. Olaf said, "Let it be known to you that we ran our
ship afloat from the coast of Norway, and these are of the bodyguard
of King Harald, the son of Gunnhild, who are here on board. And as for
my race, I have, sire, to tell you this, that my father lives in
Iceland, and is named Hoskuld, a man of high birth; but of my mother's
kindred, I think you must have seen many more than I have. For my
mother is called Melkorka, and it has been told me as a truth that she
is your daughter, king. Now, this has driven me upon this long
journey, and to me it is a matter most weighty what answer you give in
my case." The king then grew silent, and had a converse with his men.