so hard against Skreya, that he tottered with the shock. On the same
instant the king takes his sword "quernbiter" (able to cut _querns_ or
millstones) with both hands, and hews Skreya through helm and head,
cleaving him down to the shoulders. Thoralf also slew Alf. That was
what they got by such over-hasty search for the king of the
Norsemen.[5]

Snorro considers the fall of these two champion uncles as the crisis
of the fight; the Danish force being much disheartened by such a
sight, and King Hakon now pressing on so hard that all men gave way
before him, the battle on the Ericson part became a whirl of recoil;
and in a few minutes more a torrent of mere flight and haste to get on
board their ships, and put to sea again; in which operation many of
them were drowned, says Snorro; survivors making instant sail for
Denmark in that sad condition.

This seems to have been King Hakon's finest battle, and the most
conspicuous of his victories, due not a little to his own grand
qualities shown on the occasion. But, alas! it was his last also. He
was still zealously directing the chase of that mad Danish flight, or
whirl of recoil towards their ships, when an arrow, shot Most likely
at a venture, hit him under the left armpit; and this proved his
death.

He was helped into his ship, and made sail for Alrekstad, where his
chief residence in those parts was; but had to stop at a smaller place
of his (which had been his mother's, and where he himself was born)--a
place called Hella (the Flat Rock), still known as "Hakon's Hella,"
faint from loss of blood, and crushed down as he had never before
felt. Having no son and only one daughter, he appointed these