acquaintance with him, got him to confess that he was actually Olaf,
son of Tryggve (the Tryggve, whom Blood-axe's fierce widow and her
sons had murdered); got him gradually to own that perhaps an
expedition into Norway might have its chances; and finally that, under
such a wise and loyal guidance as his (the confidential spy's, whose
friendship for Tryggveson was so indubitable), he (Tryggveson) would
actually try it upon Hakon Jarl, the dissolute old scoundrel. Fact
second is, that about the time they two set sail from Dublin on their
Norway expedition, Hakon Jarl removed to Trondhjem, then called Lade;
intending to pass some months there.

Now just about the time when Tryggveson, spy, and party had landed in
Norway, and were advancing upon Lade, with what support from the
public could be got, dissolute old Hakon Jarl had heard of one Gudrun,
a Bonder's wife, unparalleled in beauty, who was called in those
parts, "Sunbeam of the Grove" (so inexpressibly lovely); and sent off
a couple of thralls to bring her to him. "Never," answered Gudrun;
"never," her indignant husband; in a tone dangerous and displeasing to
these Court thralls; who had to leave rapidly, but threatened to
return in better strength before long. Whereupon, instantly, the
indignant Bonder and his Sunbeam of the Grove sent out their
war-arrow, rousing all the country into angry promptitude, and more
than one perhaps into greedy hope of revenge for their own injuries.
The rest of Hakon's history now rushes on with extreme rapidity.

Sunbeam of the Grove, when next demanded of her Bonder, has the whole
neighborhood assembled in arms round her; rumor of Tryggveson is fast
making it the whole country. Hakon's insolent messengers are cut in
pieces; Hakon finds he cannot fly under cover too soon. With a single
slave he flies that same night;--but whitherward? Can think of no