himself to Tryggveson's grand voyage, of getting into Tryggveson's
confidence, and keeping Svein Double-Beard, Eric, and the Swedish King
aware of all his movements.

King Olaf Tryggveson, unacquainted with all this, sailed away in
summer, with his splendid fleet; went through the Belts with
prosperous winds, under bright skies, to the admiration of both
shores. Such a fleet, with its shining Serpents, long and short, and
perfection of equipment and appearance, the Baltic never saw before.
Jarl Sigwald joined with new ships by the way: "Had," he too, "a
visit to King Burislav to pay; how could he ever do it in better
company?" and studiously and skilfully ingratiated himself with King
Olaf. Old Burislav, when they arrived, proved altogether courteous,
handsome, and amenable; agreed at once to Olaf's claims for his now
queen, did the rites of hospitality with a generous plenitude to Olaf;
who cheerily renewed acquaintance with that country, known to him in
early days (the cradle of his fortunes in the viking line), and found
old friends there still surviving, joyful to meet him again. Jarl
Sigwald encouraged these delays, King Svein and Co. not being yet
quite ready. "Get ready!" Sigwald directed them, and they diligently
did. Olaf's men, their business now done, were impatient to be home;
and grudged every day of loitering there; but, till Sigwald pleased,
such his power of flattering and cajoling Tryggveson, they could not
get away.

At length, Sigwald's secret messengers reporting all ready on the part
of Svein and Co., Olaf took farewell of Burislav and Wendland, and all
gladly sailed away. Svein, Eric, and the Swedish king, with their
combined fleets, lay in wait behind some cape in a safe little bay of
some island, then called Svolde, but not in our time to be found; the