along, nothing doubting. Olaf with a signal of "All hands," works his
two capstans; has the cable up high enough at the right moment,
catches with it the keel of poor Hakon's barge, upsets it, empties it
wholly into the sea. Wholly into the sea; saves Hakon, however, and
his people from drowning, and brings them on board. His dialogue with
poor young Hakon, especially poor young Hakon's responses, is very
pretty. Shall I give it, out of Snorro, and let the reader take it
for as authentic as he can? It is at least the true image of it in
authentic Snorro's head, little more than two centuries later.

"Jarl Hakon was led up to the king's ship. He was the handsomest man
that could be seen. He had long hair as fine as silk, bound about his
head with a gold ornament. When he sat down in the forehold the king
said to him:

_King._ "'It is not false, what is said of your family, that ye are
handsome people to look at; but now your luck has deserted you.'

_Hakon._ "'It has always been the case that success is changeable;
and there is no luck in the matter. It has gone with your family as
with mine to have by turns the better lot. I am little beyond
childhood in years; and at any rate we could not have defended
ourselves, as we did not expect any attack on the way. It may turn
out better with us another time.'

_King._ "'Dost thou not apprehend that thou art in such a condition
that, hereafter, there can be neither victory nor defeat for thee?'

_Hakon._ "'That is what only thou canst determine, King, according to
thy pleasure.'