weight in Norway had declared against him, and stood with triumphant
Knut.

Olaf, with his twelve poor ships, steered vigorously along the coast
to collect money and force,--if such could now anywhere be had. He
himself was resolute to hold out, and try. "Sailing swiftly with a
fair wind, morning cloudy with some showers," he passed the coast of
Jedderen, which was Erling Skjalgson's country, when he got sure
notice of an endless multitude of ships, war-ships, armed merchant
ships, all kinds of shipping-craft, down to fishermen's boats, just
getting under way against him, under the command of Erling
Skjalgson,-- the powerfulest of his subjects, once much a friend of
Olaf's but now gone against him to this length, thanks to Olaf's
severity of justice, and Knut's abundance in gold and promises for
years back. To that complexion had it come with Erling; sailing with
this immense assemblage of the naval people and populace of Norway to
seize King Olaf, and bring him to the great Knut dead or alive.

Erling had a grand new ship of his own, which far outsailed the
general miscellany of rebel ships, and was visibly fast gaining
distance on Olaf himself,--who well understood what Erling's puzzle
was, between the tail of his game (the miscellany of rebel ships,
namely) that could not come up, and the head or general prize of the
game which was crowding all sail to get away; and Olaf took advantage
of the same. "Lower your sails!" said Olaf to his men (though we must
go slower).

"Ho you, we have lost sight of them!" said Erling to his, and put on
all his speed; Olaf going, soon after this, altogether
invisible,--behind a little island that he knew of, whence into a