CHAPTER ONE
Cormac's Fore-Elders.

Harald Fairhair was king of Norway when this tale begins. There
was a chief in the kingdom in those days and his name was Cormac;
one of the Vik-folk by kindred, a great man of high birth. He
was the mightiest of champions, and had been with King Harald in
many battles.

He had a son called Ogmund, a very hopeful lad; big and sturdy
even as a child; who when he was grown of age and come to his
full strength, took to sea-roving in summer and served in the
king's household in winter. So he earned for himself a good name
and great riches.

One summer he went roving about the British Isles and there he
fell in with a man named Asmund Ashenside, who also was a great
champion and had worsted many vikings and men of war. These two
heard tell of one another and challenges passed between them.
They came together and fought. Asmund had the greater following,
but he withheld some of his men from the battle: and so for the
length of four days they fought, until many of Asmund's people
were fallen, and at last he himself fled. Ogmund won the victory
and came home again with wealth and worship.

His father said that he could get no greater glory in war, --
"And now," said he, "I will find thee a wife. What sayest thou
to Helga, daughter of Earl Frodi?"

"So be it," said Ogmund.