truth; but however much he tortured the man, he got nothing out
of him. The Fin sought help particularly from Harald, the king's
son, and Harald begged for mercy for him, but in vain. Then
Harald let him escape against the king's will, and accompanied
the man himself. On their journey they came to a place where the
man's chief had a great feast, and it appears they were well
received there. When they had been there until spring, the chief
said, "Thy father took it much amiss that in winter I took some
provisions from him, -- now I will repay it to thee by a joyful
piece of news: thy father is dead; and now thou shalt return
home, and take possession of the whole kingdom which he had, and
with it thou shalt lay the whole kingdom of Norway under thee."



9. HALFDAN S DEATH.

Halfdan the Black was driving from a feast in Hadeland, and it so
happened that his road lay over the lake called Rand. It was in
spring, and there was a great thaw. They drove across the bight
called Rykinsvik, where in winter there had been a pond broken in
the ice for cattle to drink at, and where the dung had fallen
upon the ice the thaw had eaten it into holes. Now as the king
drove over it the ice broke, and King Halfdan and many with him
perished. He was then forty years old. He had been one of the
most fortunate kings in respect of good seasons. The people
thought so much of him, that when his death was known and his
body was floated to Ringerike to bury it there, the people of
most consequence from Raumarike, Vestfold, and Hedemark came to
meet it. All desired to take the body with them to bury it in