standard-bearer, his hand on the Ravager of the World.

"Thy brother's corpse is borne yonder," said Haco in the ear of the
King, as wiping the blood from his sword, he plunged it back into the
sheath.




CHAPTER XII.


Young Olave, the son of Hardrada, had happily escaped the slaughter.
A strong detachment of the Norwegians had still remained with the
vessels, and amongst them some prudent old chiefs, who foreseeing the
probable results of the day, and knowing that Hardrada would never
quit, save as a conqueror or a corpse, the field on which he had
planted the Ravager of the World, had detained the prince almost by
force from sharing the fate of his father. But ere those vessels
could put out to sea, the vigorous measures of the Saxon King had
already intercepted the retreat of the vessels. And then, ranging
their shields as a wall round their masts, the bold vikings at least
determined to die as men. But with the morning came King Harold
himself to the banks of the river, and behind him, with trailed
lances, a solemn procession that bore the body of the Scald King.
They halted on the margin, and a boat was launched towards the
Norwegian fleet, bearing a monk, who demanded the chief, to send a
deputation, headed by the young Prince himself, to receive the corpse
of their King, and hear the proposals of the Saxon.