Thorgils declared that it was a part of the sea, and he urged his
two companions to steal away with him under the cover of night so
that they might find some fisher's boat and make off with it. But
Olaf quickly pointed out that there were no boats to be seen, and
that, as the horses and dogs were drinking of the water, it could
not be salt like the waters of the great sea. Every day during the
long and weary journey Thorgils brought up some new plan. But Olaf
was obstinate. So at last the two elder boys, seeing that he was
bent upon remaining in bondage, yielded to his stronger will, and
agreed to wait in patience and to go with him wheresoever their
master had a mind to take them.

The country into which they were taken was in old times called
Gardarike. It lay to the southeast of Esthonia, and it was a part
of what is now known as the Russian Empire. Many Norsemen lived
in that land, and King Valdemar was himself the son of the great
Swedish viking, Rurik, who had made conquests and settlements in
the countries east of the Baltic Sea. Valdemar held his court at
Holmgard--the modern Novgorod. He was a very wise and powerful
ruler, and his subjects were prosperous and peaceable, having many
useful arts, and carrying on a commerce with the great city of
Mikligard. The people were still heathen, worshipping Odin and Thor
and the minor gods of the Scandinavians; for the faith of Christendom
was as yet but vaguely known to them and little understood.

Sigurd Erikson, who was Valdemar's high steward, lived in the king's
palace in great dignity and had many servants. So when he returned
with all the treasure that he had gathered as tribute he took Olaf
Triggvison into his service. But Thorgils and Egbert were still
held as bond slaves and put to hard labour in the king's stables.