CHAPTER VI.

OLAF TRYGGVESON. Hakon, in late times, had heard of a famous stirring person, victorious in various lands and seas, latterly- united in sea-robbery with Svein, Prince Royal of Denmark, afterwards King Svein of the Double-beard (' Zvae Skiaeg^ Twa Shag) or fork-beard, both of whom had already done transcendent feats in the viking way during this copartnery. The fame of Svein, and this stirring personage, whose name was

• Ole/ and, recently, their stupendous feats in plunder

of England, siege of London, and other wonders and splendours of viking glory and success, had gone over all the North, awakening the attention of Hakon and everybody there. The name of * Ole' was enigmatic, mysterious, and even dangerous-looking to Hakon Jarl; who at length sent out a confidential spy to investigate this ' Ole ' ; a feat which the confidential