inflammation in his leg, of which the earl died, and he was laid in a mound at Ekjalsbakki. His son Guttorm ruled over these countries for about a year thereafter, and died without children. Many vikings, both Danes and Northmen, set themselves down then in those countries.
Chapter XXIII.
King Harald has his hair clipped.
After King Harald had subdued the whole land, he was one day at a feast in More, given by Earl Rognvald. Then King Harald went into a bath, and had his hair dressed. Earl Rognvald now cut his hair, which had been uncut and uncombed for ten years; and therefore the king had been called Ugly Head, But then Earl Rognvald gave him the distinguishing name—Harald Haarfager; and all who saw him agreed that there was the greatest truth in that surname, for he had the most beautiful and abundant head of hair.
Chapter XXIV.
Rolf Ganger is driven into banishment.
Earl Rognvald was King Harald's dearest friend, and the king had the greatest regard for him. He was married to Hilda, a daughter of Rolf Naefia, and their sons were Rolf and Thorer. Earl Rognvald had also three sons by concubines,—the one called Hallad, the second Einar, the third Hrollaug; and all three were grown men when their brothers born in marriage were still children. Rolf became a great viking, and was of so stout a growth that no horse could carry him, and wheresoever he went he must go on foot; and therefore he was called Gange-Rolf[1] He plundered much in the East sea.[2] One summer, as he was coming from the eastward on a viking's expedition to the coast of Viken, he landed there and made
- ↑ Gauge-Rolf, Rolf Ganger, Rolf the Walker, was the conqueror of Normandy. He appears to have had among his ancestors a Rolf Ganger; so that the popular story of his great obesity, which seems scarcely consistent with his great military activity, may not he literally true.
- ↑ Austrvigr, the lands on the south side of the Baltic.
