第203章

They went out all on a campaign in summer.When the whole army was thus assembled Harald kept his men out of the battle, or wherever he saw the least danger, under pretext of saving his men; but where he was alone with his own men only, he fought so desperately that they must either come off victorious or die.It thus happened often that when he commanded the army he gained victories, while Gyrger could do nothing.The troops observed this, and insisted they would be more successful if Harald alone was chief of the whole army, and upbraided the general with never effecting anything, neither himself, nor his people.Gyrger again said that the Varings would give him no assistance, and ordered Harald to go with his men somewhere else, and he, with the rest of his army, would win what they could.Harald accordingly left the army with the Varings and the Latin men, and Gyrger on his side went off with the Greek troops.Then it was seen what each could do.Harald always gained victories and booty; but the Greeks went home to Constantinople with their army, all except a few brave men, who, to gain booty and money, joined themselves to Harald, and took him for their leader.He then went with his troops westward to Africa, which the Varings call Serkland, where he was strengthened with many men.In Serkland he took eighty castles, some of which surrendered, and others were stormed.He then went to Sicily.So says Thiodolf:

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"The serpent's bed of glowing gold He hates -- the generous king, the bold!

He who four score towers laid low, Ta'en from the Saracenic foe.

Before upon Sicilian plains, Shield joined to shield, the fight he gains, The victory at Hild's war game;And now the heathens dread his name."So says also Illuge Bryndala-skald: --

"For Michael's empire Harald fought, And southern lands to Michael brought;So Budle's son his friendship showed When he brought friends to his abode."Here it is said that Michael was king of the Greeks at that time.

Harald remained many years in Africa, where he gathered great wealth in gold, jewels, and all sorts of precious things; and all the wealth he gathered there which he did not need for his expenses, he sent with trusty men of his own north to Novgorod to King Jarisleif's care and keeping.He gathered together there extraordinary treasure, as is reasonable to suppose; for he had the plundering of the part of the world richest in gold and valuable things, and he had done such great deeds as with truth are related, such as taking eighty strongholds by his valour.

6.BATTLE IN SICILY.

Now when Harald came to Sicily he plundered there also, and sat down with his army before a strong and populous castle.He surrounded the castle; but the walls were so thick there was no possibility of breaking into it, and the people of the castle had enough of provisions, and all that was necessary for defence.

Then Harald hit upon an expedient.He made his bird-catchers catch the small birds which had their nests within the castle, but flew into the woods by day to get food for their young.He had small splinters of tarred wood bound upon the backs of the birds, smeared these over with wax and sulphur, and set fire to them.As soon as the birds were let loose they all flew at once to the castle to their young, and to their nests, which they had under the house roofs that were covered with reeds or straw.The fire from the birds seized upon the house roofs; and although each bird could only carry a small burden of fire, yet all at once there was a mighty flame, caused by so many birds carrying fire with them and spreading it widely among the house roofs.

Thus one house after the other was set on fire, until the castle itself was in flames.Then the people came out of the castle and begged for mercy; the same men who for many days had set at defiance the Greek army and its leader.Harald granted life and safety to all who asked quarter, and made himself master of the place.

7.BATTLE AT ANOTHER CASTLE.

There was another castle before which Harald had come with his army.This castle was both full of people and so strong, that there was no hope of breaking into it.The castle stood upon a flat hard plain.Then Harald undertook to dig a passage from a place where a stream ran in a bed so deep that it could not be seen from the castle.They threw out all the earth into the stream, to be carried away by the water.At this work they laboured day and night, and relieved each other in gangs; while the rest of the army went the whole day against the castle, where the castle people shot through their loop-holes.They shot at each other all day in this way, and at night they slept on both sides.Now when Harald perceived that his underground passage was so long that it must be within the castle walls, he ordered his people to arm themselves.It was towards daybreak that they went into the passage.When they got to the end of it they dug over their heads until they came upon stones laid in lime which was the floor of a stone hall.They broke open the floor and rose into the hall.There sat many of the castle-men eating and drinking, and not in the least expecting such uninvited wolves;for the Varings instantly attacked them sword in hand, and killed some, and those who could get away fled.The Varings pursued them; and some seized the castle gate, and opened it, so that the whole body of the army got in.The people of the castle fled;but many asked quarter from the troops, which was granted to all who surrendered.In this way Harald got possession of the place, and found an immense booty in it.

8.BATTLE AT A THIRD CASTLE.

They came to a third castle, the greatest and strongest of them all, and also the richest in property and the fullest of people.