So spake Erik, and Gotar, who had hitherto held him a man of no parts, now marvelled that he had graced his answer with sentences so choice and weighty, and gave him the name of Shrewd-spoken, thinking that his admirable wisdom deserved some title.  For the young man’s reputation had been kept in the shade by the exceeding brilliancy of his brother Roller.  Erik begged that some substantial gift should be added to the name, declaring that the bestowal of the title ought to be graced by a present besides.  The king gave him a ship, and the oarsmen called it “Skroter.”  Now Erik and Roller were the sons of Ragnar, the champion, and children of one father by different mothers; Roller’s mother and Erik’s stepmother was named Kraka.

And so, by leave of Gotar, the task of making a raid on the Danes fell to one Hrafn.  He was encountered by Odd, who had at that time the greatest prestige among the Danes as a rover, for he was such a skilled magician that he could range over the sea without a ship, and could often raise tempests by his spells, and wreck the vessels of the enemy.  Accordingly, that he might not have to condescend to pit his sea-forces against the rovers, he used to ruffle the waters by enchantment, and cause them to shipwreck his foes.  To traders this man was ruthless, but to tillers of the soil he was merciful, for he thought less of merchandise than of the plough-handle, but rated the clean business of the country higher than the toil for filthy lucre.  When he began to fight with the Northmen he so dulled the sight of the enemy by the power of his spells that they thought the drawn swords of the Danes cast their beams from afar off, and sparkled as if aflame.  Moreover, their vision was so blunted that they could not so much as look upon the sword when it was drawn from the sheath:  the dazzle was too much for their eyesight, which could not endure the glittering mirage.  So Hrafn and many of his men were slain, and only six vessels slipped back to Norway to teach the king that it was not so easy to crush the Danes.  The survivors also spread the news that Frode trusted only in the help of his champions, and reigned against the will of his people, for his rule had become a tyranny.

In order to examine this rumour, Roller, who was a great traveller abroad, and eager to visit unknown parts, made a vow that he would get into the company of Frode.  But Erik declared that, splendid as were his bodily parts, he had been rash in pronouncing the vow.  At last, seeing him persisting stubbornly in his purpose, Erik bound himself under a similar vow; and the king promised them that he would give them for companions whomsoever they approved by their choice.  The brethren, therefore, first resolved to visit their father and beg for the stores and the necessaries that were wanted for so long a journey.  He welcomed them paternally, and on the morrow took them to the forest to inspect the herd, for the old man was wealthy in cattle.  Also he revealed to them treasures which had long lain hid in caverns of the earth; and they were suffered to gather up whatsoever of these they would.  The boon was accepted as heartily as it was offered:  so they took the riches out of the ground, and bore away what pleased them.