Then Thrain Sigfus’ son answered—­

“I am not Gunnar, but still I am near akin to him, and I will undertake this voyage.”

The Earl said, “I should be glad of that, and thou shalt be very well fitted out for the journey”.

After that his son Eric began to speak, and said—­

“Your word, father, is good to many men, but fulfilling it is quite another thing.  This is the hardest undertaking; for this sea-rover is tough and ill to deal with, wherefore thou wilt need to take great pains, both as to men and ships for this voyage.”

Thrain said, “I will set out on this voyage, though it looks ugly”.

After that the Earl gave him five ships, and all well trimmed and manned.  Along with Thrain was Gunnar Lambi’s son, and Lambi Sigurd’s son.  Gunnar was Thrain’s brother’s son, and had come to him young, and each loved the other much.

Eric, the Earl’s son, went heartily along with them, and looked after strength for them, both in men and weapons, and made such changes in them as he thought were needful.  After they were “boun,” Eric got them a pilot.  Then they sailed south along the land; but wherever they came to land, the Earl allowed them to deal with whatever they needed as their own.

So they held on east to Loedese, and then they heard that Kol was gone to Denmark.  Then they shaped their course south thither; but when they came south to Helsingborg, they met men in a boat, who said that Kol was there just before them, and would be staying there for a while.

One day when the weather was good, Kol saw the ships as they sailed up towards him, and said he had dreamt of Earl Hacon the night before, and told his people he was sure these must be his men, and bade them all to take their weapons.

After that they busked them, and a fight arose; and they fought long, so that neither side had the mastery.

Then Kol sprang up on Thrain’s ship, and cleared the gangways fast, and slays many men.  He had a gilded helm.

Now Thrain sees that this is no good, and now he eggs on his men to go along with him, but he himself goes first and meets Kol.

Kol hews at him, and the blow fell on Thrain’s shield, and cleft it down from top to bottom.  Then Kol got a blow on the arm from a stone, and then down fell his sword.

Thrain hews at Kol, and the stroke came on his leg so that it cut it off.  After that they slew Kol, and Thrain cut off his head, and they threw the trunk over-board, but kept his head.

There they took much spoil, and then they held on north to Drontheim, and go to see the Earl.

The Earl gave Thrain a hearty welcome, and he showed the Earl Kol’s head, but the Earl thanked him for that deed.

Eric said it was worth more than words alone, and the Earl said so it was, and bade them come along with him.

They went thither, where the Earl had made them make a good ship that was not made like a common long-ship.  It had a vulture’s head, and was much carved and painted.