The weather was calm, a fell-wind blew by night, a sea breeze by day. One evening Egil sailed out to
sea, but the fishermen were then rowing in to land, those, to wit, who had been set as spies on Egil’s
movements. They had this to tell, that Egil had put out and sailed to sea, and was gone. This news they
carried to Bergonund. And when he knew these tidings, then he sent away all those men that he had
had before for protection. Thereafter he rowed in to Alrekstead, and bade Frodi to his house, for he
had a great ale-drinking there. Frodi went with him, taking some men. They were feasted well there,
and they made merry, with no fear of danger. Rognvald, the king’s son, had a pinnace, rowed by six
men on either side, painted all above the sea line. He had with him ten or twelve who constantly
followed him; and when Frodi had left home, then Rognvald took the pinnace and they rowed out to
Herdla twelve in number. A large farm of the king’s was there, whereof the manager was named
Skegg-Thorir. Rognvald in his childhood had been fostered there. Thorir received the king’s son
joyfully. There too was no lack of drink.

Chapter 60 - The slaying of Bergonund and Rognvald the
king’s son.
Egil sailed out to sea for the night, as was written above. And when morning came the wind fell and
there was a calm. They then lay drifting, letting the ship ride free for some nights. But when a sea-
breeze came on, Egil said to his shipmen, ’We will now sail to land, for I do not quite know, should
the sea-wind come to blow hard, where we could make land, ’tis a dangerous-looking coast in most
places.’ The rowers bade Egil rule their course.

So then they made sail, and sailed into the waters about Herdla. There they found a good haven, and
spread the tent over their ship, and lay there for the night. They had on the ship a little boat, into which
went Egil with three men. They rowed into Herdla, and sent a man up into the island to learn tidings;
and when he came down to the ship, he said that there at the farm was Rognvald, the king’s son, and
his men. ’They sate there a-drinking,’ said he. ’I lit on one of the house-carles; he was ale-mad, and
said that here they must not drink less than was drunk at Bergonund’s, though Frodi was feasting there
with a party of five. He said that no more were there than the house-hold, save Frodi and his men.’

Whereupon Egil rowed back to the ship, and bade the men rise and take their weapons. They did so.
The ship they put out from the shore and anchored. Egil left twelve men to guard the ship, but himself
went on the ship’s boat, they being eighteen in all; they then rowed in along the sound. They so
regulated their pace that they came to Fenhring at eventide, and put into a hidden creek there. Then
said Egil: ’Now will I go up into the island and spy out what I can get to know; but you shall await me
here.’

Egil had his weapons that he was wont to have, a helm and shield, a sword at his girdle, a halberd in
his hand. He went up into the island and along the border of a wood. He had now drawn a hood over
his helm. He came where there were some lads, and with them large sheep-dogs. And when they
began to exchange words, he asked whence they were, and why they were there, and had such big
dogs. They said: ’You must be a very silly fellow; have you not heard that a bear goes about the island
here, a great pest? He kills both men and sheep, and a price is set upon his head. We watch here at
Askr every night over our flocks that are penned in the fold. By why go you at night thus armed?’

He answered: ’I, too, am afraid of the bear; and few, methinks, now go weaponless. He has long
pursued me to-night. See there now, where he is in the skirt of the wood! Are all asleep at this
farmhouse?’

The boy said that Bergonund and Frodi would be drinking still; ’they sit at it every night.’