Then was the ground open between the forces again, but now it was cumbered with fallen men and horses, and below our spear points was a ghastly barrier of those who had dared to rush on them, for spear had begun and axe had finished the work.
"Well done, spearmen!" Olaf cried to us, "now is our turn." And at his word his vikings took our place, and we were content.
For we had borne the first shock of the battle after all, and had earned praise.

Moreover the whole line cheered us as we fell back into the second line.
"Now comes the real fighting," said Olaf to me; "stay by my side, cousin, and you and I will see some sword play together." So I stood on the left hand, and Ottar was on his right with the standard, and Prat of Sudbury was next to me.

The viking line was two deep before us, and Olaf's shieldmen and mine were between us and the rear rank, and my spearmen leant on their weapons behind us again.

But it took us less time to fall into place thus than it has taken to say how we stood.
And hardly were we steady again before the whole Danish line broke out into their war song and advanced.

Then the song became a hoarse roar, and their line lapped round to compass our bowed front, and man to man they flung themselves on us as the storm of darts and arrows crossed from side to side between us.