Then rang the war chime, the clang of steel on steel loud over Leavenheath, and there came into my heart again the longing to wipe out the memory of old defeats, and I gripped my axe and shield and waited for my turn to come.
There was a little time while I might see all that happened, and at the first rush I saw Biorn's men give back a pace--no more--and win their place again.

I saw our horsemen watching for a chance to charge in on the Danish flank, and I saw the Danish riders wheeling to meet them.

Then I must keep my eyes for what was before me, for men were falling.

Then Ottar began to sing, and his voice rose over the cries of battle, and rang in tune with the sword strokes as it seemed to me, and with his singing came to me, as to many, the longing to do great deeds and to fall if I might but be sung thus.
Then I saw a Dane fell one of the vikings, and leap at the men of Olaf's shield wall, and an axe flashed and he went down.

The fighting was coming nearer to me, and I watched and waited, and I knew that I had never seen so stern a fight as this, for before me Olaf's veterans fought against Swein's--the trained thingmen who held the towns.