And afterwards Gudbrand built a church in the valley." [13] Olaf was by no means an unmerciful man,--much the reverse where he saw good cause.

There was a wicked old King Raerik, for example, one of those five kinglets whom, with their bits of armaments, Olaf by stratagem had surrounded one night, and at once bagged and subjected when morning rose, all of them consenting; all of them except this Raerik, whom Olaf, as the readiest sure course, took home with him; blinded, and kept in his own house; finding there was no alternative but that or death to the obstinate old dog, who was a kind of distant cousin withal, and could not conscientiously be killed.

Stone-blind old Raerik was not always in murderous humor.

Indeed, for most part he wore a placid, conciliatory aspect, and said shrewd amusing things; but had thrice over tried, with amazing cunning of contrivance, though stone-blind, to thrust a dagger into Olaf and the last time had all but succeeded.

So that, as Olaf still refused to have him killed, it had become a problem what was to be done with him.