Herein may true evidence be found of Thorolf's ill-gotten gains from Finmark;
for the largest merchant ship in Halogaland was made ready for sea at
Sandness in the spring, and all the cargo on board was said to be Thorolf's.
It was laden mostly, I think, with gray furs,
but there would be found there also bearskins and sables more than
Thorolf brought to thee. And with that ship went Thorgils Yeller,
and I believe he sailed westwards for England. But if thou wilt know the truth of this,
set spies on the track of Thorgils when he comes eastwards;
for I fancy that no trading-ship in our days has carried such store of wealth.
And I am telling thee what is true,
O king, when I say that to thee belongs every penny on board.'
All that Harek said his companions confirmed, and none there ventured to gainsay.
therefore we quickly left the settled districts,
and went on the fell.
But Thorolf went all round Finmark
with his armed warriors;
he had all the trade,
the Finns paid him tribute,
and he hindered thy stewards
from entering Finmark.
He means to be made king over the north there,
both over Finmark and Halogaland:
and the wonder is that thou wilt listen to
him in anything whatever.
(“The bloodeagle”)
(Known viking traditional torture metod:
Slaying up the back,
And take out the lungs,
To the outside, then bend out the ribs).
