Karle sent him back the message that Thorer must have twenty-five men as they had, and they were willing to divide the booty that might be taken equally, but not the merchant goods which each had for himself.When Thorer's messenger came back he had put a stout long-ship he owned into the water, and rigged it, and he had put eighty men on board of his house-servants.Thorer alone had the command over this crew, and he alone had all the goods they might acquire on the cruise.When Thorer was ready for sea he set out northwards along the coast, and found Karle a little north of Sandver.They then proceeded with good wind.Gunstein said to his brother, as soon as they met Thorer, that in his opinion Thorer was strongly manned."I think," said he, "we had better turn back than sail so entirely in Thorer's power, for Ido not trust him." Karle replies, "I will not turn back, although if I had known when we were at home on Langey Isle that Thorer Hund would join us on this voyage with so large a crew as he has, I would have taken more hands with us." The brothers spoke about it to Thorer, and asked what was the meaning of his taking more people with him than was agreed upon between them.
He replies, "We have a large ship which requires many hands, and methinks there cannot be too many brave lads for so dangerous a cruise." They went in summer as fast in general as the vessels could go.When the wind was light the ship of the brothers sailed fastest, and they separated; but when the wind freshened Thorer overtook them.They were seldom together, but always in sight of each other.When they came to Bjarmaland they went straight to the merchant town, and the market began.All who had money to pay with got filled up with goods.Thorer also got a number of furs, and of beaver and sable skins.Karle had a considerable sum of money with him, with which he purchased skins and furs.When the fair was at an end they went out of the Vina river, and then the truce of the country people was also at an end.When they came out of the river they held a seaman's council, and Thorer asked the crews if they would like to go on the land and get booty.
They replied, that they would like it well enough, if they saw the booty before their eyes.
Thorer replies, that there was booty to be got, if the voyage proved fortunate; but that in all probability there would be danger in the attempt.
All said they would try, if there was any chance of booty.
Thorer explained, that it was so established in this land, that when a rich man died all his movable goods were divided between the dead man and his heirs.He got the half part, or the third part, or sometimes less, and that part was carried out into the forest and buried, -- sometimes under a mound, sometimes in the earth, and sometimes even a house was built over it.He tells them at the same time to get ready for this expedition at the fall of day.It was resolved that one should not desert the other, and none should hold back when the commander ordered them to come on board again.They now left people behind to take care of the ships, and went on land, where they found flat fields at first, and then great forests.Thorer went first, and the brothers Karle and Gunstein in rear.Thorer commanded the people to observe the utmost silence."And let us peel the bark off the trees," says he, "so that one tree-mark can be seen from the other." They came to a large cleared opening, where there was a high fence upon which there was a gate that was locked.Six men of the country people held watch every night at this fence, two at a time keeping guard, each two for a third part of the night, when Thorer and his men came to the fence the guard had gone home, and those who should relieve them had not yet come upon guard.Thorer went to the fence, stuck his axe up in it above his head, hauled himself up by it, and so came over the fence, and inside the gate.Karle had also come over the fence, and to the inside of the gate; so that both came at once to the port, took the bar away, and opened the port; and then the people got in within the fence.Then said Thorer, "Within this fence there is a mound in which gold, and silver, and earth are all mixed together: seize that.But within here stands the Bjarmaland people's god Jomala: let no one be so presumptuous as to rob him." Thereupon they went to the mound and took as much of the money as they could carry away in their clothes, with which, as might be expected, much earth was mixed.Thereafter Thorer said that the people now should retreat."And ye brothers, Karle and Gunstein," says he, "do ye lead the way, and I will go last."They all went accordingly out of the gate: but Thorer went back to Jomala, and took a silver bowl that stood upon his knee full of silver money.He put the silver in his purse, and put his arm within the handle of the bowl, and so went out of the gate.The whole troop had come without the fence; but when they perceived that Thorer had stayed behind, Karle returned to trace him, and when they met upon the path Thorer had the silver bowl with him.
Thereupon Karle immediately ran to Jomala; and observing he had a thick gold ornament hanging around his neck, he lifted his axe, cut the string with which the ornament was tied behind his neck, and the stroke was so strong that the head of Jomala rang with such a great sound that they were all astonished.Karle seized the ornament, and they all hastened away.But the moment the sound was made the watchmen came forward upon the cleared space, and blew their horns.Immediately the sound of the loor (1) was heard all around from every quarter, calling the people together.
