Few could accomplish this, but no one but Haraldcould do it and play the _handsax_ game as he ran; and when he didit, they all said that he was the most skilful man at _idrottie_ everseen. That was their word for an athletic feat. But presently came a timewhen not only his courage but his fairness and justice were to be tried.It happened in this way. There was nothing of which the Norsemen weremore afraid than of the _teredo_, or shipworm, which gnaws the woodof ships. It was observed in Greenland and Iceland that pieces of woodoften floated on shore which were filled with holes made by this animal,and they thought that in certain places the seas were full of this worm,so that a ship would be bored and sunk in a little while. It is said thaton this return voyage Harald's vessel entered a worm-sea and presentlybegan to sink. They had, however, provided a smaller boat smeared withsea-oil, which the worms would not attack. They went into the boat, butfound that it would not hold more than half of them all. Then Harald said,"We will divide by lots, without regard to the rank; each taking hischance with the rest." This they thought, the Norse legend says, "ahigh-minded offer." They drew lots, and Harald was among those assigned tothe safer boat. He stepped in, and when he was there a man called from theother boat and said, "Dost thou intend, Harald, to separate from me here?"Harald answered, "So it turns out," and the man said, "Very different wasthy promise to my father when we came from Greenland, for the promise wasthat we should share the same fate.
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