The priest of Odin had laid them before the oracle of the gods, and this oracle declared that they must be fulfilled without change.
So all the folk of that land met together at my bidding--yes, even the women and the children.

First we laid the dead in the largest of Athalbrand's ships, his people and Athalbrand himself being set undermost.

Then on them we set the dead of Thorvald, Thorvald, my father, and his son Ragnar, my brother, bound to the mast upon their feet.

This done, with great labour we dragged the ship on to high ground, and above it built a mighty mound of earth.

For twenty days we toiled at the task, till at last it was finished and the dead were hidden beneath it for ever.