From this point of vantage he shot arrow after arrow, with fatal accuracy of aim.

As he had employed much of his leisure time in learning runes[1] and all kinds of magic arts, he was often of great assistance to his brothers, who generally chose him leader of their expeditions.

[Footnote 1: See Guerber's Myths of Northern Lands, p.

39.] While Ragnar's five sons were engaged in fighting the English at Whitaby to punish them for plundering and setting fire to some Danish ships, Rogenwald fell to rise no more.
[Sidenote: The enchanted cow.] Eystein, the Swedish king, now assembled a large army and declared war against the Danes, because their monarch had failed to return at the appointed time and claim the bride for whom he had sued.

Ragnar would fain have gone forth to meet the enemy in person, but Agnar and Erik, his two eldest sons, craved permission to go in his stead.
They met the Swedish king, but in spite of their valor they soon succumbed to an attack made by an enchanted cow.
"'We smote with swords; at dawn of day Hundred spearmen gasping lay, Bent beneath the arrowy strife.
Egill reft my son of life; Too soon my Agnar's youth was spent, The scabbard thorn his bosom rent.'" _Death Song of Regner Lodbrock_ (Herbert's tr.).
Ragnar was about to sally forth to avenge them, when Hastings and the other sons returned.