There was great fear of monsters attacking them, a fear probably justified by such occasional attacks of angry whales as Melville (founding his narrative on repeated facts) has immortalised.

The whales, like Moby Dick, were uncanny, and inspired by troll-women or witches (cf.

"Frithiof Saga" and the older "Lay of Atle and Rimegerd").

The clever sailing of Hadding, by which he eludes pursuit, is tantalising, for one gathers that, Saxo knows the details that he for some reason omits.

Big fleets of 150 and a monster armada of 3,000 vessels are recorded.
The ships were moved by oars and sails; they had rudders, no doubt such as the Gokstad ship, for the hero Arrow-Odd used a rudder as a weapon.
"Champions" .-- Professed fighting men were often kept by kings and earls about their court as useful in feud and fray.