For some men pay such respect to hospitality that, if they can remember ever to have experienced kindly offices from folk, they cannot be thought to inflict any annoyance on them.

But Hakon thought the death of his brother a worse loss than the defection of his champions; and, gathering his fleet into the haven called Herwig in Danish, and in Latin Hosts' Bight, he drew up his men, and posted his line of foot-soldiers in the spot where the town built by Esbern now defends with its fortifications those who dwell hard by, and repels the approach of barbarous savages.

Then he divided his forces in three, and sent on two-thirds of his ships, appointing a few men to row to the river Susa.

This force was to advance on a dangerous voyage along its winding reaches, and to help those on foot if necessary.

He marched in person by land with the remainder, advancing chiefly over wooded country to escape notice.