He made this announcement not from distrust in his own courage, but in order to preserve his uprightness; for he was not only very valiant, but also skilled at blunting the sword with spells.

For when he remembered that Halfdan's father had slain his own, he was moved by two feelings--the desire to avenge his father, and his love for his brother.
He therefore thought it better to retire from the challenge than to be guilty of a very great crime.

Halfdan demanded another champion in his place, slew him when he appeared, and was soon awarded the palm of valour even by the voice of the enemy, being accounted by public acclamation the bravest of all.

On the next day he asked for two men to fight with, and slew them both.

On the third day he subdued three; on the fourth he overcame four who met him; and on the fifth he asked for five.
When Halfdan conquered these, and when the eighth day had been reached with an equal increase in the combatants and in the victory, he laid low eleven who attacked him at once.