He was a head shorter than the Dane, who was, in truth, the most splendid warrior I had ever seen; and he bore a broad axe, wedge beaten and gold inlaid.

There was not much to choose between his shield and Odda's, but I thought the spear the weaker weapon.
"Axe against spear," said Harek; "here is somewhat of which to sing." Once Odda feinted, lunging at Hubba's face; and the Dane raised his shield a little, but did not move else, nor did his eyelids so much as flinch, and his steady look never left his foe's face.

Then, as Odda recovered, the great axe flashed suddenly, and fell harmless as its mark sprang back from its sweep; while like light the spear point went forward over the fallen axe, that recovered too slowly to turn it, and rang true on the round shield that met it.
I had not thought much of spear play until now, for we think little of the weapon.
Again the Saxon lunged, and Hubba hewed at the spear shaft, splintering it a little as the quick-eyed spearman swung it away from the blow.

Then the butt was over Odda's left shoulder, and before one could tell that its swing aside had ended, forward flew the point, darting from left to right over Hubba's arm that had not yet recovered from the lost axe blow, and behind the shield's rim.
That blow went home, and the mighty Dane reeled and fell.
One moment's silence, and then a howl from the Danes who watched, and they flew on us, bearing us back a pace or two.

Odda went down under the rush that was made on him, and I called to my comrades, and stood over him, and beat them back.