"Not very ill, yet, dear foster-father," he answered.
"It would be a sorrow which we could never get over if we were to lose thee," said Einar.
Magnus begged to be moved from one part of the ship to another; but changed his mind again and wished to be taken back to where he had first lain. Then Einar took alarm.
"Say to thy friends now, my lord, that which is nearest to thy heart," he said. "Give us good counsel; for mayhap our converse will not be long."
"Dear friend," the king replied, "I fear that this illness will soon make an end of our intercourse."
When the rumor spread that King Magnus was ill, Harold came aboard his ship and inquired about his condition.
"Yes, in sooth I am ill, kinsman," said the king, "and I have one prayer to you, that you will not show disfavor to my friends."
"That is only my duty for your sake," replied Harold, "but there are some of them who seem eternally sufficient unto themselves, and overlook me."
"What boots it to speak of such things now?" said Einar; "whatever Harold may promise, he has already determined in his mind what he will do."
Little was lacking that Harold got into a dispute with the dying king about the throne of Denmark, which Magnus had destined for Sweyn Estridsson, and the gold which they had shared between them when they shared the government. After having distributed gifts and keepsakes to his men, King Magnus died (1047), twenty-four years old, after having governed Norway for twelve years and a half, and Denmark for five years. No sooner had he closed his eyes than Harold sent men to intercept the messengers which had been despatched to Sweyn Estridsson to inform him of his succession to the Danish throne.