“That is soon told,” replied Ivar; “we will not steal upon them; we will stay this night at the cape and remain there until morning.”
When morning came, the foster-brothers landed with all their men, and marched towards Sigurd and Sigmund, who had all their men armed and in readiness for a conflict.
When Sigurd and Sigmund saw Hjalmar and Ivar coming towards them, they went to meet them. Sigurd was high-born and a very great Viking; he had travelled far and wide, and seen countries that were unknown to most people; he was short of stature, and had attained the meridian of life; gray hair was beginning to show itself; he was the oldest of the four chiefs.
Sigmund was also high-born, younger than Sigurd, but older than Ivar and Hjalmar. Sigurd asked, when they met, who was their leader. Ivar answered: “There is more than one chief here.”
“What is thy name?” asked Sigmund.
“My name is Ivar, son of Hjorvard of Dampstadir; and my foster-brother is Hjalmar, son of Gudbrand of Engel.”
“What is your errand here?” said Sigurd.
Ivar answered: “I wish to know which of us is the more powerful.”
“How many ships have you?” asked Sigurd.
“We have twenty ships,” said Ivar. “And how many have you?”