The two following days were to be devoted to warlike exercises, and the next morning Yngvi asked Ivar: “Art thou skilful in warlike exercise?”
Ivar replied in his usual modest way: “My foster-father and my foster-mother thought so, but I have not shown my skill to others, and I think thou wilt find it slight compared with that of many men. I have now won several championships since the games have begun, but I do not think I shall be the foremost in warlike games, for it would be strange if my luck was to continue. Nevertheless I will strive for the championship, and do my best.”
Then Ulf, a great Viking, who was said to be the best shot with the bow and arrow in all Norway, came up to Ivar and said to him: “Let us try our skill. Thou art younger than I, but I hear thou art very skilful with the bow.”
Upon this, Ulf took a spear, and put its point into the ground; then he placed an arrow on the string, and shot into the air; the arrow turned itself in its course, came down with its point in the end of the spear-shaft, and stood there upright. Ivar next took an arrow and shot. It went very high, then the arrow-point came down into the shaft of the arrow of Ulf, that had stuck on the shaft of the spear. Then Ulf took a spear, and threw it so powerfully and so far, and nevertheless so straight, that all wondered. But Ivar threw still farther than all, so that his spear socket lay on the point of Ulf’s spear. Ulf took the spear again, and shot another time, and the spear went beyond that of Ivar’s.
“I will not throw any more, for I see it is useless,” said Ivar.
“Throw,” said Ulf, “and farther if thou canst.”
Ivar threw, and this time far ahead. After this, Ulf placed an arrow on the bow-string, and took a knife and stuck it into an oak. He then shot into the back of the knife-handle, so that the arrow stuck fast. Ivar next took up his arrows, while Ulf stood near him and said: “With gold are thy arrows wound round, and a very ambitious man art thou.”
“I did not cause these arrows to be made; they were given to me, and I have not taken any ornaments off them,” returned Ivar, shooting, and hitting the knife-handle, and splitting it, the arrow-point sticking in the upper point of the blade.
“Now we will shoot farther,” said Ulf. Then he laid an arrow on the string, and drew the bow so as to almost bend its tips together. The arrow flew very far, and stopped in a very slender bough at which he had aimed. Every one thought this a most excellent shot; but Ivar shot still a little farther, and, besides, his arrow pierced a nut that had been put up as a target. All present wondered at this.
“Now the nut shall be taken and placed on the head of Björn,” said Ulf, “and there thou shalt try if thou canst hit it, if thou art willing to do so. Thou shalt not shoot from a shorter distance than before. Björn is my slave, and for his boldness and willingness I will give him his freedom after the trial, if his life is spared.”