The hater of flight,
In the midst of the fleet;
He holds the birth land
Of thy kin,
The Fjorsungs’ heritage,
Taken by himself.
(Helgi Hundingsbani, ii.)
The ships as they came into harbour were often lined with shields, showing by this that they were ships of war. These shields added not a little to the appearance of the ships under sail, as the sun shone on them. When the warriors were numerous, they must have been very cumbersome, and on that account were often stationed all round the bulwark or gunwales.
Fig. 937.—Silver coin found in Blekinge.