"All hail to King Olaf!" they cried. And the cry was echoed upon every side.
Many of those present wanted Olaf to be at once formally proclaimed king of all Norway, but others of the more sober sort objected.
"King he shall surely be," they said. "But let him be made so without undue haste. Let him first prove his worthiness by some act of prowess."
"I am ready to prove it in whatsoever way you wish," said Olaf. "What would you have me do?"
One of the chieftains then stepped in front of him and said:
"There is one thing, lord, that we would have you do; and by the doing of it you would gain the gratitude of every man and woman in Thrandheim."
"And what thing is that?" asked Olaf.
"It is that you shall follow in pursuit of Earl Hakon and bring him to his bane."
"Gladly will I pursue him," returned Olaf, "if I may know what direction he has taken, or in what part of the land I may most surely find him."
Then the chieftain called one of the young warriors to him and questioned him closely concerning Hakon.