Ospak had gone through all the battle on his wing, he had been sore wounded, and lost both his sons ere King Sigtrygg fled before him.
Then flight broke out throughout all the host.
Thorstein Hall of the Side's son stood still while all the others fled, and tied his shoe-string. Then Kerthialfad asked why he ran not as the others.
"Because," said Thorstein, "I can't get home to-night, since I am at home out in Iceland."
Kerthialfad gave him peace.
Hrafn the red was chased out into a certain river; he thought he saw there the pains of hell down below him, and he thought the devils wanted to drag him to them.
Then Hrafn said—
"Thy dog,[83] Apostle Peter! hath run twice to Rome, and he would run the third time if thou gavest him leave."
Then the devils let him loose, and Hrafn got across the river.
Now Brodir saw that King Brian's men were chasing the fleers, and that there were few men by the shieldburg.