THE SCENE: Outnumbered by a superior force of pirates, Sigmundur and his men achieve victory with both violence and panache.
THE TEXT: The dragon-warship now advanced, followed by the remaining two ships loaded with fresh fighters. They approached Sigmundur from the other side and attacked; the battle was more bitterly fought than before.
Sigmundur was in the forefront of the fighting on his ship; he struck his opponents hard and lightning-quick. His kinsman Thorir fought bravely too. They had been fighting so long in the thick of things that they could not tell who was winning.
Then Sigmundur called to his men, “We can’t defeat them unless we test our courage. I’m going to charge up the gangplank of the dragon: if you’re brave, follow me!” Sigmundur boarded the dragon with twelve men and cut down one defender, and then another; his men followed his lead. Thorir also joined the attack on the dragon with five men. Now, all resistance gave way before them. When Randver saw this, he charged forward at Sigmundur and they clashed, fighting in single combat for a long time.
Here Sigmundur showed his skill; he tossed his sword with a flourish aloft and he caught it with his left hand, holding his shield in his right. He slashed at Randver with his sword and cut his right leg clear off below the knee. Randver pitched over, and Sigmundur gave him a blow to the neck which severed off his head. At this, Sigmundur’s men gave a war-cry and it was over; the Vikings fled in three of their ships. Afterwards, Sigmundur’s party cleared out the dragon-warship, and killed every living soul on it.
– The Faroe-Island (Færeyinga) Saga, 13th Century AD
