midnight
From the grassy mound on which they stood could be seen , on the one hand , the dark recesses of Horlingdal , which were lost in the mists of distance among the glaciers on the fells ; and , on the other hand , the blue fiord with branching inlets and numerous holms , while the skerries of the coast filled up the background -- looming faint and far off on the distant sea . In whatever direction the eye was turned armed men were seen . From every distant gorge and valley on the fells they issued , singly , or in twos and threes . As they descended the dale they formed into groups and larger bands ; and when they gained the more level grounds around Haldorstede , the heavy tread of their hastening footsteps could be distinctly heard , while the sun -- for although near midnight now it was still above the horizon -- flashed from hundreds of javelins , spears , swords , and bills , glittered on steel headpieces and the rims of shields , or trickled fitfully on suits of scale armour and shirts of ring mail . On the fiord , boats came shooting forth from every inlet or creek , making their appearance from the base of precipitous cliffs or dark-mouthed caves as if the very mountains were bringing forth warriors to aid in repelling the foe . These were more sombre than those on the fells , because the sun had set to them by reason of the towering hills , and the fiord was shrouded in deepest gloom . But all in the approaching host -- on water and land -- were armed from head to foot , and all converged towards Ulfstede .