make you worthy recompense.' 'I know,' said Rolf, 'that I shall receive benefit from you, for you will rise to great esteem. When this happens, you may purchase my peace with the men of the settlement, who are now at enmity with me.' Thorgils consented; and they both then made profession of good will to each other. Thorgils and his men then sailed south by the coast, and arrived at a fiord, where they anchored, and put up the awning.

"At the same time another ship, a merchantman, came into view. They sailed, therefore, into the fiord; and as both ships had the same wind they arrived at the same landing-place. Here are good tidings,' said Thorgils: 'Go you, Thorleif and Kol, and find out who these men are that have come.' So they rowed to the ship, and went on board. In the hinder part, by the poop, sat a man in a red kirtle, who sprang up instantly and welcomed Thorleif. This was Thorstein the White, his foster-father and stepfather. He enquired about Thorgils, and was told that he was close at hand. He went, therefore, to see Thorgils, and there was a joyful meeting. Thorstein said that he had come from Iceland, and that his condition was prosperous. 'I had not heard of you for four years,' he said. 'Your daughter Thorny is married to a man named Biarni of Grof, son of Thorstein, a temple-chief, one of the old settlers. When Thorleif did not return to Norway, I prepared my ship and sailed to Iceland, where I have lived for two years; but learning nothing of you I came here to seek you.' And Thorgils answered, 'I knew that I might expect kindness from you.'

"People came round them quickly. The yeoman who lived nearest to the spot was named Thori, and on his invitation Thorstein went to stay with him. Thorgils accepted the invitation of Eirik the Red, and took with him twelve persons to Brattalid. His seat in the hall was

I

opposite that of Eirik, and next to him, towards the door, sat Thorleif, then Kol, and then Starkad. A foster-mother was obtained for Thorfinn, but he would not take milk until darkness came on, therefore he was weaned. Eirik was reserved towards Thorgils, and afforded hospitality with less goodwill than Thorgils expected. Thorgils learnt that his thralls were in the land, but made as if he knew it not.

"During the winter a bear made attacks on the cattle of the settlement, doing great damage. And once, when people came to trade with Thorgils, and there were many gathered together in an outhouse, where the goods were, Thorfinn was present. Speaking to his father, he said: 'There is a big fine dog outside.' 'Mind it not,' answered Thorgils, and made no move to go and see it. The boy ran out as before, and the animal, which was still there, rolled him over. He cried aloud, and Thorgils hastened to his assistance with his Irish sword. The creature had been playing with the boy. Thorgils smote him between the ears so that his skull was cleft in twain, and he fell down dead. He picked up his boy and found that he had received little hurt. This deed brought renown to Thorgils, and great good luck seemed to attend him. But though Eirik caused the bear to be dressed for food, he was not pleased, and there were some who said that he had held the animal sacred, according to the heathen faith."

We are told that in the winter some of the men were sitting in an outhouse, at Brattalid, and talked with others, among whom were Kol and Starkad, standing by the door of the hall. They drew comparisons between Thorgils and Eirik, and Kol said that Thorgils had performed many heroic deeds. But Eirik's house-manager, a man named Hall, said the comparison was unfair.

'Eirik is a great and famous chieftain,' said he, 'whereas this Thorgils is a poor and humble person; and, indeed, I know not whether he is man or woman.' 'Wretched gabbler!' exclaimed Kol, as he thrust him through with a spear and slew him. Eirik bade his men rise and seize Kol, whereupon the traders all hastened up to protect him. And Thorgils said, 'As the next thing to be done, Eirik, you yourself must avenge your house-manager.' But an onset seemed no easy task, so friends of both sides intervened, and a reconciliation was effected on the condition that Thorgils and Eirik should arbitrate. Their decision was soon given, but an unfriendly feeling existed between them afterwards, and Thorgils made up his mind not to remain there long.

"During the winter much harm befell the settlement from outlaws. These formed a band of thirty men who had all been banished from the settlement; at their head was a man named Thorstein. Making some of the islands of Eiriks-firth their quarters, they committed great robberies. The sufferers complained to Eirik, and Eirik spoke of the outrages to Thorgils, saying that he would like his assistance. Thorgils answered that he had not made a voyage to Greenland to run into danger from evil-doers. But he had not the heart to refuse aid, he said, in the present necessities of the settlers, although he had not received good treatment from Eirik. therefore prepared to start when Eirik wished. desired, however, to bring some business to a conclusion

He was

He

first; and he bade Eirik be ready when he should send him word. He now brought forward the case of Rolf, and caused the sentence of outlawry passed upon him to be annulled. Then with his men he went on board ship, to sail to the western settlement, because the men there had not paid him the reward for bear-killing. He was

received by a man named Bialfi, who said that he owed him many thanks for coming. 'I will collect your dues,' he said, 'for you are a famous man and will aid me now that I am in a great strait. In the islands before us there are robbers, and their chief intends to come here and take away my daughter. I should like you to stay here for her protection and defence.' Thorgils agreed to do so. The yeoman went forth to collect Thorgils' dues, but the wicking robbers came not; and on his return Thorgils said to him: You have entertained us, master, and we have made you, as yet, no return. I will go and find the wickings, for it is not likely that they will leave you in peace when I am gone.' The yeoman thanked him saying, however, that the task was one of great danger to Thorgils and his men.

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'Thorgils now prepared his ship, taking thirty men with him, and sent word to Eirik, bidding him come with a like number. When the message reached Eirik he answered that he would start, and be there at the islands not later than Thorgils. But when Thorgils reached the islands and discovered that Eirik had not arrived, he took counsel with his men, saying: 'I feel loth to turn back, and fancy that I can see through Eirik. He means to bring us face to face with these evil men, knowing that we shall not care to turn from them, even if he himself keeps away.' The wickings had not ventured on the mainland since Thorgils had come to the western settlement. There was a man in Greenland named An the Simpleton, who wandered over the country, and was known to everybody. Now Thorgils' ship lay in a retired and harbourless creek; and on one occasion he took his boat and rowed away towards land, where he saw men cooking porridge in pots. He had dressed himself in old clothes, and they asked him who he was. 'My name is An,'

he said, and they laughed at him and his silly behaviour. 'Where is your chief?' he asked, 'A short way off on the island,' they answered, and he expects us back in the evening.' They then behaved roughly to Thorgils, and he went back to his boat, which he capsized under him to their great amusement. As they talked together of the matter, one said, 'This looks strange;' and his fellow asked, 'What mean you?' 'There is a man come into the settlement,' he said, 'by name Thorgils, tall and famous; and our chief will not go to the mainland because of him, for there hangs over us a change of luck. This morning when I went forth, I heard our ships conversing on it. The one we call Stakanhead was speaking to the other: Do you know Winagaut, that Thorgils will win us both? Yea, I know it, said the other, and I am well pleased. And I, said the man, believe this will happen.' Thorgils now returned to his ship, and the wickings at the same time rowed to their anchorage. When they had reached their hall, Thorgils and his men sailed forward to attack them; and coming upon them unawares, he had the building set on fire immediately. There was little defence, the men gave themselves up and asked for quarter. But Thorgils held out no hope of mercy, because of their many ill deeds. To their leader only was quarter offered, all the rest being slain, but he would not accept it; 'I shall never be true to you,' he said, and he was then slain. Much booty came into the possession of the victors, who now returned to the mainland, taking with them the ships Stakanhead and Winagaut. Biarni welcomed them heartily. Thorgils now restored to many of the owners, their property, which the wickings had taken, and he had much left for himself, by which deed he acquired great popularity. By this time Rolf had come, and the sentence of outlawry had been reversed. Thorgils was ill pleased