by heart.  She would spend long time in the church at nights saying her prayers, and Herdis, Bolli’s daughter, always went with her at night.  Gudrun loved Herdis very much. [Sidenote:  The ghost of the sorceress] It is told that one night the maiden Herdis dreamed that a woman came to her who was dressed in a woven cloak, and coifed in a head cloth, but she did not think the woman winning to look at.  She spoke, “Tell your grandmother that I am displeased with her, for she creeps about over me every night, and lets fall down upon me drops so hot that I am burning all over from them.  My reason for letting you know this is, that I like you somewhat better, though there is something uncanny hovering about you too.  However, I could get on with you if I did not feel there was so much more amiss with Gudrun.”  Then Herdis awoke and told Gudrun her dream.  Gudrun thought the apparition was of good omen.  Next morning Gudrun had planks taken up from the church floor where she was wont to kneel on the hassock, and she had the earth dug up, and they found blue and evil-looking bones, a round brooch, and a wizard’s wand, and men thought they knew then that a tomb of some sorceress must have been there; so the bones were taken to a place far away where people were least likely to be passing.

CHAP.  LXXVII

The Return of Bolli, A.D. 1030

When four winters were passed from the drowning of Thorkell Eyjolfson a ship came into Islefirth belonging to Bolli Bollison, most of the crew of which were Norwegians. [Sidenote:  Bolli’s splendour] Bolli brought out with him much wealth, and many precious things that lords abroad had given him.  Bolli was so great a man for show when he came back from this journey that he would wear no clothes but of scarlet and fur, and all his weapons were bedight with gold:  he was called Bolli the Grand.  He made it known to his shipmasters that he was going west to his own countrysides, and he left his ship and goods in the hands of his crew.  Bolli rode from the ship with twelve men, and all his followers were dressed in scarlet, and rode on gilt saddles, and all were they a trusty band, though Bolli was peerless among them.  He had on the clothes of fur which the Garth-king had given him, he had over all a scarlet cape; and he had Footbiter girt on him, the hilt of which was dight with gold, and the grip woven with gold; he had a gilded helmet on his head, and a red shield on his flank, with a knight painted on it in gold.  He had a dagger in his hand, as is the custom in foreign lands; and whenever they took quarters the women paid heed to nothing but; gazing at Bolli and his grandeur, and that of his followers.  In this state Bolli rode into the western parts all the way till he came to Holyfell with his following.  Gudrun was very glad to see her son.  Bolli did not stay there long till he rode up to Saelingsdale Tongue to see Snorri, his father-in-law, and his wife Thordis, and