and he saw two people there whom he recognised as his son Olaf and his mother, and he discovered she was not speechless, for she was talking a great deal to the boy.  Then Hoskuld went to her and asked her her name, and said it was useless for her to hide it any longer.  She said so it should be, and they sat down on the brink of the field. [Sidenote:  Of Melkorka’s family] Then she said, “If you want to know my name, I am called Melkorka.”  Hoskuld bade her tell him more of her kindred.  She answered, “Myr Kjartan is the name of my father, and he is a king in Ireland; and I was taken a prisoner of war from there when I was fifteen winters old.”  Hoskuld said she had kept silence far too long about so noble a descent.  After that Hoskuld went on, and told Jorunn what he had just found out during his walk.  Jorunn said that she “could not tell if this were true,” and said she had no fondness for any manner of wizards; and so the matter dropped.  Jorunn was no kinder to her than before, but Hoskuld had somewhat more to say to her.  A little while after this, when Jorunn was going to bed, Melkorka was undressing her, and put her shoes on the floor, when Jorunn took the stockings and smote her with them about the head.  Melkorka got angry, and struck Jorunn on the nose with her fist, so that the blood flowed.  Hoskuld came in and parted them.  After that he let Melkorka go away, and got a dwelling ready for her up in Salmon-river-Dale, at the place that was afterwards called Melkorkastad, which is now waste land on the south of the Salmon river.  Melkorka now set up household there, and Hoskuld had everything brought there that she needed; and Olaf, their son, went with her.  It was soon seen that Olaf, as he grew up, was far superior to other men, both on account of his beauty and courtesy.

CHAP.  XIV

The Murder of Hall, Ingjald’s Brother

[Sidenote:  The fishing at Bjorn isles] Ingjald was the name of a man.  He lived in Sheepisles, that lie out in Broadfirth.  He was called Sheepisles’ Priest.  He was rich, and a mighty man of his hand.  Hall was the name of his brother.  He was big, and had the makings of a man in him; he was, however, a man of small means, and looked upon by most people as an unprofitable sort of man.  The brothers did not usually agree very well together.  Ingjald thought Hall did not shape himself after the fashion of doughty men, and Hall thought Ingjald was but little minded to lend furtherance to his affairs.  There is a fishing place in Broadfirth called Bjorn isles.  These islands lie many together, and were profitable in many ways.  At that time men went there a great deal for the fishing, and at all seasons there were a great many men there.  Wise men set great store by people in outlying fishing-stations living peacefully together, and said that it would be unlucky for the fishing if there was any quarrelling; and most men gave good heed to this.  It is told how one summer