to them.  Gest looked at these young men for a while, and told Olaf where Kjartan was sitting as well as Bolli, and then Gest pointed his spear shaft to each one of Olaf’s sons and named by name all of them that were there.  But there were many other handsome young men there who had just left off swimming and sat on the river-bank with Kjartan and Bolli.  Gest said he did not discover the family features of Olaf in any of these young men.  Then said Olaf:  “Never is there too much said about your wits, Gest, knowing, as you do, men you have never seen before.  Now I wish you to tell me which of those young men will be the mightiest man.” [Sidenote:  Gest’s prophecy] Gest replied, “That will fall out much in keeping with your own love, for Kjartan will be the most highly accounted of so long as he lives.”  Then Gest smote his horse and rode away.  A little while after Thord the Low rode up to his side, and said, “What has now come to pass, father, that you are shedding tears?” Gest answered, “It is needless to tell it, yet I am loath to keep silence on matters that will happen in your own days.  To me it will not come unawares if Bolli one day should have at his feet the head of Kjartan slain, and should by the deed bring about his own death, and this is an ill thing to know of such sterling men.”  Then they rode on to the Thing, and it was an uneventful meeting.

CHAP.  XXXIV

Gudrun’s First Marriage, A.D. 989

Thorvald was the name of a man, son of Haldor Garpdale’s Priest.  He lived at Garpsdale in Gilsfirth, a wealthy man, but not much of a hero.  At the Thing he wooed Gudrun, Osvif’s daughter, when she was fifteen years old. [Sidenote:  Gudrun marries Thorvald] The matter was not taken up in a very adverse manner, yet Osvif said that against the match it would tell, that he and Gudrun were not of equal standing.  Thorvald spoke gently, and said he was wooing a wife, not money.  After that Gudrun was betrothed to Thorvald, and Osvif settled alone the marriage contract, whereby it was provided that Gudrun should alone manage their money affairs straightway when they came into one bed, and be entitled to one-half thereof as her own, whether their married life were long or short.  He should also buy her jewels, so that no woman of equal wealth should have better to show.  Yet he should retain his farm-stock unimpaired by such purchases.  And now men ride home from the Thing.  Gudrun was not asked about it, and took it much to heart; yet things went on quietly.  The wedding was at Garpsdale, in Twinmonth (latter part of August to the latter part of September).  Gudrun loved Thorvald but little, and was extravagant in buying finery.  There was no jewel so costly in all the West-firths that Gudrun did not deem it fitting that it should be hers, and rewarded Thorvald with anger if he did not buy it for her, however dear it might be. [Sidenote:  Her friendship with Thord] Thord, Ingun’s son,