said, “I am minded to think, Kjartan, that you have done this of your own wilfulness rather than because you have been urged by men to go away from Norway and to Iceland.”  But thenceforth words between them were drowned in silence.  Amidst this Ingibjorg turns to a “mead-cask” that stood near her, and takes out of it a white coif inwoven with gold and gives it to Kjartan, saying, that it was far too good for Gudrun Osvif’s daughter to fold it round her head, yet “you will give her the coif as a bridal gift, for I wish the wives of the Icelanders to see as much as that she with whom you have had your talks in Norway comes of no thrall’s blood.”  It was in a pocket of costly stuff, and was altogether a most precious thing.  “Now I shall not go to see you off,” said Ingibjorg.  “Fare you well, and hail!” After that Kjartan stood up and embraced Ingibjorg, and people told it as a true story that they took it sorely to heart being parted. [Sidenote:  The gifts] And now Kjartan went away and unto the king, and told the king he now was ready for his journey.  Then the king led Kjartan to his ship and many men with him, and when they came to where the ship was floating with one of its gangways to land, the king said, “Here is a sword, Kjartan, that you shall take from me at our parting; let this weapon be always with you, for my mind tells me you will never be a ‘weapon-bitten’ man if you bear this sword.”  It was a most noble keepsake, and much ornamented.  Kjartan thanked the king with fair words for all the honour and advancement he had bestowed on him while he had been in Norway.  Then the king spoke, “This I will bid you, Kjartan, that you keep your faith well.”  After that they parted, the king and Kjartan in dear friendship, and Kjartan stepped on board his ship.  The king looked after him and said, “Great is the worth of Kjartan and his kindred, but to cope with their fate is not an easy matter.”

[Footnote 5:  Winter nights (vetrnaetr), the two last days of autumn and the first day of winter.]

CHAP.  XLIV

Kjartan comes home, A.D. 1001

Now Kjartan and Kalf set sail for the main.  They had a good wind, and were only a short time out at sea.  They hove into White-river, in Burgfirth.  The tidings spread far and wide of the coming of Kjartan. [Sidenote:  Olaf goes to greet Kjartan] When Olaf, his father, and his other kinsfolk heard of it they were greatly rejoiced.  Olaf rode at once from the west out of the Dales and south to Burgfirth, and there was a very joyful meeting between father and son.  Olaf asked Kjartan to go and stay with him, with as many of his men as he liked to bring.  Kjartan took that well, and said that there only of all places in Iceland he meant to abide.  Olaf now rides home to Herdholt, and Kjartan remained with his ship during the summer.  He now heard of the marriage of Gudrun, but did not trouble himself at all over it; but that had heretofore been a matter