and put out to sea.  They had a good voyage and made Broadfirth, and they put out their gangways and landed at Salmon-river-Mouth.  Olaf had the wood taken out of his ship, and the ship put up in the shed his father had made.  Olaf then asked Giermund to come and stay with him.  That summer Olaf had a fire-hall built at Herdholt, a greater and better than had ever been seen before.  Noble legends were painted on its wainscoting and in the roof, and this was so well done that the hall was thought even more beautiful when the hangings were not up.  Giermund did not meddle with every-day matters, but was uncouth to most people.  He was usually dressed in this way—­he wore a scarlet kirtle below and a grey cloak outside, and a bearskin cap on his head, and a sword in his hand.  This was a great weapon and good, with a hilt of walrus tooth, with no silver on it; the brand was sharp, and no rust would stay thereon.  This sword he called Footbiter, and he never let it out of his hands. [Sidenote:  Giermund’s marriage] Giermund had not been there long before he fell in love with Thured, Olaf’s daughter, and proposed to Olaf for her hand; but he gave him a straight refusal.  Then Giermund gave some money to Thorgerd with a view to gaining the match.  She took the money, for it was offered unstintedly.  Then Thorgerd broached the matter to Olaf, and said she thought their daughter could not be better married, “for he is a very brave man, wealthy and high-mettled.”  Then Olaf answered, “I will not go against you in this any more than in other things, though I would sooner marry Thured to some one else.”  Thorgerd went away and thought her business had sped well, and now told Giermund the upshot of it.  He thanked her for her help and her determination, and Giermund broached the wooing a second time to Olaf, and now won the day easily.  After that Giermund and Thured were betrothed, and the wedding was to be held at the end of the winter at Herdholt.  The wedding feast was a very crowded one, for the new hall was finished.  Ulf Uggason was of the bidden guests, and he had made a poem on Olaf Hoskuldson and of the legends that were painted round the hall, and he gave it forth at the feast.  This poem is called the “House Song,” and is well made.  Olaf rewarded him well for the poem.  Olaf gave great gifts to all the chief men who came.  Olaf was considered to have gained in renown by this feast.

CHAP.  XXX

About Giermund and Thured, A.D. 978

[Sidenote:  Giermund leaves Iceland] Giermund and Thured did not get on very well together, and little love was lost between them on either side.  When Giermund had stayed with Olaf three winters he wished to go away, and gave out that Thured and his daughter Groa should remain behind.  This little maid was by then a year old, and Giermund would not leave behind any money for them.  This the mother and daughter liked very ill, and told Olaf so.