the next winter when I get back to Iceland.”  Then the king said and smiled, “It may be seen from the mien of Kjartan that he puts more trust in his own weapons and strength than in Thor and Odin.”  Then the meeting was broken up.  After a while many men egged the king on to force Kjartan and his followers to receive the faith, and thought it unwise to have so many heathen men near about him.  The king answered wrathfully, and said he thought there were many Christians who were not nearly so well-behaved as was Kjartan or his company either, “and for such one would have long to wait.”  The king caused many profitable things to be done that winter; he had a church built and the market-town greatly enlarged.  This church was finished at Christmas.  Then Kjartan said they should go so near the church that they might see the ceremonies of this faith the Christians followed; and many fell in, saying that would be right good pastime.  Kjartan with his following and Bolli went to the church; in that train was also Hallfred and many other Icelanders.  The king preached the faith before the people, and spoke both long and tellingly, and the Christians made good cheer at his speech. [Sidenote:  Kjartan’s determination] And when Kjartan and his company went back to their chambers, a great deal of talk arose as to how they had liked the looks of the king at this time, which Christians accounted of as the next greatest festival.  “For the king said, so that we might hear, that this night was born the Lord, in whom we are now to believe, if we do as the king bids us.”  Kjartan says:  “So greatly was I taken with the looks of the king when I saw him for the first time, that I knew at once that he was a man of the highest excellence, and that feeling has kept steadfast ever since, when I have seen him at folk-meetings, and that but by much the best, however, I liked the looks of him to-day; and I cannot help thinking that the turn of our concerns hangs altogether on our believing Him to be the true God in whom the king bids us to believe, and the king cannot by any means be more eager in wishing that I take this faith than I am to let myself be baptized.  The only thing that puts off my going straightway to see the king now is that the day is far spent, and the king, I take it, is now at table; but that day will be delayed, on which we, companions, will let ourselves all be baptized.”  Bolli took to this kindly, and bade Kjartan alone look to their affairs.  The king had heard of the talk between Kjartan and his people before the tables were cleared away, for he had his spies in every chamber of the heathens.  The king was very glad at this, and said, “In Kjartan has come true the saw:  ’High tides best for happy signs.’” [Sidenote:  Kjartan and his men become Christians] And the first thing the next morning early, when the king went to church, Kjartan met him in the street with a great company of men.  Kjartan greeted the king with great cheerfulness, and said he had a pressing errand