battles. But after many hard fights on land and
sea, after many men had died and many had fled away to other lands, King
Harald won, and he made the men that were yet in the islands take the
oath, and he left his earls to rule over them. Then he went back to
Norway.

"He has done more than he vowed to do," people said. "He has not only
whipped the vikings, but he has got a new kingdom west-over-seas."

Then they talked of that dream that his mother had.

"King Harald was that great tree," they said. "The trunk was red with
the blood of his many battles, but higher up the limbs were fair and
green like this good time of peace. The topmost branches were white
because Harald will live to be an old man. Just as that tree spread out
until all of Norway was in its shade, and even more lands, so Harald is
king of all this country and of the western islands. The many branches
of that tree are the many sons of Harald, who shall be earls and kings
in Norway, and their sons after them, for hundreds of years."

_PART II_

[Illustration]

WEST-OVER-SEAS

[Decoration]

[Illustration]

Homes in Iceland

Men had been feasting in Ingolf's house. But there was no laughing and
no shouting of jokes. Ingolf sat in his high seat frowning and gloomy.
His head hung on his breast. He was staring into the fire. Now he raised
his head and looked about the hall.

"Comrades," he said, "what shall we do? Herstein and Holmstein died by
our swords. Their kinsmen hunger to kill us. Besides, when Harald hears
of our deed, there will not be a safe place in Norway for us. He will
never let a man fight out an honest quarrel. Where shall we go?"

A man stood up from the bench.

"We have friends in the Shetlands," he said. "Let us find homes there."

Then Leif, in the high seat opposite Ingolf, stood up.

"No, not the Shetlands, my foster-brother.[10] They are crowded
already. Besides, Harald will not long keep his hands off them. Then
they will be no better than Norway. England and Ireland and Scotland are
old. My eyes ache for something new. What of that far island that Floki
found? It is empty. We could choose our land from the whole country.
There is good fishing. There are green valleys. And Butter Thorolf says
that butter drops from every weed. There are mountains and deserts where
we may find adventure. I say, let us steer for Iceland!"

When he stopped, many of the men shouted:

"Yes! Iceland!"

But an old man