returned home. One night Stein
left the city, and his footboy with him. They went up Gaularas and into
Orkadal. One evening they came to one of the king's farms which Thorgeir
had the management of, and Thorgeir invited Stein to pass the night
there, and asked where he was travelling to. Stein begged the loan of a
horse and sledge, for he saw they were just driving home corn.

Thorgeir replies, "I do not exactly see how it stands with thy journey,
and if thou art travelling with the king's leave. The other day,
methinks, the words were not very sweet that passed between the king and
thee."

Stein said, "If it be so that I am not my own master for the king, yet
I will not submit to such treatment from his slaves;" and, drawing his
sword, he killed the landbailiff. Then he took the horse, put the boy
upon him, and sat himself in the sledge, and so drove the whole night.
They travelled until they came to Surnadal in More. There they had
themselves ferried across the fjord, and proceeded onwards as fast as
they could. They told nobody about the murder, but wherever they came
called themselves king's men, and met good entertainment everywhere.
One day at last they came towards evening to Giske Isle, to Thorberg
Arnason's house. He was not at home himself, but his wife Ragnhild,
a daughter of Erling Skjalgson, was. There Stein was well received,
because formerly there had been great friendship between them. It had
once happened, namely, that Stein, on his voyage from Iceland with his
own vessel, had come to Giske from sea, and had anchored at the island.
At that time Ragnhild was in the pains of childbirth, and very ill, and
there was no priest on the island, or in the neighbourhood of it. There
came a message to the merchant-vessel to inquire if, by chance, there
was a priest on board. There happened to be a priest in the vessel, who
was called Bard; but he was a young man from Westfjord, who had little
learning. The messengers begged the priest to go with them, but he
thought it was a difficult matter: for he knew his own ignorance, and
would not go. Stein added his word to persuade the priest. The priest
replies, "I will go if thou wilt go with me; for then I will have
confidence, if I should require advice." Stein said he was willing; and
they went forthwith to the house, and to where Ragnhild was in labour.
Soon after she brought forth a female child, which appeared to be rather
weak. Then the priest baptized the infan