to have gone as far
south as the Carolinas. In the autumn they returned to Vinland, where
they passed another winter. The next summer they coasted around Cape Cod
toward Boston Harbor, and, getting aground on Cape Cod, they called it
_Kialarness_, Keel Cape. Here the chronicle first speaks of the natives,
whom it calls "Skraellings." It says: "They perceived on the sandy shore
of the bay three small elevations. On going to them they found three
boats made of skins, and under each boat three men. They seized all the
men but one, who was so nimble as to escape with his boat;" and "_they
killed all those whom they had taken_." The doctrine of "natural
enemies" was more current among the old Northmen than that of human
brotherhood.

A retribution followed swiftly. They were presently attacked by a swarm
of natives in boats. The "Skraellings" were beaten off; but Thorvald,
being fatally wounded in the skirmish, died, and was buried on a
neighboring promontory. His companions, after passing a third winter in
Vinland, returned to Greenland, having been absent three years. This,
considering the circumstances, was an adventurous voyage, a brave
exploring expedition sent from the arctic regions to make discoveries in
the mysterious world at the south. On reading the narrative, one longs
for that more ample account of the voyage which would have been given if
Thorvald himself had lived to return.

The "Account of Eirek the Red and Greenland" tells of an expedition
planned by Eirek's youngest son, Thorstein, which was prevented by
Thorstein's death. It relates the particulars of a voyage to Vinland
made by Eirek's daughter, Freydis, with her husband and his two
brothers. Freydis is described as a cruel, hard-hearted, enterprising
woman, "mindful only of gain." The chronicle says her husband, named
Thorvald, was "weak-minded," and that she married him because he was
rich. During the voyage she contrived to destroy her husband's brothers
and seize their ship, for which evil deed she was made to feel her
brother Leif's anger on her return. The same chronicle gives an account
of a voyage northward, up Baffin's Bay, and through what is now called
Wellington Channel. There is also a romantic story of Thorstein's widow,
Gudrid, an exceedingly beautiful and noble-minded woman, which tells how
she was courted and married by Thorfinn Karlsefne, a man of
distinguished character and rank, who came from Iceland with ships, and
was entertaine