e as you have fixed it, Grettir," Sigurd said
politely, "if you are able to run on skees with us."

Grettir laughed in a jovial roar, as he helped himself to a pair of
runners that rested on antlers against the wall. "You have a sly wit,
Sigurd Jarlsson. You think, because I am round, I am wont to roll like a
barrel. I will show you."

And it proved that, for all his bulk, he was as light on his feet as
either of them. In those days, when every landlubber could handle a boat
like a seaman, every sailor knew at least something about farming, and
could ride a horse like a jockey. All the way back, he kept them going
at a pace that took their breath.

In the excitement of welcoming so renowned a character to Brattahlid,
reprimands and curiosity were alike forgotten. By the time they had him
anchored behind an ale-horn on the bench in the hall, he held the
household's undivided attention. Good-natured with feasting, and roused
by the babel around him, he began yarn-spinning at the first hint.

"The western shore? No man living can tell you more of the wonders of
that than I,--not Biorn Herjulfsson himself!" he declared. And forthwith
he related the whole adventure, from Biorn's rash setting out into
unknown seas, to his final arrival on the Greenland coast.

To hear of these strange half-mythical shores from one who had seen them
with his own eyes, was more than interesting. The jarls' sons listened
breathlessly while he reeled out his tale between swallows.

"And the fair winds ceased, and northern winds with fog blew
continually, so that for many days we did not know even in what
direction we were sailing. Then the sun came into sight, and we could
distinguish the quarters of heaven. We hoisted sail, and sailed all day
before we saw land, but when we came to it we knew no more what it was
than this horn here. Biorn said he did not think it was Greenland, but
he wished to go near it. It had no mountains but low hills, and was
forest-clad. We kept the land on our left and sailed for two days before
we came to other land. This time it was flat and covered with woods.
Biorn said that he did not think this was Greenland, for very large
glaciers were said to be there. We wished to go ashore, as we lacked
both wood and water, and the fair wind had fallen. There were some cross
words when Biorn would not, but gave orders to turn the prow seaward.
This time we sailed three days with a southwest wind, and more land came
in vi