y," said
Thurid; "she grudged any other person the use of them, and that was
why she gave these orders; but nothing terrible will happen though her
words are set aside." "I doubt," said he, "whether it will be well to
do otherwise than as she charged me."

Then Thurid laid her arms round his neck, and besought him not to burn
the furnishings of the bed, and so much did she press him in this that
his heart gave way to her, and she managed it so that Thorodd burned
the mattresses and pillows, while she took for herself the quilt and
coverlets and all the hangings. Yet neither of them was well pleased.

After this the funeral was made ready; trustworthy men were sent with
the body, and good horses which Thorodd owned. The body was wrapped
in linen, but not sewed up in it, and then laid in the coffin. After
this they held south over the heath as the paths go, and went on until
they came to a farm called Lower Ness, which lies in the Tongues of
Staf-holt. There they asked leave to stay over night, but the farmer
would give them no hospitality. However, as it was close on
nightfall, they did not see how they could go on, for they thought it
would be dangerous to deal with the White River by night. They
therefore unloaded their horses, and carried the body into an out-
house, after which they went into the sitting-room and took off their
outer clothes, intending to stay there over night without food.

The people of the house were going to bed by daylight, and after they
were in bed a great noise was heard in the kitchen. Some went to see
whether thieves had not broken in, and when they reached the kitchen
they saw there a tall woman. She was quite naked, with no clothes
whatever upon her, and was busy preparing food. Those who saw her
were so terrified that they dared not go near her at all. When the
funeral party heard of this they went thither, and saw what the matter
was--Thorgunna had come there, and it seemed advisable to them all not
to meddle with her. When she had done all that she wanted, she
brought the food into the room, set the tables and laid the food upon
them. Then the funeral party said to the farmer: "It may happen in
the end, before we part, that you will think it dearly bought that you
would show us no hospitality". Both the farmer and the housewife
answered: "We will willingly give you food, and do you all other
services that you require".

As soon as the farmer had offered them this, T