e set off to
Little River, leaving the settlement in charge of one or two men who
chanced at that time to be sick. Of course Olaf was with them, armed
with a huge iron hook fastened to the end of a stout pole. All the
women also went, being quite as anxious as the men to witness the sport.

The island reached, Karlsefin divided his party into two bands. The
smaller body, numbering about twenty-five, were stationed in the water
at the lower end of the channel, at equal distances from each other, so
as to extend from the tail of the island to the right bank of the
stream. These carried strong poles about seven feet long, and were
placed there to frighten back any fish that might attempt to rush down
the river. The rest of the men went in a body to the dam, and there
awaited orders.

When all was ready Karlsefin said to them--"My lads, if we would act
well we must act together. Here is the plan on which you are to
proceed. On getting the word from Biarne to begin, you will all set to
work to dam up the water, right across from this bank to the head of the
island. You see that we have already done the work in part, so that it
only requires to be completed, and to have the centre gap stopped up.
That will be the difficult point, for the great rush of water will be
there, and you will have to do it quickly--to heave in the logs and
stones and rubbish, not forgetting the branches and the turf, which will
keep all together--as if your very lives depended on your speed. A
certain number of you, who shall be told off presently, will do your
best at the same time to deepen the channel of the other branch of the
stream. When this is done you will have a little breathing space, for
doubtless the water will take a little time to run off. You will take
advantage of this time to get your hooks and poles and landing-nets in
readiness. For the rest your own sense will guide you.--Now, Biarne,
tell off the men and go to work."

Reader, you should have seen the countenance of little Olaf Ericsson
when all this was being said and done! Many a time had he seen nets
hauled and fish taken, and often had he dreamt of netting whales and
other sea-monsters, but never before had he imagined such a thing as
laying the bed of a river dry; and his exuberant fancy depicted to him
scenes which it is not possible to describe. His visage glowed, and his
large blue eyes glared with excitement, while his little bosom heaved
and his heart b