indeed, always practise as they teach; but
they are imperfect, therefore they cannot practise _fully_ as they
teach, because they teach _perfection_. This law I shall henceforth
follow as I best can. I follow it to-day. If I were in thraldom to
_you_, Heika, just now, I would wish you to set me free, therefore I now
set you and your brother free. The rule is very simple of application.
It only wants a willing spirit. And let me add--ye have to thank the
Lord, not me, for your freedom."

The brothers stood speechless with surprise on hearing this, but
Karlsefin grasped Leif's hand and said very earnestly--"Ye have done
well, brother. Long have I thought to urge thee to this, and frequently
have I asked of Him that it might be as it has turned out. Now, my
prayer is answered. But what say Heika and Hake to this?"

"Never mind what they say," returned Leif brusquely. "Doubtless their
thoughts interfere with their speech at present. And hark 'ee, all; as
I said before, I desire to have no further talk at present on this
point. Ye are welcome to tell whom ye please what I have said, and what
I have done, and why I have done it--there let the matter rest. So now,
Heika and Hake," he added, in a gay tone, "I mean what I say. There
lies the boat, and ye are free to go if it please you. Only, if ye will
accept my advice you will make up your minds to spend this winter in
Greenland as my guests, and in spring there will be better weather and a
more fitting craft to carry you over the sea to Scotland. Meanwhile
Hake will have ample opportunity to woo, win, and wed--without
demanding--the fair Bertha!"

Need we say that the brothers gladly accepted this generous invitation,
and endeavoured, in spite of Leif's prohibition, to express their
gratitude in a few earnest though broken sentences.

Great was the surprise that night in Brattalid, when it was made known
that Leif Ericsson had given freedom to his thralls out of regard to the
Christian religion. Leif afterwards told his friends that it was out of
regard to the Founder of that religion, but it was long before many of
the people could see a distinction in that. Numerous were the
theological discussions, too, which this act of emancipation called
forth in every household, and great was the joy which it created in one
or two hearts.

To say nothing of the young Scots themselves, it caused the heart of
timid little Bertha to sing for joy, while Gudrid, Astrid