n Olaf
is on his mother's side." To this Thorliek now agreed. Then Hoskuld
took the gold ring, Hakon's gift, that weighed a mark, and the sword,
King's gift whereon was half a mark of gold, and gave them to Olaf,
his son, and therewith his good luck and that of the family, saying he
did not speak in this way because he did not know well enough that the
luck had already come to him. Olaf took his gifts, and said he would
risk how Thorliek would like it. Thorliek liked it very ill, and
thought that Hoskuld had behaved in a very underhand way to him. Olaf
said, "I shall not give up the gifts, Thorliek, for you agreed to the
gift in the face of witnesses; and I shall run the risk to keep it."
Bard said he would obey his father's wishes. [Sidenote: The funeral
feast postponed] After that Hoskuld died, and his death was very much
grieved for, in the first place by his sons, and next by all his
relations and friends. His sons had a worthy cairn made for him; but
little money was put into it with him. And when this was over, the
brothers began to talk over the matter of preparing an "arvale"
(burial feast) after their father, for at that time such was the
custom. Olaf said, "It seems to me that we should not be in a hurry
about preparing this feast, if it is to be as noble as we should think
right; now the autumn is very far worn, and the ingathering of means
for it is no longer easy; most people who have to come a long way
would find that a hard matter in the autumn days; so that it is
certain that many would not come of the men we most should like to
see. So I will now make the offer, next summer at the Thing, to bid
men to the feast, and I will bear one-third of the cost of the
wassail." The brothers agreed to that, and Olaf now went home.
Thorliek and Bard now share the goods between them. Bard had the
estate and lands, which was what most men held to, as he was the most
popular; but Thorliek got for his share more of the chattels. Olaf and
Bard got on well together, but Olaf and Thorliek rather snappishly.
Now the next winter passed, and summer comes, and time wears on
towards the Thing. The sons of Hoskuld got ready to go to the Thing.
It was soon seen clearly enough how Olaf took the lead of the
brothers. When they got to the Thing they set up three booths, and
make themselves comfortable in a handsome manner.

CHAP. XXVII

The Funeral Feast for Hoskuld

[Sidenote: Olaf's invitation to the chiefs] It is told