; but the heathen left it to Kjartan to answer
as he liked. Kjartan said, "We thank you, king, that you grant safe
peace unto us, and the way whereby you may most surely draw us to
take the faith is, on the one hand, to forgive us great offences, and
on the other to speak in this kindly manner on all matters, in spite
of your this day having us and all our concerns in your power even as
it pleases you. Now, as for myself, I shall receive the faith in
Norway on that understanding alone that I shall give some little
worship to Thor the next winter when I get back to Iceland." Then the
king said and smiled, "It may be seen from the mien of Kjartan that he
puts more trust in his own weapons and strength than in Thor and
Odin." Then the meeting was broken up. After a while many men egged
the king on to force Kjartan and his followers to receive the faith,
and thought it unwise to have so many heathen men near about him. The
king answered wrathfully, and said he thought there were many
Christians who were not nearly so well-behaved as was Kjartan or his
company either, "and for such one would have long to wait." The king
caused many profitable things to be done that winter; he had a church
built and the market-town greatly enlarged. This church was finished
at Christmas. Then Kjartan said they should go so near the church that
they might see the ceremonies of this faith the Christians followed;
and many fell in, saying that would be right good pastime. Kjartan
with his following and Bolli went to the church; in that train was
also Hallfred and many other Icelanders. The king preached the faith
before the people, and spoke both long and tellingly, and the
Christians made good cheer at his speech. [Sidenote: Kjartan's
determination] And when Kjartan and his company went back to their
chambers, a great deal of talk arose as to how they had liked the
looks of the king at this time, which Christians accounted of as the
next greatest festival. "For the king said, so that we might hear,
that this night was born the Lord, in whom we are now to believe, if
we do as the king bids us." Kjartan says: "So greatly was I taken with
the looks of the king when I saw him for the first time, that I knew
at once that he was a man of the highest excellence, and that feeling
has kept steadfast ever since, when I have seen him at folk-meetings,
and that but by much the best, however, I liked the looks of him
to-day; and I cannot help thinking that t