orning, as Hoskuld had gone out to look about his manor, the weather
being fine, and the sun, as yet little risen in the sky, shining
brightly, it happened that he heard some voices of people talking; so
he went down to where a little brook ran past the home-field slope,
and he saw two people there whom he recognised as his son Olaf and his
mother, and he discovered she was not speechless, for she was talking
a great deal to the boy. Then Hoskuld went to her and asked her her
name, and said it was useless for her to hide it any longer. She said
so it should be, and they sat down on the brink of the field.
[Sidenote: Of Melkorka's family] Then she said, "If you want to know
my name, I am called Melkorka." Hoskuld bade her tell him more of her
kindred. She answered, "Myr Kjartan is the name of my father, and he
is a king in Ireland; and I was taken a prisoner of war from there
when I was fifteen winters old." Hoskuld said she had kept silence far
too long about so noble a descent. After that Hoskuld went on, and
told Jorunn what he had just found out during his walk. Jorunn said
that she "could not tell if this were true," and said she had no
fondness for any manner of wizards; and so the matter dropped. Jorunn
was no kinder to her than before, but Hoskuld had somewhat more to say
to her. A little while after this, when Jorunn was going to bed,
Melkorka was undressing her, and put her shoes on the floor, when
Jorunn took the stockings and smote her with them about the head.
Melkorka got angry, and struck Jorunn on the nose with her fist, so
that the blood flowed. Hoskuld came in and parted them. After that he
let Melkorka go away, and got a dwelling ready for her up in
Salmon-river-Dale, at the place that was afterwards called
Melkorkastad, which is now waste land on the south of the Salmon
river. Melkorka now set up household there, and Hoskuld had everything
brought there that she needed; and Olaf, their son, went with her. It
was soon seen that Olaf, as he grew up, was far superior to other men,
both on account of his beauty and courtesy.

CHAP. XIV

The Murder of Hall, Ingjald's Brother

[Sidenote: The fishing at Bjorn isles] Ingjald was the name of a man.
He lived in Sheepisles, that lie out in Broadfirth. He was called
Sheepisles' Priest. He was rich, and a mighty man of his hand. Hall
was the name of his brother. He was big, and had the makings of a man
in him; he was, however, a man of small means, and