y name in company
with Olaf on this journey. The company were well fitted out.
[Sidenote: Olaf's voyage] King Harald and Gunnhild led Olaf to his
ship, and they said they wished to bestow on him their good-luck over
and above other friendship they had bestowed on him already. King
Harald said that was an easy matter; for they must say that no
goodlier a man had in their days come out of Iceland. Then Harald the
king asked how old a man he was. Olaf answered, "I am now eighteen
winters." The king replied, "Of exceeding worth, indeed, are such men
as you are, for as yet you have left the age of child but a short way
behind; and be sure to come and see us when you come back again." Then
the king and Gunnhild bade Olaf farewell. Then Olaf and his men got on
board, and sailed out to sea. They came in for unfavourable weather
through the summer, had fogs plentiful, and little wind, and what
there was was unfavourable; and wide about the main they drifted, and
on most on board fell "sea-bewilderment." But at last the fog lifted
over-head; and the wind rose, and they put up sail. Then they began to
discuss in which direction Ireland was to be sought; and they did not
agree on that. Orn said one thing, and most of the men went against
him, and said that Orn was all bewildered: they should rule who were
the greater in number. Then Olaf was asked to decide. He said, "I
think we should follow the counsel of the wisest; for the counsels of
foolish men I think will be of all the worse service for us in the
greater number they gather together." And now they deemed the matter
settled, since Olaf spake in this manner; and Orn took the steering
from that time. [Sidenote: They get to Ireland] They sailed for days
and nights, but always with very little wind. One night the watchmen
leapt up, and bade every one wake at once, and said they saw land so
near that they had almost struck on it. The sail was up, but there was
but little wind. Every one got up, and Orn bade them clear away from
the land, if they could. Olaf said, "That is not the way out of our
plight, for I see reefs all about astern; so let down the sail at
once, and we will take our counsel when there is daylight, and we know
what land this is." Then they cast anchors, and they caught bottom at
once. There was much talk during the night as to where they could be
come to; and when daylight was up they recognised that it was Ireland.
Orn said, "I don't think we have come to a good