There they took much spoil, and then they held on north to Drontheim,
and go to see the Earl.

The Earl gave Thrain a hearty welcome, and he showed the Earl Kol's
head, but the Earl thanked him for that deed.

Eric said it was worth more than words alone, and the Earl said so it
was, and bade them come along with him.

They went thither, where the Earl had made them make a good ship that
was not made like a common long-ship. It had a vulture's head, and was
much carved and painted.

"Thou art a great man for show, Thrain," said the Earl, "and so have
both of you, kinsmen, been, Gunnar and thou; and now I will give thee
this ship, but it is called the 'Vulture'. Along with it shall go my
friendship; and my will is that thou stayest with me as long as thou
wilt."

He thanked him for his goodness, and said he had no longing to go to
Iceland just yet.

The Earl had a journey to make to the marches of the land to meet the
Swede-king. Thrain went with him that summer, and was a shipmaster and
steered the Vulture, and sailed so fast that few could keep up with him,
and he was much envied. But it always came out that the Earl laid great
store on Gunnar, for he set down sternly all who tried Thrain's temper.

So Thrain was all that winter with the Earl, but next spring the Earl
asked Thrain whether he would stay there or fare to Iceland; but Thrain
said he had not yet made up his mind, and said that he wished first to
know tidings from Iceland.

The Earl said that so it should be as he thought it suited him best; and
Thrain was with the Earl.

Then those tidings were heard from Iceland, which many thought great
news, the death of Gunnar of Lithend. Then the Earl would not that
Thrain should fare out to Iceland, and so there he stayed with him.

CHAPTER LXXXII.

NJAL'S SONS SAIL ABROAD.

Now it must be told how Njal's sons, Grim and Helgi, left Iceland the
same summer that Thrain and his fellows went away; and in the ship with
them were Olaf Kettle's son of Elda, and Bard the black. They got so
strong a wind from the north that they were driven south into the main;
and so thick a mist came over them that they could not tell whither they
were driving, and they were out a long while. At last they came to where
was a great ground sea, and thought then they must be near land. So then
Njal's sons asked Bard if he could tell at all to what land they were
likely to be nearest.

"Many lands there are," said he