behind, and a body of them
came to join him. They pushed forward the brown woman with her child.
Gudrid, not at all put out or frightened, held out her hand. The woman
stared hard at her white breast, then opened her gown and showed her
own. She gave her baby suck and grinned community of nature in
Gudrid's face. Gudrid, with one of those happy motions of hers, looked
round to see if Karlsefne was by, and finding that he was, put up her
hand into his.

That shot told. There was much commotion among the brown people, much
bickering and stirring; and presently they pushed one of their own men
forward, and joined his hand with that of the mother. Joyful
murmurings arose. Everybody understood. Now it was Freydis's turn.
She stood disdainfully apart, with folded arms, but her colouring and
shape betrayed her. Here was plainly to be another mother soon, as
they did not fail to tell each other. Then nothing would do but her
husband must be found for her. His friends dragged him out and put him
beside her, no more willing to go than she was to have him. "Handfast
her, you dog," said Karlsefne. "How else will they believe you?" So
that was done. Freydis fumed and burned, as handsome and furious a
young woman as you could have hoped to see. All went so well that
Karlsefne was moved to hospitality, sending a man off for milk and
fish. They crowded about for their share, and growing bold by degrees
handled the women's gowns, the men's weapons, and were for spying into
the stockade. The bull, who was feeding in there, snorted and puffed
up the dust; presently, wagging his head, he came towards them and sent
them flying back. Karlsefne, by signs, tried to make them understand
that he was ready to barter if they were. He touched the fur with
which they were all clad, and pointed to the milk bowls. When they saw
what he would be at, they in turn fingered the weapons which every man
had about him. Clearly they had not the art of forging steel. It was
long before they would leave the shore, and when they did go it was
with one consent, without any words passing. Quite suddenly they
turned about and ran down to the shore, launched their canoes and were
out in the water like a horde of rats. They rowed down the lake, as if
towards the sea.

Nothing more was seen of them for some time, but presently they began
to come in numbers, always very friendly and willing to barter. They
brought furs with them--fox and ma