was a new country to me--and my father in it moreover. And
one new country at a time is enough, I suppose."

He went on to say that he coasted those flat wooded shores for the
better part of two days and nights, keeping the land on his port bow,
but when, as it seemed to him, the coast-line turned westward as if to
make a great bay, thinking he would cut across it, he held on his
course. It was another two-three days before they made land again, and
then it was the same thing as before--woods, swamps, sand, driving
rain, or good sunshine; and still no snow. Now he had trouble with his
crew, who were for running into the land. They wanted wood and water,
they said; but Biorn wouldn't have it. "I wanted my father," he said,
"and besides there was abundance of water."

"What you wanted your father for beats me," said Eric, and Gudrid's
bright eyes sparkled their approval of his judgment.

"A man may want to see his father more than a foreign country, I
suppose," said Biorn. "You forget that I have seen a deal of foreign
countries--Russia, Sweden, Dantzick and what-not."

Well, then they sailed for three days and nights before a spanking
breeze from the southwest, and ran into the true winter cold, and
presently saw land for the third time--snow mountains wreathed with
cloud, snow upon the sea-beach itself. Biorn said it was an unchancy,
inhospitable kind of country where his father would never choose to
live. It was deep water so that they could come close in. There were
no signs of habitancy; but there were white bears to be seen, in
plenty. That was an island, he said. They held on their course, which
was N.E. by E., the breeze stiffened into a gale; and then it came on
to blow hard. They had more than enough of it under shortened sail,
and shipping green seas every fourth wave. Then, for the fourth time,
they sighted land, and a great ness which ran far out into the sea.
"Greenland!" said Biorn; and Greenland it was. On the lee side of that
ness was the very town about his father's house; and the very first man
he saw was his father, with lobster-pots all round him.

That, he said, was how it had been, and anybody was welcome to the
news. As for himself, he was a trader, and had no mind for fancy
voyages. Eric said that he might take the adventure up himself, but at
any rate his son Leif would take it up. Thorwald said that he intended
to go if Leif would take him. "I want to see that country where