accompanied them by the
island. Before they hoisted sail Thorhall recited a verse:--

"Go we back where our countrymen are. Let us make the skilled hawk of
the sand-heaven explore the broad ship-courses; while the dauntless
rousers of the sword-storm, who praise the land, and cook whale, dwell
on Furdustrandir."

Then they left, and sailed northwards along Furdustrandir and
Kjalarnes, and attempted there to sail against a wind from the west. A
gale came upon them, however, and drove them onwards against Ireland,
and there were they severely treated, enthralled, and beaten. Then
Thorhall lost his life.

9. Karlsefni proceeded southwards along the land, with Snorri and
Bjarni and the rest of the company. They journeyed a long while, and
until they arrived at a river, which came down from the land and fell
into a lake, and so on to the sea. There were large islands off the
mouth of the river, and they could not come into the river except at
high flood-tide. Karlsefni and his people sailed to the mouth of the
river, and called the land Hop. There they found fields of wild wheat
wherever there were low grounds; and the vine in all places were there
was rough rising ground. Every rivulet there was full of fish. They
made holes where the land and water joined and where the tide went
highest; and when it ebbed they found halibut in the holes. There was
great plenty of wild animals of every form in the wood. They were
there half a month, amusing themselves, and not becoming aware of
anything. Their cattle they had with them. And early one morning, as
they looked around, they beheld nine canoes made of hides, and
snout-like staves were being brandished from the boats, and they made
a noise like flails, and twisted round in the direction of the sun's
motion. Then Karlsefni said, "What will this betoken?" Snorri answered
him, "It may be that it is a token of peace; let us take a white
shield and go to meet them." And so they did. Then did they in the
canoes row forwards, and showed surprise at them, and came to land.
They were short men, ill-looking, with their hair in disorderly
fashion on their heads; they were large-eyed, and had broad cheeks.
And they stayed there awhile in astonishment. Afterwards they rowed
away to the south, off the headland.

10. They had built their settlements up above the lake. And some of
the dwellings were well within the land, but some were near the lake.
Now they remained there that winter. The