d now my treasure must be left. Small pleasure have I had of
it, and leave it with the less!" cried she.

"Good woman, as the saying is, needs must," says Finnward, for he was
nettled with that speech.

"For that I called you," quoth Thorgunna. "In these two chests are much
wealth and things greatly to be desired. I wish my body to be laid in
Skalaholt in the new church, where I trust to hear the mass-priests
singing over my head so long as time endures. To that church I will you
to give what is sufficient, leaving your conscience judge of it. My
scarlet cloak with the silver, I will to that poor fool your wife. She
longed for it so bitterly, I may not even now deny her. Give her the
brooch as well. I warn you of her; I was such as she, only wiser; I warn
you, the ground she stands upon is water, and whoso trusts her leans on
rottenness. I hate her and I pity her. When she comes to lie where I
lie--" There she broke off. "The rest of my goods I leave to your black-
eyed maid, young Asdis, for her slim body and clean mind. Only the
things of my bed, you shall see burned."

"It is well," said Finnward.

"It may be well," quoth she, "if you obey. My life has been a wonder to
all and a fear to many. While I lived none thwarted me and prospered.
See to it that none thwart me after I am dead. It stands upon your
safety."

"It stands upon my honour," quoth Finnward, "and I have the name of an
honourable man."

"You have the name of a weak one," says Thorgunna. "Look to it, look to
it, Finnward. Your house shall rue it else."

"The rooftree of my house is my word," said Finnward.

"And that is a true saying," says the woman. "See to it, then. The
speech of Thorgunna is ended."

With that she turned her face against the wall and Finnward left her.

The same night, in the small hours of the clock, Thorgunna passed. It
was a wild night for summer, and the wind sang about the eaves and clouds
covered the moon, when the dark woman wended. From that day to this no
man has learned her story or her people's name; but be sure the one was
stormy and the other great. She had come to that isle, a waif woman, on
a ship; thence she flitted, and no more remained of her but her heavy
chests and her big body.

In the morning the house women streaked and dressed the corpse. Then
came Finnward, and carried the sheets and curtains from the house, and
caused build a fire upon the sands. But Aud had an eye on he