too
was agreed. Glumm glanced at Ada, who, with a little blush and smile,
nodded. A nod was as good as a word to Glumm, so he also said he was
agreed, and as no one else made objection, the ships' prows were again
turned towards the setting sun.

North-westward they sailed over the world of waters, until they came one
fine morning in sight of land. As they drew near they saw that it was
very beautiful, consisting partly of snow-capped mountains, with green
fertile valleys here and there, and streams flowing through them. They
ran the vessels into a bay and landed, and the country looked so
peaceful, and withal so desirable, that it was at once resolved they
should make this place their abode. Accordingly, while most of the men
set themselves to work to land the goods, put up the tents, and make the
women and children comfortable, a select band, well armed, prepared to
go on an expedition into the country, to ascertain whether or not it was
inhabited. Before these set out, however, Christian the hermit stood up
on a rising ground, and, raising his eyes and hands to heaven, prayed
for God's blessing on their enterprise.

Thereafter plots of land were marked out, houses were built, "Things"
were held, a regular government was established, and the island--for
such it proved to be--was regularly taken possession of.

The exploring party found that this was indeed the island which they
were in search of. It had been discovered about the middle of the ninth
century, and a settlement had been made on it by Ingoll in the year 874;
but the band of immigrants under Frode and Haldor was by far the most
important that had landed on it up to that time.

In this manner, and under these circumstances, was Iceland colonised by
expatriated Norsemen about the beginning of the tenth century!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Good reader, our tale is told. Gladly would we follow, step by step,
the subsequent career of Erling and Glumm, for the lives of such men,
from first to last, are always fraught with interest and instruction;
but this may not be. We have brought them, with the other chief actors
in this little tale, to a happy point in their adventurous career, and
there we feel that we ought to leave them in peace. Yet we would fain
touch on one or two prominent points in their subsequent history before
bidding them a final farewell.

Let it be recorded, then, that many years a