that summer, and now he is out of the tale.

CHAPTER III. Of the Birth and Fostering of Helga the Fair.

This summer Thorstein got ready to ride to the Thing, and spake to
Jofrid his wife before he went from home. "So is it," he says, "that
thou art with child now, but thy child shall be cast forth if thou bear
a woman; but nourished if it be a man."

Now, at this time when all the land was heathen, it was somewhat the
wont of such men as had little wealth, and were like to have many young
children on their hands, to have them cast forth, but an evil deed it
was always deemed to be.

And now, when Thorstein had said this, Jofrid answers, "This is a word
all unlike thee, such a man as thou art, and surely to a wealthy man
like thee it will not seem good that this should be done."

Thorstein answered: "Thou knowest my mind, and that no good will hap if
my will be thwarted."

So he rode to the Thing; but while he was gone Jofrid gave birth to a
woman-child wondrous fair. The women would fain show her to the mother;
she said there was little need thereof, but had her shepherd Thorvard
called to her, and spake to him:--

"Thou shalt take my horse and saddle it, and bring this child west
to Herdholt, to Thorgerd, Egil's daughter, and pray her to nourish it
secretly, so that Thorstein may not know thereof. For with such looks of
love do I behold this child, that surely I cannot bear to have it cast
forth. Here are three marks of silver, have them in reward of thy work;
but west there Thorgerd will get thee fare and food over the sea."

Then Thorvard did her bidding; he rode with the child to Herdholt, and
gave it into Thorgerd's hands, and she had it nourished at a tenant's of
hers who dwelt at Freedmans-stead up in Hvamfirth; but she got fare for
Thorvard north in Steingrims-firth, in Shell-creek, and gave him meet
outfit for his sea-faring: he went thence abroad, and is now out of the
story.

Now when Thorstein came home from the Thing, Jofrid told him that the
child had been cast forth according to his word, but that the herdsman
had fled away and stolen her horse. Thorstein said she had done well,
and got himself another herdsman. So six winters passed, and this matter
was nowise wotted of.

Now in those days Thorstein rode to Herdholt, being bidden there as
guest of his brother-in-law, Olaf Peacock, the son of Hoskuld, who was
then deemed to be the chief highest of worth among all men west there.
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