schief on the farm of a neighbour, who slew them. Then
Eric slew the farmer, and also Holmgang Hrafn, a famous duellist, of
whom the country was well rid. Eric was banished from that place, and,
in his new home, had a new quarrel. He lent some furniture to a man who
refused to restore it. Eric, therefore, carried off his goods, and the
other pursued him. They fought, and Eric killed him. For this he was
made an outlaw, and went sailing to discover new countries. He found
one, where he settled, calling it Greenland, because, he said, people
would come there more readily if it had a good name.

One Thorbiorn, among others, sailed to Greenland, but came in an unlucky
time, for fish were scarce, and some settlers were drowned. At that day,
some of the new comers were Christians, some still worshipped the old
Gods, Thor and Woden, and practised magic. These sent for a prophetess
to tell them what the end of their new colony would be. It is curious to
know what a real witch was like, and how she behaved, so we shall copy
the story from the old Icelandic book.

[Illustration]

'When she came in the evening, with the man who had been sent to meet
her, she was clad in a dark-blue cloak, fastened with a strap, and set
with stones quite down to the hem. She wore glass beads around her neck,
and upon her head a black lambskin hood, lined with white catskin. In
her hands she carried a staff upon which there was a knob, which was
ornamented with brass, and set with stones up about the knob. Circling
her waist she wore a girdle of touchwood, and attached to it a great
skin pouch, in which she kept the charms which she used when she was
practising her sorcery. She wore upon her feet shaggy calfskin shoes,
with long, tough latchets, upon the ends of which there were large brass
buttons. She had catskin gloves upon her hands; the gloves were white
inside and lined with fur. When she entered, all of the folk felt it to
be their duty to offer her becoming greetings. She received the
salutations of each individual according as he pleased her. Yeoman
Thorkel took the sibyl by the hand, and led her to the seat which had
been made ready for her. Thorkel bade her run her eyes over man and
beast and home. She had little to say concerning all these. The tables
were brought forth in the evening, and it remains to be told what manner
of food was prepared for the prophetess. A porridge of goat's beestings
was made for her, and for meat there were