to be expected, in that brutal age, that moral strength
should find a keen appreciation. Indeed, Sigurd's words were far from
ringing with his own conviction. Little by little, the discontent broke
out again. At last it grew so near to mutiny, that the steersman felt
called upon to exercise his authority.

"All this is foolishly spoken, concerning something you know nothing of.
Undoubtedly Leif has an excellent reason for what he does. It may be
that he considers it of the greatest importance to secure Eric's
friendship. Or it may be that he intends to lead him into some
uninhabited place, that he may kill him and get rid of his ill-temper.
It is certain that he has some good reason. Go back to your work, and
make your minds easy that now, as always, some good will result from his
actions."

The men still growled as they obeyed him; but however right or wrong he
was regarding Leif's motives, he was proved correct in his prophecy. Out
of that moment on shore, came the good of a complete reconciliation with
Eric. No more were there cold shoulders, and half-veiled gibes, and long
evenings of gloomy restraint. No longer were Leif's followers obliged to
sit with teeth on their tongues and hands on their swords. The warmth of
gratification that had melted the ice of Eric's displeasure seemed to
have set free torrents of generosity and good-will. His ruddy face
beamed above the board like a harvest moon; if Leif would have accepted
it, he would have presented him with the entire contents of Brattahlid.
Following their chief's example, his retainers locked arms with their
former enemies and swore them eternal brotherhood. Night after night
they drank out of the same horns, and strengthened their bonds in
lauding their chiefs. Never had the great hall seen a time of such
radiant good cheer.

By the last week of Leif's preparations, interest and enthusiasm had
spread into every corner of inhabited Greenland. Strings of people began
to make pilgrimages to stare at the exploring vessel that had once been
within sight of the "wonder-shores" and now seemed destined actually to
touch them. Men came from ail parts of the country in the hope of
joining her crew, and were furious with disappointment when told that
her equipment was limited to thirty-five, and that that number had
already been made up from among Leif's own followers. Warriors thronged
to visit the Lucky One, until the hall benches were filled, and the
courtyard was so