ill give it you. For I think it
no every-day occurrence when such men as you come from Iceland to
visit me." At parting the Earl gave him a gold-inlaid axe, and the
best of keepsakes it was; and therewith they parted in the greatest
friendship. [Sidenote: Giermund goes with Olaf] Giermund in the
meantime set stewards over his estates secretly, and made up his mind
to go to Iceland in the summer in Olaf's ship. He kept this secret
from every one. Olaf knew nothing about it till Giermund brought his
money to Olaf's ship, and very great wealth it was. Olaf said, "You
should not have gone in my ship if I had known of this before-hand,
for I think there are those in Iceland for whom it would be better
never to have seen you. But since you have come with so much goods, I
cannot drive you out like a straying cur." Giermund said, "I shall not
return for all your high words, for I mean to be your passenger." Olaf
and his got on board, and put out to sea. They had a good voyage and
made Broadfirth, and they put out their gangways and landed at
Salmon-river-Mouth. Olaf had the wood taken out of his ship, and the
ship put up in the shed his father had made. Olaf then asked Giermund
to come and stay with him. That summer Olaf had a fire-hall built at
Herdholt, a greater and better than had ever been seen before. Noble
legends were painted on its wainscoting and in the roof, and this was
so well done that the hall was thought even more beautiful when the
hangings were not up. Giermund did not meddle with every-day matters,
but was uncouth to most people. He was usually dressed in this way--he
wore a scarlet kirtle below and a grey cloak outside, and a bearskin
cap on his head, and a sword in his hand. This was a great weapon and
good, with a hilt of walrus tooth, with no silver on it; the brand was
sharp, and no rust would stay thereon. This sword he called Footbiter,
and he never let it out of his hands. [Sidenote: Giermund's marriage]
Giermund had not been there long before he fell in love with Thured,
Olaf's daughter, and proposed to Olaf for her hand; but he gave him a
straight refusal. Then Giermund gave some money to Thorgerd with a
view to gaining the match. She took the money, for it was offered
unstintedly. Then Thorgerd broached the matter to Olaf, and said she
thought their daughter could not be better married, "for he is a very
brave man, wealthy and high-mettled." Then Olaf answered, "I will not
go against you in this any