g's power; but
matters went on quietly. The weather set in very hard that autumn, and
there was a great deal of frost, the season being cold. The heathen
men said it was not to be wondered at that the weather should be so
bad; "it is all because of the newfangled ways of the king and this
new faith that the gods are angry." The Icelanders kept all together
in the town during the winter, and Kjartan took mostly the lead among
them. [Sidenote: Kjartan discusses the Christian faith] On the
weather taking a turn for the better, many people came to the town at
the summons of King Olaf. Many people had become Christains in
Thrandhome, yet there were a great many more who withstood the king.
One day the king had a meeting out at Eyrar, and preached the new
faith to men--a long harangue and telling. The people of Thrandhome
had a whole host of men, and in turn offered battle to the king. The
king said they must know that he had had greater things to cope with
than fighting there with churls out of Thrandhome. Then the good men
lost heart and gave the whole case into the king's power, and many
people were baptized then and there. After that, the meeting came to
an end. That same evening the king sent men to the lodgings of the
Icelanders, and bade them get sure knowledge of what they were saying.
They did so. They heard much noise within. Then Kjartan began to
speak, and said to Bolli, "How far are you willing, kinsman, to take
this new faith the king preaches?" "I certainly am not willing
thereto," said Bolli, "for their faith seems to me to be most feeble."
Kjartan said, "Did ye not think the king was holding out threats
against those who should be unwilling to submit to his will?" Bolli
answered, "It certainly seemed to me that he spoke out very clearly
that they would have to take exceeding hard treatment at his hands."
"I will be forced under no one's thumb," said Kjartan, "while I have
power to stand up and wield my weapons. I think it most unmanly, too,
to be taken like a lamb in a fold or a fox in a trap. I think that is
a better thing to choose, if a man must die in any case, to do first
some such deed as shall be held aloft for a long time afterwards."
Bolli said, "What will you do?" "I will not hide it from you,"
[Sidenote: Kjartan's resolve] Kjartan replied; "I will burn the king
in his hall." "There is nothing cowardly in that," said Bolli; "but
this is not likely to come to pass, as far as I can see. The king, I
ta