a 'weapon-bitten' man
if you bear this sword." It was a most noble keepsake, and much
ornamented. Kjartan thanked the king with fair words for all the
honour and advancement he had bestowed on him while he had been in
Norway. Then the king spoke, "This I will bid you, Kjartan, that you
keep your faith well." After that they parted, the king and Kjartan in
dear friendship, and Kjartan stepped on board his ship. The king
looked after him and said, "Great is the worth of Kjartan and his
kindred, but to cope with their fate is not an easy matter."

[Footnote 5: Winter nights (vetrnaetr), the two last days of autumn and
the first day of winter.]

CHAP. XLIV

Kjartan comes home, A.D. 1001

Now Kjartan and Kalf set sail for the main. They had a good wind, and
were only a short time out at sea. They hove into White-river, in
Burgfirth. The tidings spread far and wide of the coming of Kjartan.
[Sidenote: Olaf goes to greet Kjartan] When Olaf, his father, and his
other kinsfolk heard of it they were greatly rejoiced. Olaf rode at
once from the west out of the Dales and south to Burgfirth, and there
was a very joyful meeting between father and son. Olaf asked Kjartan
to go and stay with him, with as many of his men as he liked to bring.
Kjartan took that well, and said that there only of all places in
Iceland he meant to abide. Olaf now rides home to Herdholt, and
Kjartan remained with his ship during the summer. He now heard of the
marriage of Gudrun, but did not trouble himself at all over it; but
that had heretofore been a matter of anxiety to many. Gudmund,
Solmund's son, Kjartan's brother-in-law, and Thurid, his sister, came
to his ship, and Kjartan gave them a cheery welcome. [Sidenote: Hrefna
and the coif] Asgeir Eider-drake came to the ship too to meet his son
Kalf, and journeying with him was Hrefna his daughter, the fairest of
women. Kjartan bade his sister Thurid have such of his wares as she
liked, and the same Kalf said to Hrefna. Kalf now unlocked a great
chest and bade them go and have a look at it. That day a gale sprang
up, and Kjartan and Kalf had to go out to moor their ship, and when
that was done they went home to the booths. Kalf was the first to
enter the booth, where Thurid and Hrefna had turned out most of the
things in the chest. Just then Hrefna snatched up the coif and
unfolded it, and they had much to say as to how precious a thing it
was. Then Hrefna said she would coif herself with it,