106 LETTERS FROM HIGH LATITUDES. [VIII. 



bad been working in such a position as to be able to stab 

 the Pontiff to the heart, should his followers attempt to lift 

 their hands against himself. Comprehending the position of 

 affairs, Snorre's friends kept quiet. " Bjorn then asked the 

 news." Snorre confesses that he had intended to kill him ; 

 but adds, " Thou tookest such a lucky grip of me at our 

 meeting, that thou must have peace this time, however it 

 may have been determined before." The conversation is 

 concluded by an agreement on the part of Bjorn to leave 

 the country, as he feels it impossible to abstain from paying 

 visits to Thuredas long as he remains in the neighbourhood. 

 Having manned a ship, Bjorn put to sea in the summer-time. 

 ' When they sailed away, a north-east wind was blowing, 

 which wind lasted long during that summer ; but of this ship 

 was nothing heard since this long time." And so we conclude 

 it is all over with the poor Champion of Breidavik ! Not a 

 bit of it. He turns up, thirty years afterwards, safe and 

 sound, in the uttermost parts of the earth. 



In the year 1029, a certain Icelander, named Gudlief, 

 undertakes a voyage to Limerick, in Ireland. On his return 

 home, he is driven out of his course by north-east winds, 

 Heaven knows where. After drifting for many days to the 

 westward, he at last falls in with land.. On approaching the 

 beach, a great crowd of people came down to meet the 

 strangers, apparently with no friendly intentions. Shortly 

 afterwards, a tall and venerable chieftain makes his appear- 

 ance, and, to Gudliefs great astonishment, addresses him in 

 Icelandic. Having entertained the weary mariners very hon- 

 ourably, and supplied them with provisions, the old man bids 

 them speed back to Iceland, as it would be unsafe for them 

 to remain where they were. His own name he refused to 

 tell ; but having learnt that Gudlief comes from the neigh- 

 bourhood of Snaefell, he puts into his hands a sword and a 

 ring. The ring is to be given to Thured of Froda ; the sword 

 to her son Kjartan. When Gudlief asks by whom he is to 

 say the gifts are sent, the ancient chieftain answers, " Say 

 they come from one who was a better friend of the Lady of 



