88 DANIEL BRUUN. 
Certainly I well remember 
that the nobleminded prince 
us, that he gold has given, 
a shieldcastle often had made.” 
Thormod went from there to Thorgrims booth. It was hung with 
beautiful tapestries, and everything was arranged in the best manner. 
It happened at the assize one day, when the weather was fine that 
everyone had left Skuf's and Biarni's booth, except Thormod who was 
alone. He lay in the booth and slept. He had spread a double skin over 
him, which had fur on both sides. The one black and the other white. 
After Thormod had slept some time he awoke and saw that they were 
all gone. He was astonished at it, as before he fell asleep, many people 
had been present. At the same time Egil came rushing into the booth 
saying: 
“Thou missest too much of a grand pastime.” 
Thormod asked: 
“Where from comest thou — which games are they now playing?” 
Egil answered: 
“I was at Thorgrim Einarsson’s booth, and there the most of the 
assize people were gathered.” 
Thormod asked: 
“What are they amusing themselves with, there.” 
Egil answered: 
“Thorgrim is about to relate.” 
“With whom does it deal?” 
“T do not quite know, but it is certain that he relates both well and 
amusingly and they have given him a chair to sit on by the booth. People 
have settled round about and are listening to the tale.” 
Thormod said: “Thou canst well remember one or another man 
that he has named in the saga as thou sayest it is so amusing.” 
“A certain Thorgeir is mentioned in the saga who is a great hero, 
and it occurs to me that Thorgrim himself appears — strenuous as one can 
imagine. If only thou wouldst go thyself and hear — it is so amusing.” 
“It may be,” answered Thormod. He stood up cast his fur coat 
over him turning the black side out. In his hand he took an axe and he put 
a hat on his head, after which he went to Thorgrim’s booth with Egil. 
They stopped beside the wall of the booth and began to listen to the 
tale; but they could not hear distinetly what was said. The weather 
had been clear and the sun had shone, but when Thormod came to the 
booth it began to darken. He now looked up into the air, now down onto 
the earth at his feet. 
Egil asked: “Wherefore behavest thou so ridiculously?” 
Thormod answered: “Both heaven and earth have the aspect they 
are wont to have shortly before a thunder-crash.”’ 
