186 Н.Р. Sreenssy. 
into small pieces, which were not wider than a finger, and the Skrælings 
gave as much for them as they did before — or even more. 
It happened that a bull belonging to Karlsefni came running out of 
the wood, bellowing. This frightened the Skrelings, who hastened out 
to their boats, and rowed southwards along the coast. 
Nothing was seen of them for three weeks. But then there came a 
great number of Skreling boats from the south—row upon row. The 
poles were now swung against the sun; and the Skrælings all yelled 
loudly. Karlsefni’s men now held a red shield towards them. The 
Skrælings hastened out of their boats. Then they rushed at each other 
and fought. Missiles rained down as the Skrælings had slings. Karls- 
efni’s people saw that they raised a pole, to which a big ball mostly 
resembling the belly of a sheep was attached. It was of a bluish colour. 
They swung the pole and the missile flew up on land, over Karlsefni’s 
men. When it fell it gave a hideous crack. 
It struck Karlsefni and his people with terror, so that they only 
thought of flight. As they retreated along the river it seemed to them 
that the Skrælings advanced from all quarters. They did not pause 
until they reached some rocks, where they offered severe resistance. 
Freydis came out, and when she saw that Karlsefni’s men were re- 
treating she cried: 
“Why do you run away — excellent men as you are — from these 
poor creatures, whom I thought you could strike down like cattle; if 1 
had weapons I believe I could fight better than any of you.” 
They paid no attention to her words. Freydis would go with them, 
but as she was pregnant she could not go so fast. She followed them into 
the woods, however, but the Skrælings pursued her. She found a dead 
man, who proved to be Thorbrand Snorrason. A flat stone sat fast in 
his head, and his naked sword lay by his side. She took it up and put 
herself in a posture of defence. When the Skrælings reached her she 
bared her breasts, letting them spread on the shining sword. At this 
the Skrælings became frightened, escaped to their boats and rowed 
away. Karlsefni and his men then returned, and praised her courage. 
Two of Karlsefni’s men fell, but a great number of Skreelings. 
Karlsefni’s party had here encountered an enemy greatly superior 
in numbers; they now went home to their dwellings, dressed their wounds, 
and then began to consider what it could have been that had advanced 
against them from the land; and they perceived that it could only 
have been real people who came from the boats, and that anything else 
they had seen must have been an optical illusion. 
The Skrælings also found a dead man, by whose side there lay an 
axe. One of them took it up and cut into a tree with it, whereupon one 
after another did the same; they found that it was a precious thing and 
cut well. 
At last one of them took the axe and cut into a stone with it, so that 
