THE COUNTRY 7 



searched after Thorhall three days, and found him 

 on the top of a rock; there he lay, and looked up 

 in the sky and gaped with both nose and mouth, and 

 murmured something. They asked him why he. had 

 gone there. He said it was no business of theirs. 

 They bade him come home with them, and he did 

 so. Soon after, came there a whale, and they went 

 thither and cut it up, and no one knew what sort 

 of whale it was ; and when the cook dressed it, they 

 ate it, and all became ill in consequence. Then said 

 Thorhall : ' The red bearded was more helpful than 

 your Christ ; this have I got now for my verses 

 that I sung to Thor, my protector. Seldom has he 

 deserted me. But when they came to know this 

 they cast the whole whale into the sea, and resigned 

 their case to God. Then the weather improved, and 

 it was possible to row out fishing, and they were 

 not then in want of food, for wild beasts were caught 

 on the land, and fish in the sea, and eggs collected 

 on the island." Now, when Thorhall bore water to 

 the ship, and drank, then sang he this song : 



" People told me when I came 



Hither, all would be so fine ; 

 The good Wineland, known to fame, 



Rich in fruits and choicest wine ; 

 Now the water pail they send 



To the fountain I must bend, 

 Nor from out this land divine 



Have I quaffed one drop of wjne." 



And when they were ready, and hoisted sail, then 

 chanted Thorhall 



