140 THE RAVEN IN POETRY AND FOLK-LORE 



were, first, solemnly consecrated to the gods. He 

 reached the Faroes, and striking boldly out to sea 

 beyond, let loose raven No. i, which, after rising 

 high in air, returned to the islands, whence 

 Flokki concluded that they were still the nearest 

 land. He sailed onward again, and let slip raven 

 No. 2, which, after circling round for a time, returned 

 to the ship ; whence Flokki concluded that there 

 was now no land within even a raven's sight or 

 scent. He sailed onward once more, and then let 

 loose No. 3, his forlorn hope. It flew off at once 

 north-westward. Flokki followed in his wake, and 

 discovered the eastern coast of a huge inhospitable 

 island, which he named Iceland.* Soon afterwards, 

 the Northmen came to settle in the newly-discovered 

 country. It became the home of the Scalds and 

 the birthplace of the Sagas. And the adventurous 

 Northmen, sallying forth thence again, in process 

 of time, and doubtless accompanied and guided 

 by the ravens, who were inseparable from them, 

 discovered a still more remote and inhospitable 

 island, which they named Vinland or Greenland. 



* Mallet's Northern Antiquities, p. 107. 



