who bears thee abroad.”
“I am the friend of my friend,” said Hrapp, “but when ill is done
to me I repay it. Nor am I short of money to lay down for my
passage.”
Then Kolbein took Hrapp on board, and a little while after a fair
breeze sprung up, and they sailed away on the sea.
Hrapp ran short of food at sea and then he sate him down at the
mess of those who were nearest to him. They sprang up with ill
words, and so it was that they came to blows, and Hrapp, in a
trice, has two men under him.
Then Kolbein was told, and he bade Hrapp to come and share his
mess, and he accepted that.
Now they come off the sea, and lie outside off Agdirness.
Then Kolbein asked where that money was which he had offered to
pay for his fare?
“It is out in Iceland,” answers Hrapp.
“Thou wilt beguile more men than me, I fear,” says Kolbein; “but
now I will forgive thee all the fare.”
Hrapp bade him have thanks for that. “But what counsel dost thou
give as to what I ought to do?”
“That first of all,” he says, “that thou goest from the ship as
soon as ever thou canst, for all Easterlings will bear thee bad
witness; but there is yet another bit of good counsel which I
will give thee, and that is, never to cheat thy master.”
Then Hrapp went on shore with his weapons, and he had a great axe
with an ironbound haft in his hand.
He fares on and on till he comes to Gudbrand of the Dale. He was
the greatest friend of Earl Hacon. They two had a shrine between
them, and it was never opened but when the earl came thither.
That was the second greatest shrine in Norway, but the other was
at Hlada.
Thrand was the name of Gudbrand’s son, but his daughter’s name
was Gudruna.
Hrapp went in before Gudbrand, and hailed him well.
He asked whence he came and what was his name. Hrapp told him
about himself, and how he had sailed abroad from Iceland.
After that he asks Gudbrand to take him into his household as a
guest.
“It does not seem,” said Gudbrand, “to look on thee, as thou wert
a man to bring good luck.”
“Methinks, then,” says Hrapp, “that all I have heard about thee
has been great lies; for it is said that thou takest every one
into thy house that asks thee; and that no man is thy match for
goodness and kindness, far or near; but now I shall have to speak
against that saying, if thou dost not take me in.”
“Well, thou shalt stay here,” said Gudbrand.
“To what seat wilt thou shew me?” says Hrapp.
“To one on the lower bench, over against my high seat.”
Then Hrapp went and took his seat. He was able to tell of many
things, and so it was at first that Gudbrand and many thought it
