east. Then the earth burst asunder under his horse, but he
sprang off his horse and saved himself on the brink of the gulf,
but the earth swallowed up the horse and all his harness, and
they never saw him more.
Then Thangbrand praised God.
ENDNOTES:
(1) Rood-cross, a crucifix.
(2) His son was Glum who fared to the burning with Flosi.
98. OF THANGBRAND AND GUDLEIF
Gudleif now searches for Sorcerer-Hedinn and finds him on the
heath, and chases him down into Carlinedale, and got within
spearshot of him, and shoots a spear at him and through him.
Thence they fared to Dyrholms and held a meeting there, and
preached the faith there, and there Ingialld, the son of
Thorsteinn Highbankawk, became a Christian.
Thence they fared to the Fleetlithe and preached the faith there.
There Weatherlid the Skald, and Ari his son, spoke most against
the faith, and for that they slew Weatherlid, and then this song
was sung about it —
“He who proved his blade on bucklers,
South went through the land to whet
Brand that oft hath felled his foeman,
‘Gainst the forge which foams with song (1);
Mighty wielder of war’s sickle
Made his sword’s avenging edge
Hard on hero’s helm-prop rattle (2),
Skull of Weatherlid the Skald.”
Thence Thangbrand fared to Bergthorsknoll, and Njal took the
faith and all his house, but Mord and Valgard went much against
it, and thence they fared out across the rivers; so they went on
into Hawkdale and there they baptized Hall (3), and he was then
three winters old.
Thence Thangbrand fared to Grimsness, there Thorwald the Scurvy
gathered a band against him, and sent word to Wolf Uggi’s son
that he must fare against Thangbrand and slay him, and made this
song on him —
“To the wolf in Woden’s harness,
Uggi’s worthy warlike son,
I, steel’s swinger dearly loving,
This my dimple bidding send;
That the wolf of Gods (4) he chaseth —
Man who snaps at chink of gold —
Wolf who base our Gods blasphemeth,
I the other wolf (5) will crush.”
Wolf sang another song in return:
“Swarthy skarf from mouth that skimmeth
Of the man who speaks in song
Never will I catch, though surely
Wealthy warrior it hath sent;
Tender of the seahorse snorting,
