The carline babbled the whole summer about the vetchstack that it
should be got indoors, but something always hindered it.
124. OF PORTENTS
At Reykium on Skeid dwelt one Runolf Thorstein’s son. His son’s
name was Hildiglum. He went out on the night of the Lord’s day,
when nine weeks were still to winter; he heard a great crash, so
that he thought both heaven and earth shook. Then he looked into
the west “airt,” and he thought he saw thereabouts a ring of
fiery hue, and within the ring a man on a grey horse. He passed
quickly by him, and rode hard. He had a flaming firebrand in his
hand, and he rode so close to him that he could see him plainly.
He was as black as pitch, and he sung this song with a mighty
voice:
“Here I ride swift steed,
His Bank flecked with rime,
Rain from his mane drips,
Horse mighty for harm;
Flames flare at each end,
Gall glows in the midst,
So fares it with Flosi’s redes
As this flaming brand flies;
And so fares it with Flosi’s redes
As this flaming brand flies.”
Then he thought he hurled the firebrand east towards the fells
before him, and such a blaze of fire leapt up to meet it that he
could not see the fells for the blaze. It seemed as though that
man rode east among the flames and vanished there.
After that he went to his bed, and was senseless a long time,
but at last he came to himself. He bore in mind all that had
happened, and told his father, but he bade him tell it to Hjallti
Skeggi’s son. So he went and told Hjallti, but he said he had
seen “`the Wolf’s ride,’ and that comes ever before great
tidings.”
125. FLOSI’S JOURNEY FROM HOME
Flosi busked him from the east when two months were still to
winter, and summoned to him all his men who had promised him help
and company. Each of them had two horses and good weapons, and
they all came to Swinefell, and were there that night.
Flosi made them say prayers betimes on the Lord’s day, and
afterwards they sate down to meat. He spoke to his household,
and told them what work each was to do while he was away. After
that he went to his horses.
Flosi and his men rode first west on the Sand (1). Flosi bade
them not to ride too hard at first; but said they would do well
enough at that pace, and he bade all to wait for the others if
any of them had need to stop. They rode west to Woodcombe, and
came to Kirkby. Flosi there bade all men to come into the
church, and pray to God, and men did so.
After that they mounted their horses, and rode on the fell, and
so to Fishwaters, and rode a little to the west of the lakes, and
