Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/110

 102 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA VII. Chapter LXXXVI. King Raerek's journey to Iceland. him away, we know no one who can watch him so that he will not in all probability escape ; and if once he gets loose he will assemble a great multitude, and do much evil." The king replies, " Ye say truly that many a one has suffered death for less offence than Ra3rek's ; but willingly I would not darken the victory I gained over the Upland kings, when in one morning hour I took five kings prisoners, and got all their kingdoms : but yet, as they were my relations, I should not be their murderer but upon need. As yet I can scarcely see whether Rserek puts me in the necessity of killing him or not." It was to feel if King Olaf had armour on or not, that Ra3rek had laid his hand on the king's shoulder. There was an Iceland man, by name Thorarin Nefiolfsson, who had his relations in the north of the country. He was not of high birth, but particularly prudent, eloquent, and agreeable in conversation with people of distinction. He was also a far-travelled man, who had been long in foreign parts. Thorarin was a remarkably ugly man, principally because he had very ungainly limbs. He had great ugly hands, and his feet were still uglier. Thorarin was in Tuns- berg when this event happened which has just been related, and he was known to King Olaf by their having had conversations together. Thorarin was just then done with rigging out a merchant vessel which he owned, and with which he intended to go to Iceland in summer. King Olaf had Thorarin with him as a guest for some days, and conversed much with him; and Thorarin even slept in the king's lodgings. One morning early the king awoke while the others were still sleeping. The sun had newly risen m the sky, and there was much light within. Ihe king saw that Thorarin had stretched out one of his feet from under the bed-clothes, and he looked at