Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/144

 136 CHRONICLE OF THE saga vii. respected," says he, " wherever thou comest among honourable men ; and I know so well thy disposition and the earl's, that it will not be long before ye come to extremities." Thereupon Thorkel made himself ready, and proceeded in autumn to Norway, and then to King Olaf, with whom he staid the whole winter, and was in high favour. The king often entered into conversation with him, and he thought, what was true, that Thorkel was a high-minded man of good under- standing. In his conversations with Thorkel, the king found a great difference in his description of the two earls ; for Thorkel was a great friend of Earl Thorfinn, but had much to say against Einar. Early in spring the king sent a ship west over the sea to Earl Thorfinn, with the invitation to come east and visit him in Norway. The earl did not decline the invitation, for it was accompanied by assurances of friendship. Earl Thorfinn went east to Norway, and came to King Olaf, from whom he received a kind reception, and staid till late in the summer. When he was pre- paring to return westwards again, King Olaf made him a present of a large and fully-rigged long-ship. Thorkel the Fosterer joined company with the earl, who gave him the ship which he brought with him from the West. The king and the earl took leave of each other tenderly. In autumn Earl Thorfinn came to Orkney, and when Earl Einar heard of it he went on board his ships with a numerous band of men. Earl Bruse came up to his two brothers, and endea- voured to mediate between them, and a peace was concluded and confirmed by oath. Thorkel Fosterer was to be in peace and friendship with Earl Einar ; and it was agreed that each of them should give a feast to the other, and that the earl should first be Thorkel's guest at Sandwick. When the earl came to the feast he was entertained in the best manner ; but the earl was not cheerful. There was a great Chapter CIV. Earl Einar 's murder.