Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/174

 166 CHRONICLE OF THE saga vn. keeping, and resolved to put into the water a vessel for carrying goods which he had, and which was large enough to go to sea with. The ship was good, all that belonged to her was of the best, and in the sails were stripes of cloth of various colours. Asbiorn made himself ready for a voyage, and put to sea with twentv men. They sailed from the north in summer ; and nothing is told of their voyage until one day, about the time the days begin to shorten, they came to Kormtsund, and landed at Augvaldness. Up in the island Kormt there is a large farm not far from the sea, and a large house upon it called Augvaldness, which was a king's house, with an excellent farm, which Thorer Sel, who was the king's bailiff, had under his management. Thorer was a man of low birth, but had swung himself up in the world as an active man ; and he was polite in speech, showy in clothes, and fond of distinction, and not apt to give way to others, in which he was supported by the favour of the king. He was besides quick in speech, straightforward, and free in conversation. Asbiorn, with his company, brought up there for the night ; and in the morning, when it was light, Thorer went down to the vessel with some men, and inquired who commanded the splendid ship. Asbiorn named his own and his father's name. Thorer asks where the voyage was intended for, and what was the errand. Asbiorn replies, that he wanted to buy corn and malt ; saying, as was true, that it was a very dear time north in the country. " But we are told that here the seasons are good; and wilt thou, farmer, sell us corn? I see that here are great corn stacks, and it would be very convenient if we had not to travel farther." Thorer replies, " I will give thee the information that thou needst not go farther to buy corn, or travel about here in Rogaland ; for I can tell thee that thou must turn about, and not travel farther, for the kino;