Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/219

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 211 their sail, and in the night time took to the open sea saga vn. with all speed. They did not stop until they came to Faroe, and home to Gata. Thrand was ill pleased with their voyage, and they did not answer him in a very friendly way ; but they remained at home, however, with Thrand. The morning after, King Olaf heard of Sigurd's departure, and heavy reports went round about this case ; and there were many who believed that the accusation against Sigurd was true, although they had denied and opposed it before the king. King Olaf spoke but little about the matter, but seemed to know of a certainty that the suspicion he had taken up was founded in truth. The king after- wards proceeded in his progress, taking up his abode where it was provided for him. King Olaf called before him the men who had come Chapter from Iceland, Thorodd Snorresson, Geller Thorkelsson, 0f the Ic( L Stein Skoptason, and Egil Hallsson, and spoke to them landers, thus : — " Ye have spoken to me much in summer about making yourselves ready to return to Iceland, and I have never given you a distinct answer. Now I will tell you what my intention is. Thee, Geller, I propose to allow to return, if thou wilt carry my message there ; but none of the other Icelanders who are now here may go to Iceland before I have heard how the message which thou Geller shalt bring thither has been received." When the king had made this resolution known, it appeared to those who had a great desire to return, and were thus forbidden, that they were unreasonably and hardly dealt with, and that they were placed in the con- dition of unfree men. In the mean time Geller got ready for his journey, and sailed in summer to Iceland, taking with him the message he was to bring before the Thing the following summer. The king's message was, that he required the Icelanders to adopt the laws which he had set in Norway, also to pay him thane- p 2