Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/244

 236 CHRONICLE OF THE saga vn. worth speaking of occurred. Karl took up his abode with Leif Ossursson, and was there all winter. Leif collected the scatt of Stromo Island, and all the islands south of it. The spring after Thrand of Gata fell ill, and had sore eyes and other complaints ; but he prepared to attend the Thing, as was his custom. When he came to the Thing he had his tent put up, and within it another black tent, that the light might not penetrate. After some days of the Thing had passed, Leif and Karl came to Thrand's tent, with a great many people, and found some persons standing outside. They asked if Thrand was in the tent, and were told he was. Leif told them to bid Thrand come out, as he and Karl had some business with him. They came back, and said that Thrand had sore eyes, and could not come out ; " but he begs thee, Leif, to come to him within." Leif told his comrades to come carefully into the tent, and not to press forward, and that he who came last in should go out first. Leif went in first, fol- lowed by Karl, and then his comrades ; and all fully armed as if they were going into battle. Leif went into the black tent, and asked if Thrand was there. Thrand answered, and saluted Leif. Leif returned his salutation, and asked if he had brought the scatt from the northern islands, and if he would pay the scatt that had been collected. Thrand replies, that he had not forgotten what had been spoken of between him and Karl, and that he would now pay over the scatt. " Here is a purse, Leif, full of silver, which thou canst receive." Leif looked around, and saw but few people in the tent, of whom some were lying upon the benches, and a few were sitting up. Then Leif went to Thrand, and took the purse, and carried it into the outer tent, where it was light, turned out the money on his shield, groped about in it with his hand, and told Karl to look at the silver. When they