Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/245

 KINGS OF NOllWAY. 237 had looked at it a while, Karl asked Leif what he saga vn. thought of the silver. He replied, " I am thinking where the bad money that is in the north isles can have come from." Thrand heard this, and said, " Do you not think, Leif, the silver is good ? " " No," says he. Thrand replies, " Our relations, then, are rascals not to be trusted. I sent them in spring to collect the scatt in the north isles, as I could not myself go any where, and they have allowed themselves to be bribed by the bonders to take false money, which nobody looks upon as current and good ; it is better, there- fore, Leif, to look at this silver which has been paid me as land-rent." Leif thereupon carried back this silver, and received another bag, which he carried to Karl, and they looked over the money together. Karl asked Leif what he thought of this money. He answered, that it appeared to him so bad that it would not be taken in payment, however little hope there might be of getting a debt paid in any other way ; " therefore I will not take this money upon the king's account." A man who had been lying on the bench now cast the skin coverlet off which he had drawn over his head, and said, " True is the old word, — he grows worse who grows older : so it is with thee, Thrand, who allowest Karl Mserske to handle thy money all the day." This was Gaut the Red. Thrand sprang up at Gaut's words, and reprimanded his rela- tion with many angry words. At last he said that Leif should leave this silver, and take a bag which his own peasants had brought him in spring. "And although I am weak-sighted, yet my own hand is the truest test." Another man who was lying on the bench raised himself now upon his elbow ; and this was Thorer the Low. He said, " These are no ordinary reproaches we suffer from Karl Maerske, and therefore he well deserves a reward for them." Leif in the mean time took the bag, and carried it to Karl ; and