Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/124

 112 CHRONICLE OF THE SAGA X. ship. Go then and bring to me the old man ; but tell him nothing of what has happened, as ye shall answer for it with your lives." They did as they were ordered, and then came to the old man, and told him the king's message. When he came before the king, the king asked him, " Who o^vns the house thou art dwelling in?" He replies, " Sire, you own it, and take rent for it." The king : " Show us the way round the ness, for here thou must be a good pilot." The old man went into his boat, and rowed before the king's ship ; and when he had rowed a little way a crow came flying over the ship, and croaking hi- deously. The peasant listens to the crow. The king said, '' Do you think, bonder, that betokens any thing?" " Sire, that is certain," said he. Then another crow flies over the ship, and screeches dreadfully. The bonder was so ill hearing this that he could not row, and the oars hung loose in his hands. Then said the king, " Thy mind is turned much to these crows, bonder, and to what they say." The bonder replies, '' Now I suspect it is true what they say." The third time the crow came flying screeching at its very worst, and almost settling on the ship. 'Now the bonder threw down his oars, regarded them no more, and stood up before the king. Then the king said, " Thou art taking this much to heart, bonder; what is it they say?" The peasant : " It is likely that either they or I have misunderstood ." " Say on," replied the king. The bonder replied in a song : " The ' one-year old ' Mere nonsense told :