Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 3.djvu/362

 350 CHRONICLE OF THE APPENDIX, don't know," said Leif, " whether it be a ship or a rock I see there." Then they all looked, and said it was a rock. But he saw so much sharper than they did, that he could distin- guish people upon the rock. " Now I will put the vessel before the wind," says Leif, " so that we may get close to them, in case they are people who want to meet us and need our help ; and if they are not men of peace, it is in our power to do as we please, and not in theirs." Now they came up to the rock, let down the sail, cast anchor, and put out another little boat which they had with them. Then Tyrkcr hailed them, and asked who was the commander of these people. He called himself Thorer, and said he was a Nor- wegian. " And what," said he, " is your name ?" Leif told his name. " Are you a son of Eric Red of Brattalid?" Leif replied it was so. " And now," said Leif, " I invite you all to come on board my ship, with all your goods that the vessel can stow." They accepted the offer ; and then they sailed to Ericsfiord, and until they came to Brattalid, where they discharged the cargo. Leif offered Thorer and his wife Gudrid, and three others, lodging with himself, and found lodging elsewhere for the rest of the people, both of Thorer's crew and his own. Leif took fifteen men from the rock, and was thereafter called Leif the Lucky. After that time Leif advanced greatly in Avealth and consideration. That winter a sickness came among Thorer's people, and he himself and a great part of his crew died. The same winter Eric Red also died. This expedition to Vlnland was much talked of; and Leif's brother Thorvald tliought that the country had not been explored enough in different places. Then Leif said to Thorvald, " You may go, brother, in my ship to Vlnland if you like ; but I will first send the ship for the timber which Thorer left upon the rock." And so it was done. Now Thorvald made ready for his voyage with thirty men, after consulting his brother Leif. They rigged their ship, and put to sea. Nothing is related of this expedition until they came to Vlnland, to the booths put up by Leif, where they secured the ship and tackle, and remained quietly all win- ter, and lived by fishing. In spring Thorvald ordered the vessel to be rigged, and that some men should proceed in the long-boat Avestward along the coast, and explore It during the Chapter IV. Of Tlior. vald Erics- son, Leif's brother ; and of the Skra- linffers.