Thorodd promised faithfully to execute this extraordinary testament in the most exact manner.  Accordingly, so soon as Thorgunna was dead, her faithful executor prepared a pile for burning her splendid bed.  Thurida entered, and learned with anger and astonishment the purpose of these preparations.  To the remonstrances of her husband she answered that the menaces of future danger were only caused by Thorgunna’s selfish envy, who did not wish any one should enjoy her treasures after her decease.  Then, finding Thorodd inaccessible to argument, she had recourse to caresses and blandishments, and at length extorted permission to separate from the rest of the bed-furniture the tapestried curtains and coverlid; the rest was consigned to the flames, in obedience to the will of the testator.  The body of Thorgunna, being wrapped in new linen and placed in a coffin, was next to be transported through the precipices and morasses of Iceland to the distant district she had assigned for her place of sepulture.  A remarkable incident occurred on the way.  The transporters of the body arrived at evening, late, weary, and drenched with rain, in a house called Nether-Ness, where the niggard hospitality of the proprietor only afforded them house-room, without any supply of food or fuel.  But, so soon as they entered, an unwonted noise was heard in the kitchen of the mansion, and the figure of a woman, soon recognised to be the deceased Thorgunna, was seen busily employed in preparing victuals.  Their inhospitable landlord, being made acquainted with this frightful circumstance, readily agreed to supply every refreshment which was necessary, on which the vision instantly disappeared.  The apparition having become public, they had no reason to ask twice for hospitality as they proceeded on their journey, and they came to Skalholt, where Thorgunna, with all due ceremonies of religion, was deposited quietly in the grave.  But the consequences of the breach of her testament were felt severely at Froda.

The dwelling at Froda was a simple and patriarchal structure, built according to the fashion used by the wealthy among the Icelanders.  The apartments were very large, and a part boarded off contained the beds of the family.  On either side was a sort of store-room, one of which contained meal, the other dried fish.  Every evening large fires were lighted in this apartment for dressing the victuals; and the domestics of the family usually sat around them for a considerable time, until supper was prepared.  On the night when the conductors of Thorgunna’s funeral returned to Froda, there appeared, visible to all who were present, a meteor, or spectral appearance, resembling a half-moon, which glided around the boarded walls of the mansion in an opposite direction to the course of the sun, and continued to perform its revolutions until the domestics retired to rest.  This apparition was renewed every night during a whole week, and was pronounced by Thorer with the wooden leg to presage