Thorkell got on board his ship and put to sea.  They had a good wind, and were not long out about the main.  Thorkell brought his ship to Ramfirth, and rode soon from his ship home to Holyfell, where all folk were glad to see him. [Sidenote:  Thorkell’s return] In this journey Thorkell had gained much honour.  He had his ship hauled ashore and made snug, and the timber for the church he gave to a caretaker, where it was safely bestowed, for it could not be brought from the north this autumn, as he was at all time full of business.  Thorkell now sits at home at his manor throughout the winter.  He had Yule-drinking at Holyfell, and to it there came a crowd of people; and altogether he kept up a great state that winter.  Nor did Gudrun stop him therein; for she said the use of money was that people should increase their state therewith; moreover, whatever Gudrun must needs be supplied with for all purposes of high-minded display, that (she said) would be readily forthcoming (from her husband).  Thorkell shared that winter amongst his friends many precious things he had brought with him out to Iceland.

CHAP.  LXXV

Thorkell and Thorstein and Halldor Olafson, A.D. 1026

That winter after Yule Thorkell got ready to go from home north to Ramfirth to bring his timber from the north.  He rode first up into the Dales and then to Lea-shaws to Thorstein, his kinsman, where he gathered together men and horses.  He afterwards went north to Ramfirth and stayed there awhile, taken up with the business of his journey, and gathered to him horses from about the firth, for he did not want to make more than one journey of it, if that could be managed.  But this did not speed swiftly, and Thorkell was busy at this work even into Lent.  At last he got under way with the work, and had the wood dragged from the north by more than twenty horses, and had the timber stacked on Lea-Eyr, meaning later on to bring it in a boat out to Holyfell. [Sidenote:  The bargain with Halldor] Thorstein owned a large ferry-boat, and this boat Thorkell was minded to use for his homeward voyage.  Thorkell stayed at Lea-shaws through Lent, for there was dear friendship between these kinsmen.  Thorstein said one day to Thorkell, they had better go to Herdholt, “for I want to make a bid for some land from Halldor, he having but little money since he paid the brothers the weregild for their father, and the land being just what I want most.”  Thorkell bade him do as he liked; so they left home a party of twenty men together.  They come to Herdholt, and Halldor gave them good welcome, and was most free of talk with them.  There were few men at home, for Halldor had sent his men north to Steingrims-firth, as a whale had come ashore there in which he owned a share.  Beiner the Strong was at home, the only man now left alive of those who had been there with Olaf, the father of Halldor.  Halldor had said to Beiner at once when he saw Thorstein