CHAP.  XII

Hoskuld Buys a Slave Woman

There were tidings at the beginning of the summer that the king went with his fleet eastward to a tryst in Brenn-isles, to settle peace for his land, even as the law laid down should be done every third summer.  This meeting was held between rulers with a view to settling such matters as kings had to adjudge—­matters of international policy between Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.  It was deemed a pleasure trip to go to this meeting, for thither came men from well-nigh all such lands as we know of.  Hoskuld ran out his ship, being desirous also to go to the meeting; moreover, he had not been to see the king all the winter through.  There was also a fair to be made for.  At the meeting there were great crowds of people, and much amusement to be got—­drinking, and games, and all sorts of entertainment.  Nought, however, of great interest happened there.  Hoskuld met many of his kinsfolk there who were come from Denmark. [Sidenote:  Of Gilli the Russian] Now, one day as Hoskuld went out to disport himself with some other men, he saw a stately tent far away from the other booths.  Hoskuld went thither, and into the tent, and there sat a man before him in costly raiment, and a Russian hat on his head.  Hoskuld asked him his name.  He said he was called Gilli:  “But many call to mind the man if they hear my nickname—­I am called Gilli the Russian.”  Hoskuld said he had often heard talk of him, and that he held him to be the richest of men that had ever belonged to the guild of merchants. [Sidenote:  The bargain for the slave woman] Still Hoskuld spoke:  “You must have things to sell such as we should wish to buy.”  Gilli asked what he and his companions wished to buy.  Hoskuld said he should like to buy some bonds-woman, “if you have one to sell.”  Gilli answers:  “There, you mean to give me trouble by this, in asking for things you don’t expect me to have in stock; but it is not sure that follows.”  Hoskuld then saw that right across the booth there was drawn a curtain; and Gilli then lifted the curtain, and Hoskuld saw that there were twelve women seated behind the curtain.  So Gilli said that Hoskuld should come on and have a look, if he would care to buy any of these women.  Hoskuld did so.  They sat all together across the booth.  Hoskuld looks carefully at these women.  He saw a woman sitting out by the skirt of the tent, and she was very ill-clad.  Hoskuld thought, as far as he could see, this woman was fair to look upon.  Then said Hoskuld, “What is the price of that woman if I should wish to buy her?” Gilli replied, “Three silver pieces is what you must weigh me out for her.”  “It seems to me,” said Hoskuld, “that you charge very highly for this bonds-woman, for that is the price of three (such).”  Then Gilli said, “You speak truly, that I value her worth more than the others.  Choose any of the other eleven, and pay one mark of silver for her, this one