being left in my possession.”  Hoskuld said, “I must first see how much silver there is in the purse I have on my belt,” and he asked Gilli to take the scales while he searched the purse. [Sidenote:  Of the dumb slave woman] Gilli then said, “On my side there shall be no guile in this matter; for, as to the ways of this woman, there is a great drawback which I wish, Hoskuld, that you know before we strike this bargain.”  Hoskuld asked what it was.  Gilli replied, “The woman is dumb.  I have tried in many ways to get her to talk, but have never got a word out of her, and I feel quite sure that this woman knows not how to speak.”  Then, said Hoskuld, “Bring out the scales, and let us see how much the purse I have got here may weigh.”  Gilli did so, and now they weigh the silver, and there were just three marks weighed.  Then said Hoskuld, “Now the matter stands so that we can close our bargain.  You take the money for yourself, and I will take the woman.  I take it that you have behaved honestly in this affair, for, to be sure, you had no mind to deceive me herein.”  Hoskuld then went home to his booth.  That same night Hoskuld went into bed with her.  The next morning when men got dressed, spake Hoskuld, “The clothes Gilli the Rich gave you do not appear to be very grand, though it is true that to him it is more of a task to dress twelve women than it is to me to dress only one.”  After that Hoskuld opened a chest, and took out some fine women’s clothes and gave them to her; and it was the saying of every one that she looked very well when she was dressed.  But when the rulers had there talked matters over according as the law provided, this meeting was broken up.  Then Hoskuld went to see King Hakon, and greeted him worthily, according to custom.  The king cast a side glance at him, and said, “We should have taken well your greeting, Hoskuld, even if you had saluted us sooner; but so shall it be even now.”

CHAP.  XIII

Hoskuld Returns to Iceland, A.D. 948

[Sidenote:  King Hakon bids Hoskuld farewell] After that the king received Hoskuld most graciously, and bade him come on board his own ship, and “be with us so long as you care to remain in Norway.”  Hoskuld answered:  “Thank you for your offer; but now, this summer, I have much to be busy about, and that is mostly the reason I was so long before I came to see you, for I wanted to get for myself house-timber.”  The king bade him bring his ship in to the Wick, and Hoskuld tarried with the king for a while.  The king got house-timber for him, and had his ship laden for him.  Then the king said to Hoskuld, “You shall not be delayed here longer than you like, though we shall find it difficult to find a man to take your place.”  After that the king saw Hoskuld off to his ship, and said:  “I have found you an honourable man, and now my mind misgives me that you are sailing for the last time from Norway, whilst I am lord over that