from that quarter. [Sidenote: Ketill’s
speech] It seems to me that there are two choices left
us, either to fly the land or to be slaughtered each
in his own seat. Now, as for me, my will is rather
to abide the same death that my kinsmen suffer, but
I would not lead you by my wilfulness into so great
a trouble, for I know the temper of my kinsmen and
friends, that ye would not desert me, even though
it would be some trial of manhood to follow me.”
Bjorn, the son of Ketill, answered: “I will
make known my wishes at once. I will follow the
example of noble men, and fly this land. For
I deem myself no greater a man by abiding at home the
thralls of King Harald, that they may chase me away
from my own possessions, or that else I may have to
come by utter death at their hands.” At
this there was made a good cheer, and they all thought
it was spoken bravely. This counsel then was
settled, that they should leave the country, for the
sons of Ketill urged it much, and no one spoke against
it. Bjorn and Helgi wished to go to Iceland, for
they said they had heard many pleasing news thereof.
They had been told that there was good land to be
had there, and no need to pay money for it; they said
there was plenty of whale and salmon and other fishing
all the year round there. But Ketill said, “Into
that fishing place I shall never come in my old age.”
So Ketill then told his mind, saying his desire was
rather to go west over the sea, for there was a chance
of getting a good livelihood. He knew lands there
wide about, for there he had harried far and wide.
Chap. III
Ketill’s Sons go to Iceland
[Sidenote: Of Bjorn in Iceland] After that Ketill
made a great feast, and at it he married his daughter
Thorunn the Horned to Helgi the Lean, as has been
said before. After that Ketill arrayed his journey
west over the sea. Unn, his daughter, and many
others of his relations went with him. That same
summer Ketill’s sons went to Iceland with Helgi,
their brother-in-law. Bjorn, Ketill’s son,
brought his ship to the west coast of Iceland, to
Broadfirth, and sailed up the firth along the southern
shore, till he came to where a bay cuts into the land,
and a high mountain stood on the ness on the inner
side of the bay, but an island lay a little way off
the land. Bjorn said that they should stay there
for a while. Bjorn then went on land with a few
men, and wandered along the coast, and but a narrow
strip of land was there between fell and foreshore.
This spot he thought suitable for habitation.
Bjorn found the pillars of his temple washed up in
a certain creek, and he thought that showed where
he ought to build his house. Afterwards Bjorn
took for himself all the land between Staff-river
and Lavafirth, and abode in the place that ever after
was called Bjornhaven. He was called Bjorn the
Eastman. [Sidenote: Ketill’s doings in
Scotland] His wife, Gjaflaug, was the daughter of