Laugar and talk to Gudrun.  It is not because I do not consider Gudrun the foremost of all other women, for she is the one among womenkind whom I look upon as a thoroughly suitable match for you.  But it is my foreboding, though I will not prophesy it, that we, my kinsmen and I, and the men of Laugar will not bring altogether good luck to bear on our dealings together.”  Kjartan said he would do nothing against his father’s will where he could help himself, but he hoped things would turn out better than he made a guess to.  Kjartan holds to his usual ways as to his visits (to Laugar), and Bolli always went with him, and so the next seasons passed.

CHAP.  XL

Kjartan and Bolli Voyage to Norway, A.D. 996

[Sidenote:  The family of Asgeir] Asgeir was the name of a man, he was called Eider-drake.  He lived at Asgeir’s-river, in Willowdale; he was the son of Audun Skokul; he was the first of his kinsmen who came to Iceland; he took to himself Willowdale.  Another son of Audun was named Thorgrim Hoaryhead; he was the father of Asmund, the father of Gretter.  Asgeir Eider-drake had five children; one of his sons was called Audun, father of Asgeir, father of Audun, father of Egil, who had for wife Ulfeid, the daughter of Eyjolf the Lame; their son was Eyjolf, who was slain at the All Thing.  Another of Asgeir’s sons was named Thorvald; his daughter was Wala, whom Bishop Isleef had for wife; their son was Gizor, the bishop.  A third son of Asgeir was named Kalf.  All Asgeir’s sons were hopeful men.  Kalf Asgeirson was at that time out travelling, and was accounted of as the worthiest of men.  One of Asgeir’s daughters was named Thured; she married Thorkell Kuggi, the son of Thord Yeller; their son was Thorstein.  Another of Asgeir’s daughters was named Hrefna; she was the fairest woman in those northern countrysides and very winsome.  Asgeir was a very mighty man.  It is told how one time Kjartan Olafson went on a journey south to Burgfirth.  Nothing is told of his journey before he got to Burg.  There at that time lived Thorstein, Egil’s son, his mother’s brother.  Bolli was with him, for the foster-brothers loved each other so dearly that neither thought he could enjoy himself if they were not together.  Thorstein received Kjartan with loving kindness, and said he should be glad for his staying there a long rather than a short time.  So Kjartan stayed awhile at Burg. [Sidenote:  Kjartan arranges to leave Iceland] That summer there was a ship standing up in Steam-river-Mouth, and this ship belonged to Kalf Asgeirson, who had been staying through the winter with Thorstein, Egil’s son.  Kjartan told Thorstein in secret that his chief errand to the south then was, that he wished to buy the half of Kalf’s ship, “for I have set my mind on going abroad,” and he asked Thorstein what sort of a man he thought Kalf was.  Thorstein said he thought he was a good man and true.  “I can easily understand,” said Thorstein, “that