“That I will promise,” says Thangbrand.

Then Hall was baptised, and all his household.

CHAPTER XCVII.

OF THANGBRAND’S JOURNEYS.

The spring after Thangbrand set out to preach Christianity, and Hall went with him.  But when they came west across Lonsheath to Staffell, there they found a man dwelling named Thorkell.  He spoke most against the faith, and challenged Thangbrand to single combat.  Then Thangbrand bore a rood-cross[46] before his shield, and the end of their combat was that Thangbrand won the day and slew Thorkell.

Thence they fared to Hornfirth and turned in as guests at Borgarhaven, west of Heinabergs sand.  There Hilldir the old dwelt,[47] and then Hilldir and all his household took upon them the new faith.

Thence they fared to Fellcombe, and went in as guests to Calffell.  There dwelt Kol Thorstein’s son, Hall’s kinsman, and he took upon him the faith and all his house.

Thence they fared to Swinefell, and Flosi only took the sign of the cross, but gave his word to back them at the Thing.

Thence they fared west to Woodcombe, and went in as guests at Kirkby.  There dwelt Surt Asbjorn’s son, the son of Thorstein, the son of Kettle the foolish.  These had all of them been Christians from father to son.

After that they fared out of Woodcombe on to Headbrink.  By that time the story of their journey was spread far and wide.  There was a man named Sorcerer-Hedinn who dwelt in Carlinedale.  There heathen men made a bargain with him that he should put Thangbrand to death with all his company.  He fared upon Arnstacksheath, and there made a great sacrifice when Thangbrand was riding from the east.  Then the earth burst asunder under his horse, but he sprang off his horse and saved himself on the brink of the gulf, but the earth swallowed up the horse and all his harness, and they never saw him more.

Then Thangbrand praised God.

CHAPTER XCVIII.

OF THANGBRAND AND GUDLEIF.

Gudleif now searches for Sorcerer-Hedinn and finds him on the heath, and chases him down into Carlinedale, and got within spearshot of him, and shoots a spear at him and through him.

Thence they fared to Dyrholms and held a meeting there, and preached the faith there, and there Ingialld, the son of Thorsteinn Highbankawk, became a Christian.

Thence they fared to the Fleetlithe and preached the faith there.  There Weatherlid the Skald, and Ari his son, spoke most against the faith, and for that they slew Weatherlid, and then this song was sung about it—­

  He who proved his blade on bucklers,
  South went through the land to whet
  Brand that oft hath felled his foeman,
  ’Gainst the forge which foams with song;[48]
  Mighty wielder of war’s sickle
  Made his sword’s avenging edge
  Hard on hero’s helm-prop rattle,[49]
  Skull of Weatherlid the Skald.