They bade him see to all that.  Then Flosi said—­

“We will ride east to Hornfirth; for there that ship is laid up, which is owned by Eyjolf nosy, a man from Drontheim, but he wants to take to him a wife here, and he will not get the match made unless he settles himself down here.  We will buy the ship of him, for we shall have many men and little freight.  The ship is big and will take us all.”

Then they ceased talking of it.

But a little after they rode east, and did not stop before they came east to Bjornness in Hornfirth, and there they found Eyjolf, for he had been there as a guest that winter.

There Flosi and his men had a hearty welcome, and they were there the night.  Next morning Flosi dealt with the captain for the ship, but he said he would not be hard to sell the ship if he could get what he wanted for her.  Flosi asked him in what coin he wished to be paid for her; the Easterling says he wanted land for her near where he then was.

Then Eyjolf told Flosi all about his dealings with his host, and Flosi says he will pull an oar with him, so that his marriage bargain might be struck, and buy the ship of him afterwards.  The Easterling was glad at that.  Flosi offered him land at Borgarhaven, and now the Easterling holds on with his suit to his host when Flosi was by, and Flosi threw in a helping word, so that the bargain was brought about between them.

Flosi made over the land at Borgarhaven to the Easterling, but shook hands on the bargain for the ship.  He got also from the Easterling twenty hundreds in wares, and that was also in their bargain for the land.

Now Flosi rode back home.  He was so beloved by his men that their wares stood free to him to take either on loan or gift, just as he chose.

He rode home to Swinefell, and was at home a while.

Then Flosi sent Kol Thorstein’s son and Gunnar Lambi’s son east to Hornfirth.  They were to be there by the ship, and to fit her out, and set up booths, and sack the wares, and get all things together that were needful.

Now we must tell of the sons of Sigfus how they say to Flosi that they will ride west to Fleetlithe to set their houses in order, and get wares thence, and such other things as they needed.  “Kari is not there now to be guarded against,” they say, “if he is in the north country as is said.”

“I know not,” answers Flosi, “as to such stories, whether there be any truth in what is said of Kari’s journeyings; methinks, we have often been wrong in believing things which are nearer to learn than this.  My counsel is that ye go many of you together, and part as little as ye can, and be as wary of yourselves as ye may.  Thou, too, Kettle of the Mark, shalt bear in mind that dream which I told thee, and which thou prayedst me to hide; for many are those in thy company who were then called.”

“All must come to pass as to man’s life,” said Kettle, “as it is foredoomed; but good go with thee for thy warning.”