CHAPTER VI.

HRUT SAILS OUT TO ICELAND.

Hrut stayed with the king that winter in good cheer, but when spring came he grew very silent.  Gunnhillda finds that out, and said to him when they two were alone together—­

“Art thou sick at heart?”

“So it is,” said Hrut, “as the saying runs—­’Ill goes it with those who are born on a barren land’.”

“Wilt thou to Iceland?” she asks.

“Yes,” he answered.

“Hast thou a wife out there?” she asked; and he answers, “No”.

“But I am sure that is true,” she says; and so they ceased talking about the matter.

[Shortly after] Hrut went before the king and bade him “good day”; and the king said, “What dost thou want now, Hrut?”

“I am come to ask, lord, that you give me leave to go to Iceland.”

“Will thine honour be greater there than here?” asks the king.

“No, it will not,” said Hrut; “but every one must win the work that is set before him.”

“It is pulling a rope against a strong man,” said Gunnhillda, “so give him leave to go as best suits him.”

There was a bad harvest that year in the land, yet Gunnhillda gave Hrut as much meal as he chose to have; and now he busks him to sail out to Iceland, and Auzur with him; and when they were all-boun, Hrut went to find the king and Gunnhillda.  She led him aside to talk alone, and said to him—­

“Here is a gold ring which I will give thee;” and with that she clasped it round his wrist.

“Many good gifts have I had from thee,” said Hrut.

Then she put her hands round his neck and kissed him, and said—­

“If I have as much power over thee as I think, I lay this spell on thee that thou mayest never have any pleasure in living with that woman on whom thy heart is set in Iceland, but with other women thou mayest get on well enough, and now it is like to go well with neither of us;—­but thou hast not believed what I have been saying.”

Hrut laughed when he heard that, and went away; after that he came before the king and thanked him; and the king spoke kindly to him, and bade him “farewell”.  Hrut went straight to his ship, and they had a fair wind all the way until they ran into Borgarfirth.

As soon as the ship was made fest to the land, Hrut rode west home, but Auzur stayed by the ship to unload her, and lay her up.  Hrut rode straight to Hauskuldstede, and Hauskuld gave him a hearty welcome, and Hrut told him all about his travels.  After that they sent men east across the rivers to tell Fiddle Mord to make ready for the bridal feast; but the two brothers rode to the ship, and on the way Hauskuld told Hrut how his money matters stood, and his goods had gained much since he was away.  Then Hrut said—­

“The reward is less worth than it ought to be, but I will give thee as much meal as thou needst for thy household next winter.”