They said to Karlsefni that they considered they had found good and choice land.  Then they received them into their ship, and proceeded on their journey to where the shore was cut into by a firth.  They directed the ships within the firth.  There was an island lying out in front of the firth, and there were great currents around the island, which they called Straums-ey (Stream-island).  There were so many birds on it that scarcely was it possible to put one’s feet down for the eggs.  They continued their course up the firth, which they called Straumsfjordr, and carried their cargo ashore from the ships, and there they prepared to stay.  They had with them cattle of all kinds, and for themselves they sought out the produce of the land thereabout.  There were mountains, and the place was fair to look upon.  They gave no heed to anything except to explore the land, and they found large pastures.  They remained there during the winter, which happened to be a hard one, with no work doing; and they were badly off for food, and the fishing failed.  Then they went out to the island, hoping that something might be got there from fishing or from what was drifted ashore.  In that spot there was little, however, to be got for food, but their cattle found good sustenance.  After that they called upon God, praying that He would send them some little store of meat, but their prayer was not so soon granted as they were eager that it should be.  Thorhall disappeared from sight, and they went to seek him, and sought for three half-days continuously.  On the fourth half-day Karlsefni and Bjarni found him on the peak of a crag.  He lay with his face to the sky, with both eyes and mouth and nostrils wide open, clawing and pinching himself, and reciting something.  They asked why he had come there.  He replied that it was of no importance; begged them not to wonder thereat; as for himself, he had lived so long, they needed not to take any account of him.  They begged him to go home with them, and he did so.  A little while after a whale was driven ashore, and the men crowded round it, and cut it up, and still they knew not what kind of whale it was.  Even Karlsefni recognised it not, though he had great knowledge of whales.  It was cooked by the cook-boys, and they ate thereof; though bad effects came upon all from it afterwards.  Then began Thorhall, and said, “Has it not been that the Redbeard has proved a better friend than your Christ? this was my gift for the poetry which I composed about Thor, my patron; seldom has he failed me.”  Now, when the men knew that, none of them would eat of it, and they threw it down from the rocks, and turned with their supplications to God’s mercy.  Then was granted to them opportunity of fishing, and after that there was no lack of food that spring.  They went back again from the island, within Straumsfjordr, and obtained food from both sides; from hunting on the mainland, and from gathering eggs and from fishing on the side of the sea.