This narrative, which shows what became of Biörn Asbrandson, whose
adventures are partially related in the previous sketch, is from the
Eyrbyggia Saga. Notwithstanding the somewhat romantic character of these
two narratives, there can be no doubt but that they are true histories.
Yet that they relate to events in America, is not altogether so certain.
* * * * *
There was a man named Gudleif, the son of Gudlaug the Rich, of
Straumfiord and brother of Thorfinn, from whom the Sturlingers are
descended. Gudleif was a great merchant. He had a trading vessel, and
Thorolf Eyrar Loptson had another, when they fought with Gyrid, son of
Sigvald Earl. Gyrid lost an eye in that fight. It took place near the
end of the reign of King Olaf the Saint, that Gudleif went on a trading
voyage to the west to Dublin. On his return to Iceland, sailing from
the west of Ireland, he met with northeast winds, and was driven far
into the ocean west, and southwest, so that no land was seen, the summer
being now nearly gone. Many prayers were offered that they might escape
from the sea. At length they saw land. It was of great extent, but they
did not know what land it was. They took counsel and resolved to make
for the land, thinking it unwise to contend with the violence of the
sea. They found a good harbor, and soon after they went ashore, a number
of men came down to them. They did not recognize the people, but thought
that their language resembled the Irish.[243] In a short time such a
number of men had gathered around them as numbered many hundred. These
attacked them and bound them all and drove them inland. Afterwards they
were brought before an assembly, and it was considered what should be
done with them. They thought that some wished to kill and that others
were for dividing them among the villages as slaves. While this was
going on, they saw a great number of men riding[244] towards them with a
banner conspicuously lifted up, whence they inferred that some great man
was among them. And when the company drew near, they saw a man riding
under the banner, tall and with a martial air, aged and grayhaired. All
present treated this man with the utmost honor and deference. They soon
saw that their case was referred to the decision of this man. He
commanded Gudleif and his comrades to be brought before him, and coming
into his presence he addressed them in the Northern tongue, and asked
from what land they came. They replied that the chief part were
Icelanders. The man asked which of them were Icelanders. Gudleif
declared himself to be an Icelander, and saluted the old man, which he
received kindly, and asked what part of Iceland he came from. He replied
that he came from the district some called Bogafiord. He asked who lived
in Bogafiord, to which Gudleif replied at some length. Afterwards this
man inquired particularly about all the principal men of Bogafiord and
Breidafiord; and of these he inquired with special interest into
everything relating to Snorre the Priest, and of his sister Thurid, of
Froda, and for the great Kiarten, her son. In the meanwhile the natives
grew impatient about the disposition of the sailors. Afterwards the
great man left him and took twelve of the natives apart, and conferred
with them. Afterwards he returned. Then the old man spoke to Gudleif and
his comrades, and said: "We have had some debate concerning you, and the
people have left the matter to my decision; I now permit you to go where
you will, and although summer is nearly gone, I advise you to leave at
once; for these people are of bad faith, and hard to deal with, and now
think they have been deprived of their right." Then Gudleif asked, "Who
shall we say, if we reach our own country again, to have given us our
liberty?" He replied: "That, I will not tell you, for I am not willing
that any of my friends or kindred should come here, and meet with such a
fate as you would have met, but for me. Age now comes on so fast, that I
may almost expect any hour to be my last. Though I may live some time
longer, there are other men of greater influence than myself, though now
at some distance from this place, and these would not grant safety or
peace to any strange men." Then he looked to the fitting out of their
ship, and stayed at this place until a fair wind sprang up, so that they
might leave the port. Before they went away, this man took a gold ring
from his hand and gave it to Gudleif, and also a good sword. Then he
said to Gudleif: "If fortune permits you to reach Iceland, give this
sword to Kiarten, hero of Froda, and this ring to Thurid, his mother."
Gudleif asked, "Who shall I say was the sender of this valuable gift?"
He replied: "Say that he sent it who loved the lady of Froda, better
than her brother, the Priest of Helgafell. And if any man desires to
know who sent this valuable gift, repeat my words, that I forbid any one
to seek me, for it is a dangerous voyage, unless others should meet with
the same fortune as you. This region is large, but has few good ports,
and danger threatens strangers on all sides from the people, unless it
shall fall to others as yourselves." After this they separated. Gudleif,
with his comrades, went to sea, and reached Ireland the same autumn, and
passed the winter in Dublin. The next spring they sailed to Iceland, and
Gudleif delivered the jewel into the hand of Thurid. It was commonly
believed that there was no doubt but that the man seen, was Biörn
Breidaviking Kappa. And there is no other reliable report to prove this.