Fin says, "Why don't you give us something to drink then, comrade, since
you have so much liquor?"
Thorer ordered his men to run off a bowlfull from the puncheons, from
which Fin and his people got liquor of the best quality. Now Fin ordered
Thorer to pay the mulcts. Thorer went backwards and forwards through the
ship, speaking now to the one, now to the other, and Fin calling out
to produce the pence. Thorer begged him to go to the shore, and said he
would bring the money there, and Fin with his men went on shore. Then
Thorer came and paid silver; of which, from one purse, there were
weighed ten marks. Thereafter Thorer brought many knotted nightcaps; and
in some was one mark, in others half a mark, and in others some small
money. "This is money my friends and other good people have lent me,"
said he; "for I think all my travelling money is gone." Then Thorer went
back again to his ship, and returned, and paid the silver by little
and little; and this lasted so long that the day was drawing towards
evening. When the Thing had closed the people had gone to their vessels,
and made ready to depart; and as fast as they were ready they hoisted
sail and set out, so that most of them were under sail. When Fin saw
that they were most of them under sail, he ordered his men to get ready
too; but as yet little more than a third part of the mulct had been
paid. Then Fin said, "This goes on very slowly, Thorer, with the
payment. I see it costs thee a great deal to pay money. I shall now let
it stand for the present, and what remains thou shalt pay to the king
himself." Fin then got up and went away.
Thorer replies, "I am well enough pleased, Fin, to part now; but the
good will is not wanting to pay this debt, so that both thou and the
king shall say it is not unpaid."
Then Fin went on board his ship, and followed the rest of his fleet.
Thorer was late before he was ready to come out of the harbour. When
the sails were hoisted he steered out over Westfjord, and went to sea,
keeping south along the land so far off that the hill-tops were half
sunk, and soon the land altogether was sunk from view by the sea.
Thorer held this course until he got into the English sea, and landed
in England. He betook himself to King Canute forthwith, and was well
received by him. It then came out that Thorer had with him a great deal
of property; and, with other things, all the money he and Karle had
taken in Bjarmaland. In the great liquor-casks there were sides within
the outer sides, and the liquor was between them. The rest of the casks
were filled with furs, and beaver and sable skins. Thorer was then with
King Canute. Fin came with his forces to King Olaf, and related to
him how all had gone upon his voyage, and told at the same time his
suspicion that Thorer had left the country, and gone west to England to
King Canute. "And there I fear he will cause as much trouble."
The king replies, "I believe that Thorer must be our enemy, and it
appears to me always better to have him at a distance than near."