The Story of Rolf and the Viking's Bow

horse, and knew him for his father's brother Kiartan. He was a big man, heavily bearded, dressed in bright-colored clothes and hung about with gold

ld my horse and stable him." So Rolf took the horse by the bridle and held him

mistress?" a

in the house,"

-boy. But thy father had ever a love of the ear

uncle," rep

, staring, "what spi

st below on the deck of thy ship, and lookeds

thanks, either to Rolf or to Hiarandi, for the saving of his life. "Thou art wise to stay at home, boy; for see how a s

tering (though he meant not that Rolf should hear), "Poor steel comes often home for a

laid up for the winter near Hvamm, and I come home to my kinsman. No poor penny am I thi

need nothing," said Hiarandi, "and I even have money out at call there in the neighborhood whe

tered on his wint

was not wide, and both he and Rolf were keen to see the changes in the weather; and as for their horses, they stayed ever near the buildings. So all were free to go to the gatherings which men made for games and ball-play, in times of fair weather. Thither Kiartan loved to go, dressed in his fine clothes, and talking much. But

way our forefathers thought. For it was to avoid kings and earls that they left their lands in Norway and came over th

nar thinks well of earls, for he has fost

ittle of our ways when he

r luckier than thy son here. A great court is held in

no wisdom will flourish unless there be good ground for it to sprout. I hav

when there came again the great winter ball-play, to which all went, and Rolf shot again with the bow before the

e to shoot farther than thou with the bow, for two did it. But n

much of it,"

f higher. For in the Orkneys good archers are welcome in

nger his own man

see the world, and make his fortune also, then he is for

ad even seen Rome. And Rolf was greatly interested in those tales; for the lands across the sea were of moment to all Icelanders, since many a man fared abroad often, and no man thought himself complete who had not once made th

ard how one evening he drew Hiarandi on to talk of his savings, and learned what money he had out at interest, and with whom. And Kiartan spoke the oftener

nowest I must go

nswered

hee that thou keepest here at home such a fine lad as is Rolf thy son." And he would have put his hand upon the boy's shoul

ak no more of this. Some day he shall see the la

early full-grown. What sayest tho

"I will be rule

" reasoned Kiartan, "and

or trading,"

," said Kiartan, "and thou m

to be a servan

ee wars and fighti

" answered the boy, "and I mix

years; and at his last response Hiarandi smiled, and Asdis clapped her hands. Then Kiartan started from his seat and cried: "Out upon ye all for stay-at-homes!" And he would spea

mind. Now let me tell thee what we can do. I will go on for the lading of my ship, and that will take a fortnig

s, he will give thee a beating. Therefore I w

f to strike his nephew. But Rolf put his hand to hi

nd I knew thou wert a coward long ago, when I saw thee on thy ship's deck, giving no orders, but lett

e was as glad at parting

d Hiarandi, "in all the

s, "is the harm whi

Hiarandi should pay. And it was discovered that Kiartan had not only used the money which Hiarandi had out at call in that region, but had obtained goods from other men

nd then at the Althing, many small suits were disputed. But the end of the matter was, that Hiarandi was beaten by the skill of lawyers; and he had to lose his money and pay more besides, and stood stripped of all which he had laid up against his ag