Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 1.djvu/180

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CHRONICLE OF THE

that they resolved to return. They sailed east, and came to Straumiiord. Karlsefne then took one of the ships to look for Thorhall, while the rest remained behind. They proceeded northwards round Kialarness, and afterwards to the north-west, the land being to larboard of them, and covered with thick forests. They considered the hills they saw at Hope, and these, as one continuous range. They spent the third winter at Straumfiord. Karlsefne's son was now three years old. When they sailed from Vinland they had southerly winds, and came to Markland, where they met live Skrælingers, and took two boys, whom they taught Norse, and who told them their people had no houses, but lived in holes and caves: that they had kings; one called Avaldamon, and the other Valdida. Biorne Grimulfson was driven into the Irish Ocean, and came into waters so infested with worms that their ship was in a sinking state. Some of the crew were saved in the boat, which had been smeared over with seal-oil, which is a preventive against worms in wood. Karlsefne continued his voyage to Greenland, and arrived at Ericsfiord.

During the same summer, 1011, a ship from Norway came to Greenland. The vessel belonged to two brothers, Helge and Finboge, who wintered in Greenland. Freydisa (the natural daughter of Eric Bed, who had married Thorward) proposed to them to join in an expedition to Yinland, each party to have thirty men, and to divide the gain equally. They agreed, and set out, and reached Leif's booths, where they spent the winter; but Freydisa, who had taken five men more with her than the agreement allowed, quarrelled with the brothers, and murdered them and the whole of their people, and returned in spring (1013) to Greenland.

Karlsefne went to Norway with his Yinland cargo next summer, and it was considered very valuable.