Eirik the Reds Saga | Page 2

the Ship-breasted, whom afterwards
Thorbjorn, of the Haukadalr (Hawkdale) family, married; he it was who
dwelt at Eiriksstadr after Eirik removed from the north. It is near
Vatzhorn. Then did Eirik's thralls cause a landslip on the estate of
Valthjof, at Valthjofsstadr. Eyjolf the Foul, his kinsman, slew the
thralls beside Skeidsbrekkur (slopes of the race-course), above
Vatzhorn. In return Eirik slew Eyjolf the Foul; he slew also Hrafn the
Dueller, at Leikskalar (playbooths). Gerstein, and Odd of Jorfi,
kinsman of Eyjolf, were found willing to follow up his death by a legal
prosecution; and then was Eirik banished from Haukadalr. He occupied
then Brokey and Eyxney, and dwelt at Tradir, in Sudrey, the first
winter. At this time did he lend to Thorgest pillars for seat-stocks,
Afterwards Eirik removed into Eyxney, and dwelt at Eiriksstadr. He

then claimed his pillars, and got them not. Then went Eirik and fetched
the pillars from Breidabolstadr, and Thorgest went after him. They
fought at a short distance from the hay-yard at Drangar, and there fell
two sons of Thorgest, and some other men. After that they both kept a
large body of men together. Styr gave assistance to Eirik, as also did
Eyjolf, of Sviney, Thorbjorn Vifilsson, and the sons of Thorbrand, of
Alptafjordr (Swanfirth). But the sons of Thord Gellir, as also Thorgeir,
of Hitardalr (Hotdale), Aslak, of Langadalr (Longdale), and Illugi, his
son, gave assistance to Thorgest. Eirik and his people were outlawed at
Thorsnes Thing. He prepared a ship in Eiriksvagr (creek), and Eyjolf
concealed him in Dimunarvagr while Thorgest and his people sought
him among the islands. Eirik said to his people that he purposed to seek
for the land which Gunnbjorn, the son of Ulf the Crow, saw when he
was driven westwards over the ocean, and discovered Gunnbjarnarsker
(Gunnbjorn's rock or skerry). He promised that he would return to visit
his friends if he found the land. Thorbjorn, and Eyjolf, and Styr
accompanied Eirik beyond the islands. They separated in the most
friendly manner, Eirik saying that he would be of the like assistance to
them, if he should be able so to be, and they should happen to need him.
Then he sailed oceanwards under Snoefellsjokull (snow mountain
glacier), and arrived at the glacier called Blaserkr (Blue-shirt); thence
he journeyed south to see if there were any inhabitants of the country.
He passed the first winter at Eiriksey, near the middle, of the
Vestribygd (western settlement). The following spring he proceeded to
Eiriksfjordr, and fixed his abode there. During the summer he
proceeded into the unpeopled districts in the west, and was there a long
time, giving names to the places far and wide. The second winter he
passed in Eiriksholmar (isles), off Hvarfsgnupr (peak of disappearance,
Cape Farewell); and the third summer he went altogether northwards,
to Snoefell and into Hrafnsfjordr (Ravensfirth); considering then that
he had come to the head of Eiriksfjordr, he turned back, and passed the
third winter in Eiriksey, before the mouth of Eiriksfjordr. Now,
afterwards, during the summer, he proceeded to Iceland, and came to
Breidafjordr (Broadfirth). This winter he was with Ingolf, at Holmlatr
(Island-litter). During the spring, Thorgest and he fought, and Eirik met
with defeat. After that they were reconciled. In the summer Eirik went
to live in the land which he had discovered, and which he called

Greenland, "Because," said he, "men will desire much the more to go
there if the land has a good name."]
3. Thorgeir Vifilsson married, and took to wife Arnora, daughter of
Einar, from Laugarbrekka (the slope of the hot spring), the son of
Sigmund, the eon of Ketil-Thistil, who had occupied Thistilsfjordr. The
second daughter of Einar was named Hallveig. Thorbjorn Vifilsson
took her to wife, and received with her the land of Laugarbrekka, at
Hellisvollr (the cave-hill). To that spot Thorbjorn removed his abode,
and became great and worshipful. He was the temple-priest, and had a
magnificent estate. Thorbjorn's daughter was Gudrid, the fairest of
women, and of peerless nobility in all her conduct. There was a man
named Orm, who dwelt at Arnarstapi (eagle-rock), and he had a wife
who was named Halldis. He was a well-to-do franklin, a great friend of
Thorbjorn, and Gudrid lived at his house as his foster-child for a long
time. There was a man named Thorgeir, who dwelt at Thorgeirsfjall
(fell). He was mighty rich in cattle, and had been made a freedman. He
had a son, whose name was Einar, a handsome man, well mannered,
and a great dandy. Einar, at this time, was a travelling merchant, sailing
from land to land with great success; and he always passed his winter
either in Iceland or in Norway. Now after this, I have to tell how that
one autumn, when Einar was