Corvus Saga

Corvus Saga

1          There was a warrior named Einar Raven-Eye who fought for King Harald.  Einar was a fierce fighter who was known as a berserk and he was valued for his intelligence and gifts in versification.  His people were said to be from Turkland, descended from the lands of Odin himself, which explained his abilities as a fighter and a poet.  He had thick, black hair and he was called Raven-Eye because he never looked straight.

            When King Harald Tangle-Hair had conquered all of Norway and became King Harald Fair-Hair, he settled with his army at Fjordane.  Einar was with him then.  He valued Einar as one of his strongest warriors and at times they would speak in confidence.  It is said that Einar gave Harald news from afar, even though he spent most of his time right alongside him. 

One evening Harald summoned Einar to him.  "You have served me as no other with your ferocity in battle and your knowledge of things that cannot be seen.  I would like you to remain with me, but I have had a dream that if you stay in my service a great number of terrible occurrences will happen.  Therefore, it is time for you to leave Norway.  You will take a ship and thirty men and sail from here tomorrow.  Great wealth and fame will come to you and your future sons," he said.  Einar told the king he would do as the king wished.

            The next day Einar recited a drottkvaet he had composed about King Harald, and the king was very pleased when Einar sailed away.

2          Einar and his men spent several years raiding in Ireland and Scotland and did not return to Norway because of Harald’s words.  In the sixth summer of his plundering, Einar’s ship was heavy with wealth and he was eager to take residence in Iceland as he had heard good news about the place.  He and his men discussed wintering in Iceland before they raided their last village.

            A man called Klepp the Quick had been sent ashore in the Hebrides to search out prospects for the crew.  He returned two nights later with a deep wound to his shoulder and good news. 

“I traveled along a stream that led from the shore into the hills, and after the first night, I encountered three men and a boy busy at a pool.  At first sight of me, the men looked quickly to each other and then rushed at me.  They were slow and poorly armed and I quickly cut them down, but the moment the three had me busy, the boy ran from the side and gave me this arm present with a small axe.  He was a brave boy, and it took a lot of work to get him to show me where his village was located.  It is a day and  half away east of the stream pool and is surrounded by  a stockade.  They have been raided in the past, but not for awhile.”  Klepp was given care and rest, but his arm never would be the same again.

            Einar and twenty of his crew assembled quickly and set off to reach the village in the middle of the night.  The trip took as long as Klepp had claimed and there was a full moon, so visibility was good.  There seemed to be no one guarding the entrance and no lookouts posted, so Einar walked up to the open entranceway to see how it was guarded.  All he found was a small cairn fitted with sticks to look like a man.  The buildings were quiet and it seemed that all were sleeping inside.  Einar informed his crew that this was the time to make their move and they quickly set on the buildings, killing any who they wanted.  After much of the activity had quieted and Einar had a chance to take stock of the situation, he heard an outburst of yelling and laughing.  He went over to its source, behind a small building partially on fire and saw six of his men cornering a young woman.  Two of his men were dead at her feet, and his other crew were yelling in waves of both anger and joy, trying to get the axe from her.  As Einar approached, he saw Berg, a strong fighter and great eater, step forward. The woman cleaved him right through the head with her axe.  He fell dead and the axe was lodged so the woman could not pull it out.  At this point, the men saw Einar.  They fell silent and stood still as he entered their circle.  He was an impressive character.

            The young woman was grunting and trying hard to relieve Berg of her weapon, but stopped and stood still when she saw Einar.  She had great arms, blood on her face, and blue eyes that shone in the dark like a cat’s.  Einar went to her and grabbed her thick arm and walked her away and her fighting was done.  He found out soon that she had no tongue and decided to take her as his bride to Iceland because of her bravery and mystery.  He called her Freda the Silent.  The next morning, before leaving the village, Einar spoke this verse:

1.

Brightly, head jewels burn in

Blue flame.  With no name and

Beautiful body oars, she

Rows in Odin’s blood sea,

Cresting many.  Missing

Mead palate, she speeds me

Towards a bloodless tomorrow;

Toil no more now will I.

That year, Einar settled in Iceland and built a great hall that has received many visitors, who have all spoken favorably of their time there. 

3          Einar and Freda had four children.  Thorvald, the first, died of coughing when he was six.  A year after Thorvald, a girl named Helga was born and then another girl named Hersa.  Then came Halldor, nicknamed Wiggle Eye.  As he grew, he soon began to look like his father in both his build and expressions, but he had his mother’s blond hair.  He was well liked by all who encountered him as a child and a young man.  When Halldor was fifteen he wanted to go raiding for the summer and approached his father with the subject. 

Einar said, “Do I think it is advisable for you to leave at this age and go to raiding?  As your father I do not.  But, a father must not make decisions because he likes to have his son nearby.  You will set off with Arinbjorn when he leaves for the summer and you will return after three winters.”  After he left, Halldor did not see his father again because Einar died when he was fishing alone and his boat was caught in a storm that was not anticipated.

4          There was a man named Bjarni Kleppsson who lived near Staumfjord.  He was a wealthy man who had built a great hall when he arrived in Iceland from Norway because he would not pay honor to King Harald.  He was known to be generous to visitors, but when he drank he would make his opinions known to most people in his company.  

Bjarni had a daughter named Helga.  She was a girl of beauty and a desirable match to many men, but she had not found a man she agree would to marry.

            Arinbjorn and Halldor landed at Staumfjord after their second summer of raiding and met with Bjarni.  Bjarni said that he had heard good things about Einar and his hall, and invited the two and their group to come to his great hall on the first night of their meeting. 

When they arrived, all were asked to leave their weapons at the main door of the hall.  At the time when food and drink was served, Arinbjorn, Halldor and their men were seated at a table with Bjarni at the head and ten of his people.  Introductions were given.  Mutton was served in great mass and everyone ate heartily.  Much beer was then presented and everyone became quite drunk.  As they were drinking more and more men arrived until the hall was quite full of confusion and merry making. 

            Bjarni spoke mostly to Halldor, and Arinbjorn listened quietly and drank slowly.  Bjarni was in good spirits and spoke proudly of his possessions and accomplishments and it took a long time for him to start questioning Halldor. 

“I have heard that Einar has great wealth and settled in Iceland with heavy boats,” said Bjarni.  “Did he come by this wealth from raiding or family?” 

“My father was one of King Harald’s greatest warriors.  He was asked to leave the king’s presence because of a dream-omen and he raided for many years before settling in Iceland,” replied Halldor. 

Bjarni roused himself and said, “Harald and his warriors drove me from Norway with their greed and wrecklessness.  I am happier here than in Norway.  The farther I am from Tangle-Locks, the better.” 

Arinbjorn became enraged and said, “Your hall may be big, but your mouth gapes like a whale-shark’s.”  The hall became quiet and tense and Halldor intervened.

            Halldor said, “My father fought for King Harald and would be angry at your words.  I am his son and these are his men, but we need not anticipate his reaction when he is not present.  Arinbjorn is close with my father and he is protective of our name.  I feel you have anger in losing to Harald, but do not direct your insults at us.” 

Bjarni agreed without much thought and called for more drink, making sure that Arinbjorn’s horn was topped off.  The rest of the night progressed without incident.

The next day, Bjarni asked if Halldor and his men would stay the winter, and Halldor and Arinbjorn both agreed.

5          Soon after Halldor and his group had settled in, Halldor saw Helga and immediately began to question about her.  When Bjarni learned of his interest, he said Halldor was a fine match, but Helga had never chosen a man who was suggested to her.  Bjarni expressed his love for his daughter and said he wouldn’t force her to marry unless she wanted to.  A meeting was arranged.

            When Halldor and Helga were together, they looked like brother and sister.  They were both handsome and had the same blonde hair.  Helga was fascinated with the way Halldor’s eye would rattle when he looked at something with intensity.  They spent much time together, and it was soon arranged that Halldor would return after the next year of raiding and the two would be married. 

            He arrived on schedule and the two were married and had a great banquet.  Bjarni was given a great deal of wealth from Halldor and was pleased when Halldor took Helga and his men to return home.

6          Halldor and Helga had only one child.  The child was called Einar because Halldor was still upset at the death of his father.  He became upset again when Helga died three days after she gave birth.  Halldor was stricken with illness and died three weeks after.  The baby was cared for by Freda and grew up quickly.

When he was five years old, Einar was small for his age, but very strong and a good talker.  He had black hair, a thin nose and blue eyes.  Everyone who saw Einar remarked on his eyes and some people were frightened of them.  He had several nicknames.  He was called most often Little Raven Eye because he had the habit of his grandfather of never looking straight.  Einar was often defiant as a child and many times minded only Freda.  He caused many problems.

One day, Einar approached a slave called Kleg who was cutting wood outside his home.  Einar indicated by nodding and pointing that he wanted to try out the axe.  He decided he didn’t want to use his voice.  Kleg let Einar take the axe and tried to help him with his stroke, but Einar chopped at the wood with fury.  He cut successfully through a thick log but came close to chopping off his own foot several times.  Kleg tried to intervene and Einar hit Kleg in the foot, cutting clean through to the ground.  While Kleg was on the ground, Einar recited this verse.

2.

Weilder of the wood bleeder,

My body boughs broke leg

Roots.  I feel I’ll fight like

Freyja’s husband, vying

Words in a sword wind to speak

When battle trees are whipped

And cleaved, leaving me alone,

Watching body sap drip.

Freda forced Einar to apologize, and compensated the slave for his loss.

8          Arinbjorn had a son named Grimr who was roughly the same age as Einar.  When Einar was seventeen, he was still causing trouble and was unpopular with many people because of his challenging verse.  Grimr disliked Einar and they would banter frequently.  Rarely, it came to blows.  Once, while the two were in a ball game Grimr was a little rough with Einar, and Einar stated this verse.

3.

Pushy hose harnesses you

Have, who ought take flight when

Storm fists surge from fury,

Reforming gruesome face shores.

Watch, for flood steeds  riding

Ruin well a sand nose.

Stop groping snake stranglers, for

Soon they will squirm broken.

            Grimr responded, “You speak as if with two tongues, one in your mouth and another in your grandmother’s.”

            Einar was not tall, but he had much strength and set on Grimr quickly.  In a moment he had Grimr on the ground and his thumb all the way into Grimr’s eye socket.  The other men that were near watched Einar get off Grimr as he lay on the ground yelling and holding his face.  Einar said, “Dead you would be, remember.”  Then, he walked away.  Grimr’s eye came back, but was unsightly for a few weeks.

            After that incident, Einar decided he didn’t want to use his voice very much and when he spoke he did so only in verse.  He spent much time with Freda and neglected most other company.  They would walk together and often sit in silence.  Einar would help Freda with her tasks but did little else.  He would often disappear and no one would know his whereabouts.

            There was a skald named Bjorn who was famous for his knowledge of verse and respected for his kennings.  He was interested in Einar, whose verse making and lack of talk was well known to others.  He approached Einar while he was sitting alone on a rock near the water.

            “You spend much time with your grandmother or alone, Einar.  I think your verse is of fine quality and would like to discuss with you technique,” said Bjorn.  Einar did not respond and kept looking out at the water. Bjorn stood for a while and then left.  For three weeks, Bjorn thus attempted to discuss verse with Einar and Einar ignored his advances.

            One morning Bjorn followed Einar as he walked off along a stream.  Einar knew that Bjorn was behind him, but kept walking anyway.  He walked through the morning until he reached a ledge that overlooked a valley.  He sat and looked out into the air and watched some ravens that were flying below.  Bjorn waited a long time before he approached him.

            “Einar, I see that you like to be alone.  I would like to speak with you about your verse making.  I have heard your speech and regard it highly.  You have Odin’s gift and I believe I can help you to advance your skills.  That is all I want to accomplish; we do not need to be friends,” said Bjorn.

            Einar turned his head toward Bjorn at a strange angle and looked past him as he spoke this verse.

4.

Schooled I am in skaldic

Scansion; steeped in Odin’s

Blood drink my brain.  Beyond

Blue head lanterns like I

Little illuminated, and lo,

Language bereft of craft

Stops the mind’s ear, soundless,

Silent with its own noise.

Bjorn paused and responded, “Watcher of Hunnin and Munnin, you are bathed in Kvasi’s gore and ride in the ship of the Dwarves.  You can win fame and wealth in the courts of great men, but you seem to be lacking great god lore.  Speak with me as I may sip from your Dwarves' mead and you may better rig your word-ship.”

            Einar paused for a few minutes and then said, “I have no use for courts and I have no use for praise, given or received.  If I needed to flatter in order to save my own head, let them have it if they want it so badly.  But, much I would like to discuss poetry with you.  You will help me to perch upon the shoulders of giants.” 

            Einar and Bjorn spent much time together that year discussing poetry and language.  Bjorn knew Latin and began to call his new associate Einar Corvus.  Although the two did not agree on everything they spoke, they gained a great deal from the company they kept.

8          The next year, Einar wanted to lead a trading expedition to England and gathered thirty men, including Arinbjorn and Grimr because they were two of the most valuable men around.  They were to take stockfish, furs, and other valuables to trade for cloth.  The ship was well painted and could carry a great load.  During the days leading up to the voyage, Einar worked long hours preparing and spent the rest of the time sitting with Freda in silence.  When the expedition was embarking and Einar embraced Freda; he held her for a long time.  Those present remarked that the blue of her eyes increased in intensity.  After Einar was gone, no one saw Freda for three days.

            The trip to England was a success.  As they were about to leave England, Einar said, “The men we dealt with here were good at bargaining and we need this cloth.  I have heard that the Lapps value this cloth and will pay for it more than what we were willing.  If this is true, we should trade some of the cloth with them and return with cloth and the same amount of valuables we traded.” 

It was decided that they should bring the cloth to Finnmark and trade with the Lapps.  This was risky business because only certain people were permitted by the king to take tribute from the Lapps.  It was late in the season, too, so they needed to make haste.  After several days of searching the coast, they saw some Lapps up an incline.  They were far away and would not come towards the shore.

            “I will row ashore and will go to them alone,” said Einar.  Arinbjorn did not think it wise.  “They will flee if we send a party because they do not know our intentions.  If I row ashore alone, I am fleet of foot and will catch up with them.  I will bring some English cloth with me and they will want to trade, and we will gain immense profit from the deal,” said Einar.

            “You should take another with you and if there is trouble with those reindeer guides, one can return and get help,” said Arinbjorn.  Einar agreed and Grimr volunteered to accompany him.

            The two arrived on shore and the Lapps disappeared over the hill.  “We must run and catch up with them, Grimr.  Let’s go.”  Both men ran full speed to the top of the hill and saw the Lapps traveling away, but they had already closed the gap immensely.  Einar paused and said, “Look, Grimr, back towards the ship.  There are three ships on the horizon with red and black sails.  Those must be the representatives of the king and they will not be happy with our presence.  You run back and warn the ship.  I will run forward and see if I can arrange something with those who flee from us.”

            While Grimr was running downhill, he slipped and abused himself well by rolling over the rocks.  When he arrived at the ship, his head was bleeding and it looked as if he had survived an attack.  “There are several ships we saw from the hill on their way towards us with full sail.  They are the king’s men and there were some with the Lapps.  Einar reached them first and was killed right in front of me.  I was able to fight well enough for my escape.  We must leave right away.”

            “This is terrible news, but good as well.  If we cannot yet see those ships we have time to cut our losses and get out of here.  Yet, we have lost a great man,” said Arinbjorn.

            Before winter, they sailed back to Iceland without incident.  Except for Grimr Arinbjornson, they were saddened at the loss of Einar, but happy with a successful trading voyage.

9          Einar caught up with the Lapps and though they were apprehensive, they were happy to see the cloth and seemed eager to do business.  Einar indicated he would return and ran back to the promontory where he had left Grimr.  He saw his own ship sailing away with full sails and saw no sign of the three others.  He then spoke this verse.

5.

Liars will I kill;

Lapp now I am.

10        There was a man named Onund, son of Berg of Halgoland.  He was a landowner and close with the king, so close that he was awarded rights to deal with the Lapps.  Onund had quite a good rapport with them, speaking their language and made great profits trading in Lapp goods.  He was a fair man, but very protective of his rights.

            One day, Onund and his group were skirting the coast in search of bands with which to make contact, when he spied a man alone on the shore.  Immediately, he sent three men to interview the interloper and find out who he was and what his purpose was.  The three men returned with the stranger to the longship. 

            The three men looked confused and Onund quickly approached the stranger, who, in turn, addressed Onund in Lapp language.  Onund replied, “You speak Lapp.  Yet, you speak it with a strange tongue and do not look like one; nor do you look like a Viking.  Speak up in your most comfortable tongue and tell me who you are and why you are in this land which is neither yours, nor mine.  But, mine to protect.”

            “I am Einar Crow Caller.  I was stranded six years ago and have lived with the Lapp called Hladik the Empty.  I have come to the shore summoning you, as it is time for me to return to Iceland and take revenge upon those that have left me for dead.  They know not the life they have given me through death,” stated Einar.

            “You do not stand tall, your hair is matted and black, your eyes burn blue and you dress as a Lapp witch doctor.  Regardless of these oddities, I should kill you for the way you speak.  You did not summon me.  That is a lie and insult for which I should use your tongue as a purse,” replied Onund.  Einar took his time with his reply.

            “Two years have I known your face through the eyes of birds and seals.  You know the ones that pass closely, rest on your rigging and take seeds from your palm.  The seals you’ve seen portside, sitting shoulder high as they slide below the surface staring you in the face.  One you took a spear to, paused and did not throw.  Nor did you let your men.  That is why I know you will not kill me.  Nor I you, ignoring the tongue threat,” he said.

            “You speak of memories that I have, Einar the Black Eye.  Some memories might be guessed at like a common soothsayer, or an uncommon one.  But that seal seemed strange and was in my dreams.  I have not been summoned by you, but perhaps you did seek me.  You will not die by my hand at this time, but you are now to stay with me as I see fit.  Do not make future plans other than death,” replied Onund. 

            “You will take me to Iceland,” said Einar without speaking.  The ship moved on after that.

11        One day, a longship pulled into the harbor at Fredasfjord.  A small delegation from the longship approached some men working at curing fish.

            “I am Onund, son of Berg of Halgoland and this is Hallfred, son of Steinvor.  We have been sailing and come ashore to seek some hospitality and trade stories.  If this is the location of the hall built by Einar Raven Eye, I feel lucky to land in such a historic place,” said the largest man in the group.         

            “This is just that place, and right you are to feel that way.  The matron of our estate is Freda the Silent, but she does not take to visitors as she is not one for speaking.  Arinbjorn Harekson and his son Grimr Arinbjornson both do her bidding and are usually very happy to welcome guests.  They like to hear news from afar,” said one of the men working.

            “That we have,” said Onund, “and eager we are to meet with these two.”

            That night, in the great hall of Einar Raven Eye, a feast was prepared and much drink was present.  The whole of Onund’s ship was invited to the festivities, but some men remained behind.  “Some of the men have tasks to do,” explained Onund to Grimr Arinbjornson, “but I know of one who may want to join us later as I can send for him.”

            “Any of your men may come, as has been said,” replied Grimr, proud to provide.

            They stayed up late into the night and many stories were traded.  Arinbjorn allowed all the men to carry their weapons with them “because never has there been a fight in this hall.”  Onund then pressed with questions about the raiding and trading expeditions of Arinbjorn and his men.  He also pressed with questions about the surviving sons of Einar.  Arinbjorn was mindful of the king’s people in Halgoland and was careful not to mention their attempted trading with the Lapps, to make sure there were no hard feelings. 

            When Onund had gotten the information he wanted he said, “Why don’t we send for another of our men and see if he is ready to join us?  Hrafn, please go fetch our skald and see if he will compose some verse for our hosts.”

            “That sounds excellent.  We have been with a profound lack of verse for these past six years,” said Arinbjorn.

            A little while later, there was a small commotion by the entranceway and Hrafn was seen walking through the crowd with a man of smaller stature behind him.  It only took only a few seconds for everyone to realize that Einar had returned, and by that time, Einar had a sword out and cleaved Arinbjorn right through the head, spilling blood and brains on the table. 

Grimr was enraged, swinging at Einar with blows that were both hard and accurate.  During the melee, Einar lost two fingers on his left hand from the chops.  He kicked Grimr in the knee, cracking the bone, and cleaved him in the neck, almost severing the head completely.  When his body slumped, Einar finished the job by cutting the head clean off and tossing it into the center of the hall, where it bounced from a table, hitting Olaf Atlison square in the chest.  All present remained in their spots, silent.  No one reacted and Einar spoke this verse.

6.

Let deceivers drain their blood

Like reindeer ripped in rut.

For revenge,  I claim the limbs

Of unlucky liars and onlookers

That get in my way.

Einar would not allow the customary burial and disappeared the next day with the corpses.  He returned later that day in a small boat.  No one knows what he did with the two and no one pressed him on this matter, but it is thought that Freda rebuked him in her way for the killing of Arinbjorn.

.

12        Arinbjorn had a wife named Steingerd.  She was the daughter of Brynjolf, the son of Ottar of Thatfjord.  She wanted Einar to pay for the deaths of her husband and son and spoke to many in confidence trying to get Einar to answer at the Allthing in the coming summer.  Almost every person with whom she spoke with told her that both Arinbjorn and Grimr said Einar was dead when he was not and they had it coming for leaving him.  Einar had a reputation now, and many people avoided him.  Many said that litigation would be fruitless.

            A man named Klevi from Thatfjord listened closely to Steingerd.  “With your husband and son wrongfully slain,” he said, “you deserve compensation.  If not in payment of gold, it should be in the form of blood.  For many years I have known your family and have watched you grow into a woman and wife and mother.  We are both aging, so I will not lie.  I may be turning white, but I desire you and desire to be your enactor.  My wealth may not equal Einar’s, but it is more than the compensation he would be forced to pay.  You could be rewarded with a husband, wealth, and the death of he who caused you suffering.  That sounds like a good deal to me.”

            “I have thought about this, Klevi, you are the man to help me.  Einar is dangerous, but he is also strange.  More than when he was young, he is taken to be alone and walks off unarmed for great lengths of time.  Many have found him sitting alone amidst the rocks and not moving for hours,” she said.  “If he were encountered in this state, he could be dispatched of easily.”

            “That advice is good,” said Klevi.

13        One afternoon, Einar left on one of his unusual walks.  He left his compound with Freda staring at him from a doorway.  He traveled for several miles to a promontory that he favored and sat down, almost immediately going into a quiet trance.  Farther down the trail that Einar had walked up, Klevi and five other men, all armed, were working their way quietly to the cliff upon which Einar sat.  As they were advancing a raven flew down and made a great of noise above their heads.  Klevi swung at the bird and hurled a stone at it, but it persisted.  As they got closer, the bird made more and more noise and Klevi was worried the racket would betray their intentions. 

            "Ofeig, you and Arnkel go quietly around to the other side of Einar and attack him while he still sits absorbed in himself.  This blood fowl will not leave me for some reason and I worry it is witchcraft from foul Freda."

            When the two left and Klevi and his other two assailants made progress toward Einar, the raven suddenly stopped making noise and flew above their heads, circling.  The two approached Einar, and Klevi and his trio sped up the path.  Ofeig approached the sitting Einar first, but slowed because he was curious about Einar's posture and his lack of movement or attention.  Instead of cleaving Einar as Klevi had wanted, he tried to look at Einar's face.  The raven then attacked Arnkel, causing a great commotion.  When Ofeig looked back, Einar rose quickly and split his face with a heavy stone.  He grabbed Ofeig's short sword and killed him before Arnkel could even react.  Then, in four blows, Arnkel was on the ground bleeding and making terrible noises.

            At this point, Klevi knew there was trouble and ran down the path leaving his three men to face Einar, who was covered in Arnkel's blood.  The first man lost his leg below the calf, and the second was stabbed in the chest.  The third man, who was a few steps behind his partners, struck at Einar a few times, but Einar was berserk and cleaved down the man without much difficulty.  Then, Einar ran down Klevi.  After he overtook him, he chopped off his limbs and beat and bit him until Klevi was dead and he was exhausted.  While lying on the ground near Klevi's remains, Einar spoke this verse.

7.

No longer this land I need,

No longing this life I have.

My thought and memory

Reside in each eye and circle

Above these earth stains.

Let them carry me

With downward pinions

Into chaos.

            Einar left the remains of his attackers where they were slain, except for the head of Klevi, which he removed and brought to the house of Steingerd.  When people saw Einar walking, covered in blood and carrying a head, they stayed away from him.  Einar went to Freda immediately and told her he would prepare a ship and leave Iceland and she would never see him again.  He told her the land was of no use to him and he did not belong to it.  He had heard talk of Greenland and would set to it, or beyond to where he knew not.

14        Einar and the few men aboard his ship traveled for several weeks before they came in contact with land.  The place had timber and game and the men decided they would spend the winter there.  The men built houses and spent a comfortable winter, and some actually grew fat.

            The next spring the men filled the ship with provisions, burned the houses they constructed and continued to sail into summer.  The weather had become quite warm and it was a month before land was spotted.  There were sandy cliffs and seals and porpoises near the shores.  They sailed around a point into a large bay and saw several single log boats with men stripped to britches working the mud with poles.  The men working saw the Viking ship, but did not react to it.

            Einar’s men were eager to go ashore and make contact because they had been on the ship for so long and provisions were very low, but Einar forbade it.  He said he would discover the lay of the land and decide the best approach to the situation.  He ordered that he be shut up below deck for several hours and no one was to make a sound.  When this was done, the men sitting on deck noticed that a crow was flying amongst the gulls by the log boats.  As it circled among the boats, one of the stripped men shot it with an arrow.

            When it became evening the men grew impatient, as Einar had still not surfaced from below deck.  With whispered argument and discussion, Gordi Oddsson took it upon himself to see what was taking Einar so long.  When he opened the hatch, Einar was on his side and listless.  The men did not know what to do, so they brought him on deck and wrapped him in a blanket because he was shivering.  Within a few hours, Einar was dead.  He was burned in a floating funeral pyre.  Here ends this saga.