to him it is more of a task to dress twelve women than it is to me to
dress only one." After that Hoskuld opened a chest, and took out some
fine women's clothes and gave them to her; and it was the saying of
every one that she looked very well when she was dressed. But when the
rulers had there talked matters over according as the law provided,
this meeting was broken up. Then Hoskuld went to see King Hakon, and
greeted him worthily, according to custom. The king cast a side glance
at him, and said, "We should have taken well your greeting, Hoskuld,
even if you had saluted us sooner; but so shall it be even now."




CHAP. XIII

Hoskuld Returns to Iceland, A.D. 948


[Sidenote: King Hakon bids Hoskuld farewell] After that the king
received Hoskuld most graciously, and bade him come on board his
own ship, and "be with us so long as you care to remain in Norway."
Hoskuld answered: "Thank you for your offer; but now, this summer, I
have much to be busy about, and that is mostly the reason I was so
long before I came to see you, for I wanted to get for myself
house-timber." The king bade him bring his ship in to the Wick, and
Hoskuld tarried with the king for a while. The king got house-timber
for him, and had his ship laden for him. Then the king said to
Hoskuld, "You shall not be delayed here longer than you like, though
we shall find it difficult to find a man to take your place." After
that the king saw Hoskuld off to his ship, and said: "I have found you