Bard said he would obey his father's wishes. [Sidenote: The funeral
feast postponed] After that Hoskuld died, and his death was very much
grieved for, in the first place by his sons, and next by all his
relations and friends. His sons had a worthy cairn made for him; but
little money was put into it with him. And when this was over, the
brothers began to talk over the matter of preparing an "arvale"
(burial feast) after their father, for at that time such was the
custom. Olaf said, "It seems to me that we should not be in a hurry
about preparing this feast, if it is to be as noble as we should think
right; now the autumn is very far worn, and the ingathering of means
for it is no longer easy; most people who have to come a long way
would find that a hard matter in the autumn days; so that it is
certain that many would not come of the men we most should like to
see. So I will now make the offer, next summer at the Thing, to bid
men to the feast, and I will bear one-third of the cost of the
wassail." The brothers agreed to that, and Olaf now went home.
Thorliek and Bard now share the goods between them. Bard had the
estate and lands, which was what most men held to, as he was the most
popular; but Thorliek got for his share more of the chattels. Olaf and
Bard got on well together, but Olaf and Thorliek rather snappishly.
Now the next winter passed, and summer comes, and time wears on
towards the Thing. The sons of Hoskuld got ready to go to the Thing.
It was soon seen clearly enough how Olaf took the lead of the
brothers. When they got to the Thing they set up three booths, and
make themselves comfortable in a handsome manner.




CHAP. XXVII