before. Giermund bade Olaf come and stay with him, with as many of his
men as he liked to bring. Olaf accepted his invitation, and went
there with seven men. The crew of Olaf went into lodgings about
Hordaland. Giermund entertained Olaf well. His house was a lofty one,
and there were many men there, and plenty of amusement all the winter.
[Sidenote: Hakon Earl gives Olaf timber] And towards the end of the
winter Olaf told Giermund the reason of his voyage, which was that he
wished to get for himself some house-timber, and said he set great
store by obtaining timber of a choice kind. Giermund said, "Earl Hakon
has the best of woods, and I know quite well if you went to see him
you would be made welcome to them, for the Earl receives well, men who
are not half so well-bred as you, Olaf, when they go to see him." In
the spring Olaf got ready to go and find Hakon Earl; and the Earl gave
him exceeding good welcome, and bade Olaf stay with him as long as he
liked. Olaf told the Earl the reason of his journey, "And I beg this
of you, sir, that you give us permission to cut wood for
house-building from your forests." The Earl answered, "You are welcome
to load your ship with timber, and I will give it you. For I think it
no every-day occurrence when such men as you come from Iceland to
visit me." At parting the Earl gave him a gold-inlaid axe, and the
best of keepsakes it was; and therewith they parted in the greatest
friendship. [Sidenote: Giermund goes with Olaf] Giermund in the
meantime set stewards over his estates secretly, and made up his mind
to go to Iceland in the summer in Olaf's ship. He kept this secret
from every one. Olaf knew nothing about it till Giermund brought his
money to Olaf's ship, and very great wealth it was. Olaf said, "You
should not have gone in my ship if I had known of this before-hand,
for I think there are those in Iceland for whom it would be better
never to have seen you. But since you have come with so much goods, I
cannot drive you out like a straying cur." Giermund said, "I shall not