rowed south along the coast. There was then nothing seen of them for
three weeks together. When that time was gone by, there was seen
approaching from the south a great crowd of Skrœlingar boats, coming
down upon them like a stream, the staves this time being all
brandished in the direction opposite to the sun's motion, and the
Skrœlingar were all howling loudly. Then took they and bare red
shields to meet them. They encountered one another and fought, and
there was a great shower of missiles. The Skrœlingar had also
war-slings, or catapults. Then Karlsefni and Snorri see that the
Skrœlingar are bringing up poles, with a very large ball attached to
each, to be compared in size to a sheep's stomach, dark in colour; and
these flew over Karlsefni's company towards the land, and when they
came down they struck the ground with a hideous noise. This produced
great terror in Karlsefni and his company, so that their only impulse
was to retreat up the country along the river, because it seemed as if
crowds of Skrœlingar were driving at them from all sides. And they
stopped not until they came to certain crags. There they offered them
stern resistance. Freydis came out and saw how they were retreating.
She called out, “Why run you away from such worthless creatures, stout
men that ye are, when, as seems to me likely, you might slaughter them
like so many cattle? Let me but have a weapon, I think I could fight
better than any of you.” They gave no heed to what she said. Freydis
endeavoured to accompany them, still she soon lagged behind, because
she was not well; she went after them into the wood, and the
Skrœlingar directed their pursuit after her. She came upon a dead man;
Thorbrand, Snorri's son, with a flat stone fixed in his head; his
sword lay beside him, so she took it up and prepared to defend herself
therewith. Then came the Skrœlingar upon her. She let down her sark
and struck her breast with the naked sword. At this they were
frightened, rushed off to their boats, and fled away. Karlsefni and