much surprised when he heard this news, and would not discharge his
cargo. His shipmates inquired of him what he intended to do, and he
replied that it was his purpose to keep to his custom, and make his home
for the winter with his father; "and I will take the ship to Greenland,
if you will bear me company." They all replied that they would abide by
his decision. Then said Biarni, "Our voyage must be regarded as
foolhardy, seeing that no one of us has ever been in the Greenland Sea."
Nevertheless they put out to sea when they were equipped for the voyage,
and sailed for three days, until the land was hidden by the water, and
then the fair wind died out, and north winds arose, and fogs, and they
knew not whither they were drifting, and thus it lasted for many "dœgr."
Then they saw the sun again, and were able to determine the quarters of
the heavens; they hoisted sail, and sailed that "dœgr" through before
they saw land. They discussed among themselves what land it could be,
and Biarni said that he did not believe that it could be Greenland. They
asked whether he wished to sail to this land or not. "It is my counsel"
[said he], "to sail close to the land." They did so, and soon saw that
the land was level, and covered with woods, and that there were small
hillocks upon it. They left the land on their larboard, and let the
sheet turn toward the land. They sailed for two "dœgr" before they saw
another land. They asked whether Biarni thought this was Greenland yet.
He replied that he did not think this any more like Greenland than the
former, "because in Greenland there are said to be many great
ice-mountains." They soon approached this land, and saw that it was a
flat and wooded country. The fair wind failed them then, and the crew
took counsel together, and concluded that it would be wise to land
there, but Biarni would not consent to this. They alleged that they were
in need of both wood and water. "Ye have no lack of either of these,"
says Biarni--a course, forsooth, which won him blame among his
shipmates. He bade them hoist sail, which they did, and turning the prow