Gudbrand against doing battle with Olaf. "If thou dost, thou and all
thy people will fall; wolves will drag away thee and thine; ravens
will tear thee in stripes!" And lo, in telling this to Thord
Potbelly, a sturdy neighbor of his and henchman in the Thing, it is
found that to Thord also has come the self same terrible Apparition!
Better propose truce to Olaf (who seems to have these dreadful Ghostly
Powers on his side), and the holding of a Thing, to discuss matters
between us. Thing assembles, on a day of heavy rain. Being all
seated, uprises King Olaf, and informs them: "The people of Lesso,
Loar, and Vaage, have accepted Christianity, and broken down their
idol-houses: they believe now in the True God, who has made heaven
and earth, and knows all things;" and sits down again without more
words.

"Gudbrand replies, 'We know nothing about him of whom thou speakest.
Dost thou call him God, whom neither thou nor any one else can see?
But we have a God who can be seen every day, although he is not out
to-day because the weather is wet; and he will appear to thee terrible
and very grand; and I expect that fear will mix with thy very blood
when he comes into the Thing. But since thou sayest thy God is so
great, let him make it so that to-morrow we have a cloudy day, but
without rain, and then let us meet again.'

"The king accordingly returned home to his lodging, taking Gudbrand's
son as a hostage; but he gave them a man as hostage in exchange. In
the evening the king asked Gudbrand's son What their God was like? He
replied that he bore the likeness of Thor; had a hammer in his hand;
was of great size, but hollow within; and had a high stand, upon which
he stood when he was out. 'Neither gold nor silver are wanting about
him, and every day he receives four cakes of bread, besides meat.'