Yet neither of them was well pleased.
After this the funeral was made ready; trustworthy men were sent with
the body, and good horses which Thorodd owned. The body was wrapped
in linen, but not sewed up in it, and then laid in the coffin. After
this they held south over the heath as the paths go, and went on until
they came to a farm called Lower Ness, which lies in the Tongues of
Staf-holt. There they asked leave to stay over night, but the farmer
would give them no hospitality. However, as it was close on
nightfall, they did not see how they could go on, for they thought it
would be dangerous to deal with the White River by night. They
therefore unloaded their horses, and carried the body into an out-
house, after which they went into the sitting-room and took off their
outer clothes, intending to stay there over night without food.
The people of the house were going to bed by daylight, and after they
were in bed a great noise was heard in the kitchen. Some went to see
whether thieves had not broken in, and when they reached the kitchen
they saw there a tall woman. She was quite naked, with no clothes
whatever upon her, and was busy preparing food.
Pages:
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355