CANADA HISTORY

Thornhall Breaks Away

They now discussed where to go, and laid their plans. Thorhall the Hunter wanted to go nprth beyond Furdustrands and Kjalarness to search for Vinland there, but Karlsefni wanted to follow the coast farther south. for he believed that the country would improve the farther south they went, and thought it advisable to explore both possibilities.

Thorhall prepared his ship in the lee of the island; there were only nine others who joined him -the rest all went with Karlsefni.

One day. as Thorhall was carrying water on board. he drank some of it and then said :

'These oak-hearted warriors

Lured me to this land

With promise of choice drinks;

Now I could curse this country/

For I. the helmet-wearer,

Must now grovel at a spring

And wield a water-pail;

No wine has touched my lips:

Then they put to sea, and Karlsefni accompanied them as far as the island. Before they hoisted sail, Thorllall said :

'Let us head back

To our countrymen at home;

Let our ocean-striding ship

Explore the broad tracts of the sea

While these eager swordsmen

Who laud these lands

Settle in Furdustrands

And boil up whales:

With that they parted company. Thorhall and his crew sailed northward past Furdustrands and Kjalarness. and tried to beat westward from there} But they ran into fierce head- winds and were driven right across to Ireland. There they were brutally beaten and enslaved; and there Thorhall died.