Thrand said it was both his duty and interest to assist in the king's business, and thereupon Thrand returned to his tent; and at that Thing nothing else worth speaking of occurred.Karl took up his abode with Leif Ossurson, and was there all winter (A.D.
1028).Leif collected the scat of Straumey Island, and all the islands south of it.The spring after Thrand of Gata fell ill, and had sore eyes and other complaints; but he prepared to attend the Thing, as was his custom.When he came to the Thing he had his tent put up, and within it another black tent, that the light might not penetrate.After some days of the Thing had passed, Leif and Karl came to Thrand's tent, with a great many people, and found some persons standing outside.They asked if Thrand was in the tent, and were told he was.Leif told them to bid Thrand come out, as he and Karl had some business with him.They came back, and said that Thrand had sore eyes, and could not come out; "but he begs thee, Leif, to come to him within." Leif told his comrades to come carefully into the tent, and not to press forward, and that he who came last in should go out first.Leif went in first, followed by Karl, and then his comrades; and all fully armed as if they were going into battle.Leif went into the black tent and asked if Thrand was there.Thrand answered and saluted Leif.Leif returned his salutation, and asked if he had brought the scat from the northern islands, and if he would pay the scat that had been collected.Thrand replies, that he had not forgotten what had been spoken of between him and Karl, and that he would now pay over the scat."Here is a purse, Leif, full of silver, which thou canst receive." Leif looked around, and saw but few people in the tent, of whom some were lying upon the benches, and a few were sitting up.Then Leif went to Thrand, and took the purse, and carried it into the outer tent, where it was light, turned out the money on his shield, groped about in it with his hand, and told Karl to look at the silver.
When they had looked at it a while, Karl asked Leif what he thought of the silver.He replied, "I am thinking where the bad money that is in the north isles can have come from." Thrand heard this, and said, "Do you not think, Leif, the silver is good?" "No," says he.Thrand replies, "Our relations, then, are rascals not to be trusted.I sent them in spring to collect the scat in the north isles, as I could not myself go anywhere, and they have allowed themselves to be bribed by the bondes to take false money, which nobody looks upon as current and good; it is better, therefore, Leif, to look at this silver which has been paid me as land-rent." Leif thereupon carried back this silver, and received another bag, which he carried to Karl, and they looked over the money together.Karl asked Leif what he thought of this money.He answered, that it appeared to him so bad that it would not be taken in payment, however little hope there might be of getting a debt paid in any other way: "therefore I will not take this money upon the king's account." A man who had been lying on the bench now cast the skin coverlet off which he had drawn over his head, and said, "True is the old word, -- he grows worse who grows older: so it is with thee, Thrand, who allowest Karl Morske to handle thy money all the day." This was Gaut the Red.Thrand sprang up at Gaut's words, and reprimanded his relation with many angry words.At last he said that Leif should leave this silver, and take a bag which his own peasants had brought him in spring."And although I am weak-sighted, yet my own hand is the truest test." Another man who was lying on the bench raised himself now upon his elbow; and this was Thord the Low.He said, "These are no ordinary reproaches we suffer from Karl Morske, and therefore he well deserves a reward for them."Leif in the meantime took the bag, and carried it to Karl; and when they cast their eyes on the money, Leif said, "We need not look long at this silver, for here the one piece of money is better than the other; and this is the money we will have.Let a man come to be present at the counting it out." Thrand says that he thought Leif was the fittest man to do it upon his account.
Leif and Karl thereupon went a short way from the tent, sat down.
