Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-18

acknowledge that I experience the same
disgust that you do; yet I am not alto
gether certain that we are right. 1 remem-
Der hearing my father say that what these
saints did was more difficult than any
achievement Of Thor. And I have heard
King Olaf Trygvasson read out of the holy
book that a man who controls his own pas
sions Is more to be admired than man
who conquers a CITY,"
For perhaps two or three minutes there
was hull in the grumbing. But it was
not to be expected, in that brutal age. that
moral strength should find a keen appre-
citation. Indeed, Sigurds words were far
from ringing with his own conviction. Lit
tie by little the discomfort broke out again.
At last 1t grew SO near to mutiny that tho
steersman felt called upon to exercise his
authority
''All this is foolishly spoken, concerning
something you know nothing Of. I'm
doubtedly Left has an excellent reason for
what he does. 1t may be that he considers
1t OF the greatest Importance to secure
Eric's friendship. Or it may be that he In
tends to lead him into some uninhabited
place, that he may kill him and get rid of
his ill-temper. 1t is certain that he has
some good reason. Go back to your work
and make your minds easy that now as al
tions."
The. men still growled as they obeyed
him, but, however right or wrong he was
regarding Leif's motives, he was proved
| correct in his prophecy. Out of that mo-
| ment on shore came the good Of q complete
reconciliation with Eric. No more were
there cold shoulders. and half-veiled gibes,
and long evenings of gloomy restraint No
longer were Leirs followers Obliged to sit
with teeth on their tongues and hands on
their swords; The warmth Of qualification
that had melted the ice Of Eric's dispIeas s.
ure seemed to have set free torrents of
generosity and goodwill.
By the last week Of Leirs parations
interest and enthusiasm had spread into
every corner of inhabited Greenland Strings
Of people began to make pilgrimages Id
stare at the exploring vessel that had once
been within sight Of the "wonder-shores''
and now seemed destined actually to touch
them. Men came from all parts Of the coun-
| try in the hope of joining her crew, and
were furious with disappointment when told
that her equipment was limited to thirty
five, and that that number had already been
made up from among Leifs own followers
Late one afternoon word went around
| that the trading ship Of Amor Gunnarssou
was coming up Eric's Fford. The arrival OF
| that merchant was one Of the events Of the
year. Not only did 1t occasion great feast.
| ing among the rich. which meant additional
aims among the poor, but besides q chance
| to feast ones stomach 1t meant an oppor-
tunity to feast ones eyes on beautiful gar.
ments and wonderful weAponSt end Ia add.
tion-to all else Il meant such q budget OF
news and gossip and thrilling yarns al
should supply local conversation With {
| years stock Of topics-a Ptock always run
low and rather shopworn toward the cpd Of
sEastmans" approach q crowd OF 1d1eVi
was gathered out of nowhere a. quickly a
\ buzzards are drawn out Of empty space.
| As the heavy dun-colored merchantmen
| came slowly to It's berth and the anchor fell
with rattle and splash. the motley crowd