Part 214 - Of The Miracle On The Corn Land

When the king had come lower down on the mountain, there lay a farm before him called Sula, on the highest part of Veradal district; and as they came nearer to the house the corn-land appeared on both sides of the path.

The king told his people to proceed carefully, and not destroy the corn to the bondes. The people observed this when the king was near; but the crowd behind paid no attention to it, and the people ran over the corn, so that it was trodden flat to the earth. There dwelt a bonde there called Thorgeir Flek, who had two sons nearly grown up.

Thorgeir received the king and his people well, and offered all the assistance in his power. The king was pleased with his offer, and asked Thorgeir what was the news of the country, and if any forces were assembled against him.

Thorgeir says that a great army was drawn together in the Throndhjem country, and that there were some lendermen both from the south of the country, and from Halogaland in the north;

"but I do not know,"

says he.

"if they are intended against you, or going elsewhere."

Then he complained to the king of the damage and waste done him by the people breaking and treading down all his corn fields. The king said it was ill done to bring upon him any loss.

Then the king rode to where the corn had stood, and saw it was laid flat on the earth; and he rode round the field, and said,

"I expect, bonde, that God will repair thy loss, so that the field, within a week, will be better;"

and it proved the best of the corn, as the king had said. The king remained all night there, and in the morning he made himself ready, and told Thorgeir the bonde to accompany him and Thorgear offered his two sons also for the journey; and although the king said that he did not want them with him, the lads would go.

As they would not stay behind, the king's court- men were about binding them; but the king seeing it said,

"Let them come with us; the lads will come safe back again."

And it was with the lads as the king foretold.