but there is nothing in the text to throw suspicion upon the whale. The trouble was, that a sudden overfeeding caused nausea, and the whale was thrown away afterwards in religious disgust. Yet the event is out of its chronological order, and properly belongs in the account of the next year. [201] This event belongs to the previous year. These facts are not given in the other accounts, the writer appearing to have different information. [202] This is another somewhat marvelous occurrence, similar to those with which Cotton Mather and others were accustomed to embellish New England history. [203] For the previous versions of this affair of the axe, see pp. 60. This last account appears a little plainer. [204] It is true that he decided to leave the country, but he did not carry out his intention until the following year, 1010. This narrative skips over all the events of the third year. It is nevertheless given, in order that the reader may have the fullest possible knowledge of any shortcomings that may exist in the manuscripts. This is done with the more confidence, for the reason that there is no doubt but that all the narratives contain a broad substratum of solid truth. [205] From the statement at the end of the voyage of Freydis (see p. 80), we learn that the summer in which he returned from Iceland, Karlsefne went to Norway, and from thence the following spring, to Iceland. This does not conflict with the statement in the above narrative, though at first it may _appear_ to. It does not say that he went the following summer from _Greenland_ to Iceland, but that on that summer, he _went_ to Iceland, which is perfectly true, though poorly stated, and his previous voyage to Norway being ignored. [206] See p. 48. [207] Garda was the Episcopal seat of Greenland. Freydis and her husband went to Vinland with Karlsefne. It was she who frightened the Skrællings. [208] It appears that the route to Vinland had become so well known, that the Saga writers no longer thought it necessary to describe it. [209] Mount Hope bay is still often called a lake. These waters always appear like lakes. Brereton, in his account of Gosnold's voyage, calls these same bays, lakes. He writes: "From this [Elizabeth] island, we went right over to the mayne, where we stood awhile as ravished at the beautie and dilicacy of the sweetnesse, besides divers cleare lakes, whereof we saw no end." [210] Freydis was evidently the principal in all things. [211] By the Icelandic law, a woman could separate from her husband for a slight cause. [212] According to this statement, the expedition returned very early, as Karlsefne went to Norway the same season, as previously told. [213] If this transaction had occurred during the previous century, when paganism universally prevailed, this atrocious act of the cold-blooded Freydis, would have been the prelude to almost endless strife.