"Choose yet again!" cried Grani. But Rolf would take nothing more, and Frodi took naught but a cloak and a whittle. "A strange pair are ye," quoth Grani. But Ar called them to him and asked them why they had chosen so little. "We take only our own," answered Rolf. "Sea-worn cloaks and weapons," said Ar, "are they dear to ye?" "His mother," said Frodi, "made me my cloak, but the whittle belonged to my father." "And thy things," asked Ar of Rolf. "Who gave them to thee?" "Snorri the Priest," answered Rolf, "gave me the cloak, and Burning Flosi gave the belt; but if ye do not know these names--" "I know them both," said Sweyn the sea-captain. "But who gave the sword?" "Kari Solmund's son," answered Rolf, "and that name thou shouldst know best of all." Sweyn cried: "I know the man himself, for he is an Orkneyman by birth, tribute-taker here under Earl Sigurd, and of great fame. Now tell us the story why he gave thee the sword." But Rolf would tell nothing. Then Sweyn offered to buy Rolf of Grani, but he puffed out his lips and would not sell his thrall. So nothing came of that rescue by Rolf, save to give him a name among the Orkneyingers. Now all men sit down for the evening meal. That shipmaster wishes to leave the hall, saying he must look to his ship; but Grani will not let him go. Then Frodi sees him, and pushes Rolf in the side. Says Frodi: "Men said your uncle was dead." "So they did," answers Rolf. But he does not attend, and falls to brooding. So Frodi says that again. Rolf asks him why. "Who sits by the dais?" asked Frodi. Rolf looked on that shipmaster, and it was his father's brother, Kiartan. CHAPTER XX HOW ROLF WON HIS FREEDOM Now when that meal was ended, Kiartan rose up and said that he must go; he thanked Ar, and Grani walked with him to the door. But as they passed by the bench whereon Rolf and Frodi were sitting, Grani beckoned them to rise up, and he said to Kiartan: "Look on my thralls, now that thou canst see them closer, and tell me what thou thinkest of them." Kiartan scarcely looked at them. "They seem a good pair," he answered. "It is fitting for thy dignity to have thralls." Then he went away. Frodi asked of Rolf: "Did he know us?" "He knew us well," answered Rolf. "What wilt thou do?" asked Frodi. "I see naught to do," said Rolf. "For what he did against my father was done in Iceland, so that I could not bring a suit at law here. Moreover, no thrall can bring a suit in any land." "Wilt thou claim kinship with him?" Frodi asked. "Wilt thou?" responded Rolf. No more words were said, but it was seen in their eyes that for their pride's sake they would make no claim on Kiartan. Kiartan found that nothing was said in the matter; so he stayed there in the place, and won the friendship of Ar by gifts, and traded with success. He ate often at the hall, and slept there whenever he would; but no word passed between him and those kinsmen, nor did they ever look at him.