"Aye," answered Hiarandi, "it is likely that ships will be on the rocks by morning. "Now," asked Asdis, "dost thou remember the time thou camest ashore, these many years ago?" "How should I forget it?" responded Hiarandi. "But no one can rush into the water here," said Asdis, "to save those who are wrecked." "That is true," quoth Hiarandi. "I am sorry for the mariners, yet how is one to help?" Then the bondservant raised her head and sang this song: "The sea brings money; Money is bonny. Bless then the sea Which brings good to thee." After that she sat silent and sunken as before. "Hear the hag," said Asdis, shuddering. "But we prosper through the misfortunes of others." "What is to be done?" asked Hiarandi. "It is in my mind," said Asdis, "that if we made a fire-beacon, people could steer from shore and so into safe harbor farther up the firth." "Now," quoth Hiarandi, "that might be done." "Wilt thou do it?" asked Asdis. Then the woman raised her head and sang again: "He is a fool Who leaves old rule. Set heart 'gainst head. How then butter thy bread?" Then Hiarandi said to Asdis: "No man has ever yet set beacons against shipwreck. All men agree to take the fortune of the sea; and what is cast on a man's beaches, that is his by old custom." "Thinkest thou that is right?" asked Asdis. "Moreover," went on Hiarandi, "the sea is but giving me again what it took away." "Never can the sea," answered Asdis, "give thee true happiness through other men's misfortunes." "Remember the boy," said Hiarandi. "Shall I leave him with nothing to begin the world with? For my own earnings bring me at most a mark of silver in the year." "For all that," replied Asdis, "it is in my mind that to do otherwise were to do better. Now canst thou have the heart that men should die longer on our rocks, and we not do our best to save them?" Then Hiarandi, answering nothing, rose and paced up and down before the fire. And the carline sang once more: "Take what is given. No man is wise Who asketh twice If earth or heaven Sends him his prize." But Asdis stood upright, and she sang: "Suffer not wrong To happen long, Lest punishment From heaven be sent." Now in Iceland all men loved the singing of skalds; but though Hiarandi had heard the carline sing many times before, never had he heard rhymes from his wife. So he stood astonished. Then the bondservant sang again: "Ill will attend The beacon's lighting. Bad spirit's guiding Will bring false friend." But Asdis sang with great vehemence: "Let God decide What fate shall ride Upon the wind. Be thou not blind To duty's hest. My rede is best. List to the storm! Go! Save from harm The mariner Whose fate is near. To others do As I did once to you."