"That is my advice," answered Olmod, with a firmness in his voice which left no doubt as to his seriousness. And he added, as though casually: "Haasten is only one of Atle's sons."
"Have you talked with Leif on this subject?" Ingolf asked suddenly.
Olmod the Old said only: "I know my kinsman, Leif. And I know you, too, Ingolf."
Ingolf gave Olmod some handsome presents on his departure and escorted him part of the way.
On the first day of the month of Goi, Atle's sons came with a large retinue to Orn's house. Ingolf had followed Olmod the Old's advice, and invited a large circle of his own and Leif's friends to the feast for Atle's sons. When Haasten saw how many were invited to the feast, he said to Ingolf, with a smile: "We sons of Atle are not accustomed to receive our friends with such a great force." Ingolf looked at him and answered seriously: "One can never show one's friends too great an honour, Haasten."
Haasten became silent and thoughtful. Involuntarily he looked at his brothers. They stood there talking confidentially together. There was something in their bearing which made Haasten uneasy. He noticed also that Ingolf was watching his brothers. Haersten and Holmsten had withdrawn themselves from the rest, and stood whispering together.
"We have never been received in such a magnificent way here before," said Haersten, with a smile. "There must be something behind it."
"I should not be surprised," answered Holmsten, "if Olmod the Old had been here. Where did he go to when he left us? It occurs to me all at once that his bearing was different when he left than when he came."
"What can Olmod the Old have told any here?" asked Haersten thoughtfully.
"Something which he possibly heard," replied Holmsten dryly.