“And O’af too?” added Snorro.
“Of course I must go if Snorrie goes,” cried Olaf who had just entered the hall. “We could not live separate—could we, Snorrie?” He caught up the child and placed him on his back in his wonted fashion. “Just think,” he continued, “what would it do in Greenland without O’af to give it rides and take it out for long walks?”
“Ay, and go lost with it in the woods,” added Biarne.
Olaf blushed, but replied promptly— “That would be impossible, Biarne, for there are no woods in Greenland.”
“If Snorro goes so must I,” said Thora. “He could not get on without his nurse.”
“Methinks we had better all go together to Greenland,” said Astrid, who was busy preparing supper.
“Not bad advice,” observed Biarne, somewhat seriously.
“Do you mean what you say?” asked Karlsefin.
“I half mean it,” replied Biarne.
There was a pause here. Karlsefin then said— “It seems to me, friends, that our minds are all jumping together. I have thought for a long time of leaving Vinland, for it is plain to me that as we stand just now we cannot make much headway. Many of our men are longing to get back to their families, some to their sweethearts, and some to their native land; while, from what you have said, it would seem that none of us are very anxious to remain.”