THE SCENE: The medieval norsemen were known more for their straightforward manner than their skills at deception. This might help explain why Helgi, who is trying to discover where the outlaw Gisli has been hiding, comes off as a bumbling clown in his efforts to snoop around a small farm owned by Injald and his wife Thorgerd.
THE TEXT: Ingjald had proven himself a faithful friend, but suspicions arose and people began to believe that Gisli was alive and living with Ingjald, and that he had not drowned as they had once thought. People started to remark on the fact that Ingjald had three boats and all were skillfully crafted. This gossip reached Eyjolf the Grey, and he sent Helgi out again, this time to the island of Hergilsey. Gisli always stayed in an underground passage when people came to the island. Ingjald was a good host and he invited Helgi to rest there, so he remained for the night.
Ingjald was a hard-working man and rowed out to fish wherever the weather permitted. The following morning, when he was ready to go to sea, he asked Helgi whether he was not eager to be on his way and why he was still in bed. Helgi said that he was not feeling very well, let out a long sigh and rubbed his head. Ingjald told him to lie still, and then went off to sea. Helgi began to groan heavily.
It is said that Thorgerd then went to the underground hiding place, intending to give Gisli some breakfast. There was a partition between the pantry and where Helgi lay in bed. Thorgerd left the pantry and Helgi climbed up the partition and saw that someone’s food had been served up. At that very moment, Thorgerd returned and Helgi turned round quickly and fell off the partition. Thorgerd asked him what he was doing climbing up the rafters instead of lying still. He said he was so racked with pains in his joints that he could not lie still.
“Could you help me back to bed?” he said.
She did as he asked and went out with the food. Then Helgi got up and followed her and saw what was going on. After than he went back to bed, lay down, and stated there for the rest of the day.
Ingjald returned that evening, went to Helgi’s bed and asked him if he felt any better. Helgi said he was improving and asked if he might be ferried from the island the following morning. He was rowed out to the island of Flatey, and from there he went south to Thorsnes, reporting that he had news that Gisli was staying at Ingjald’s house.
– Gisli Sursson’s Saga, 13th Century AD
