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lesh； which also was not dabah ＇ritually slaughtered＇； but after a period I also ate； saying quietly 〃in the name of God〃 under my breath； and trusting to God that my predicament should be understood。 If it was not raining； a fire was lit with a small ember that was carried with the party； and the food cooked。 Also we ate berries and grasses； the names of which I do not know。 Then we traveled for the after…part of each day； which was considerable； until the ing of night； when again we rested； and ate。
Many times at night it rained； and we sought shelter beneath large trees； yet we arose drenched； and our sleeping skins drenched likewise。 The Northmen did not grumble at this； for they are cheerful at all times； I alone grumbled； and mightily。 They paid me no attention。
Finally I said to Herger； 〃The rain is cold。〃 To this he laughed。 〃How can the rain be cold？〃 he said。 〃You are cold and you are unhappy。 The rain is not cold or unhappy。〃
I saw that he believed this foolishness； and truly thought me foolish to think otherwise； and yet I did。
Now it happened that one night； while we ate； I said over my food 〃in the name of God； and Buliwyf inquired of Herger what it was I said。 I told to Herger that I believed food must be consecrated； and so I did this according to my beliefs。 Buliwyf said to me； 〃This is the way of the Arabs？〃 Herger was the translator。
I made this reply： 〃No； for in truth he who kills the food must make the consecration。 I speak the words so as to be not forgetful。〃11
This the Northmen found a reason for humor。 They laughed heartily。 Then Buliwyf said to me； 〃Can you draw sounds？〃 I did not prehend his meaning； and inquired of Herger； and there was some talking back and forth； and finally I understood he meant writing。 The Northmen call the speech of Arabs noise or sound。 I replied to Buliwyf that I could write； and also read。
He said that I should write for him upon the ground。 In the light of the evening fire； I took a stick and wrote； 〃Praise be to God。〃 All the Northmen looked at the writing。 I was manded to speak what it said； and this I did。 Now Buliwyf stared at the writing for a long period； his head sunk upon his chest。
Herger said to me； 〃Which God do you praise？〃 I answered that I praised the one God whose name was Allah。
Herger said； 〃One God cannot be enough。〃
Now we traveled another day； and passed another night； and then another day。 And on the next evening； Buliwyf took a stick and drew in the earth what I had formerly drawn； and manded me to read。
I spoke aloud the words： 〃Praise be to God。〃 At this； Buliwyf was satisfied； and I saw that he had contrived a test of me； placing in his memory the symbols I had drawn； to show them to me again。
Now Ecthgow； the lieutenant or captain of Buliwyf； and a warrior less merry than the others； a stern man； spoke to me through the interpreter； Herger。 Herger said； 〃Ecthgow wishes to know if you can draw the sound of his name。〃
I said that I could； and I took up the stick； and began to draw in the dirt。 At once Ecthgow leapt up； flung away the stick； and stamped out my writing。 He spoke angry words。
Herger said to me； 〃Ecthgow does not wish you to draw his name at any time； and this you must promise。〃
Here I was perplexed； and I saw that Ecthgow was angry with me in the extreme。 So also were the others staring at me with concern and anger。 I promised to Herger that I would not draw the name of Ecthgow； or of any of the others。 At this they were all relieved。
After this； no more was my writing discussed； but Buliwyf gave certain instructions； and whenever it rained I was always directed to the largest tree； and I was given more food than before。
Not always did we sleep in the forests； nor did we always ride through the forests。 At the border of some forests； Buliwyf and his warriors would plunge forward； riding at a gallop through the dense trees； without a care or a thought of fear。 And then again； at other forests he would draw up and pause； and the warriors would dismount and burn a fire and make some offering of food or a few sheets of hard bread； or a kerchief of cloth； before continuing farther。 And then they would ride around the edge of the forest； never entering its depths。
I inquired of Herger why this should be。 He said that some forests were safe and some were not； but did not explain further。 I asked him； 〃What is not safe in the forests that are judged so？〃
He made this reply： 〃There are things that no man can conquer； and no sword can kill； and no fire can burn； and such things are in the forests。〃
I said； 〃How is this known to be？〃
At this he laughed and said； 〃You Arabs always wish to have reasons for everything。 Your hearts are a great bursting bag of reasons。〃
I said； 〃And you do not care for reasons？〃
〃It avails you nothing。 We say： A man should be moderately wise； but not overwise； lest he know his fate in advance。 The man whose mind is most free of care does not know his fate in advance。〃
Now； I saw that I must be content with his answer。 For it was true that upon one occasion or another； I would make some manner of inquiry； and Herger would reply； and if I did not prehend his answer； I would ask further； and he would reply further。 Yet again； when I made of him an inquiry； he would reply in short fashion； as if the inquiry were of no substance。 And then I would have nothing further from him； save a shaking of his head。
Now we continued on。 Verily； I can say that some of the forests in the wild North country do provoke a feeling of fear； for which I cannot account。 At night； sitting about the fire； the Northmen told stories of dragons and fierce beasts； and also of their ancestors who had slain these creatures。 These； they said； were the source of my fear。 But they told the stories with no show of fear； and of such beasts； I saw nothing with my own eyes。
One night I heard a grumbling that I took to be thunder； but they said it was the growl of a dragon in the forest。 I do not know what is the truth； and report now only what was said to me。
The North country is cold and wet and the sun is seldom seen； for the sky is gray with thick clouds all the day。 The people of this region are pale as linen； and their hair is very fair。 After so many days of travel； I saw no dark people at all； and indeed I was marveled at by the inhabitants of that region on account of my skin and dark hair。 Many times a farmer or his wife or daughter would e forth to touch me with a stroking motion； Herger laughed and said they were trying to brush away the color； thinking it to be painted upon my flesh。 They are ignorant people with no knowledge of the wideness of the world。 Many times they feared me； and would not approach me close。 At one place； I do not know the name； a child cried out in； terror and ran to cling to his mother when he saw me。
At this； the warriors of Buliwyf laughed with great merriment。 But now I observed this thing： with the passing of the days； the warriors of Buliwyf ceased to laugh； and fell into an ill humor； more each day。 Herger said to me they were thinking of drink； of which we had been deprived for many days。
At each farm or dwelling； Buliwyf and his wa