Chapter 2: Beached

Poor Bjarni Herjólfsson. Ship-less and friendless, can’t stay, and no means of leaving. Except by walking. He joins his father Herjólf Bardsson, and they establish their own settlement to the east, Herjolfsnes.

Leif Erikson is now the owner and captain of Bjarni’s trading ship and departs on a voyage of exploration. Some biographers of Leif claim he bought the ship from Bjarni and received valuable information from the seller. What is known is Erik the Red died that winter during Leif’s absence, so never enjoyed his son’s fame and exploits. There was an epidemic that winter in which many died. No one claims Bjarni had anything to do with Erik’s death. In Erik the Red’s Saga, it’s claimed Herjolfsnes was owned by a fellow named Thorkell. Bjarni isn’t mentioned at all, nor is Herjolf. The history of events and places is always an edited version, depending on the bias of the author.