THE FIRST DISCOVERY OF
AMERICA
Let me begin this lecture {1} with a scene in the North Atlantic 863
years since.
"Bjarne Grimolfson was blown with his ship into the Irish Ocean; and
there came worms and the ship began to sink under them. They had a
boat which they had payed with seals\' blubber, for that the sea- worms will
not hurt. But when they got into the boat they saw that it would not hold
them all. Then said Bjarne, \'As the boat will only hold the half of us, my
advice is that we should draw lots who shall go in her; for that will not be
unworthy of our manhood.\' This advice seemed so good that none gainsaid
it; and they drew lots. And the lot fell to Bjarne that he should go in the
boat with half his crew. But as he got into the boat, there spake an
Icelander who was in the ship and had followed Bjarne from Iceland, \'Art
thou going to leave me here, Bjarne?\' Quoth Bjarne, \'So it must be.\'
Then said the man, \'Another thing didst thou promise my father, when I
sailed with thee from Iceland, than to desert me thus. For thou saidst that
we both should share the same lot.\' Bjarne said, \'And that we will not do.
Get thou down into the boat, and I will get up into the ship, now I see that
thou art so greedy after life.\' So Bjarne went up into the ship, and the
man went down into the boat; and the boat went on its voyage till they
came to Dublin in Ireland. Most men say that Bjarne and his comrades
perished among the worms; for they were never heard of after."