Hardly can the wind reach the wide waters to ruffle them even when a gale blows, and so the place is more silent, and its terror falls more heavily on a man's mind.
It was two hours after sunset when we started, but the fringe of the woodland is but a mile and a half from the village, and we were soon there.

The night was bright enough, with a clear sky and stars overhead, though there was no moon as yet.
As we went Olaf was very cheerful, and railed pleasantly at Ottar for his fears, while I said little, not knowing if I wanted to find Gunnhild or not.
But Ottar would not pretend to be braver than he felt, having no shame in fear of things other than earthly, a matter wherein I think that he was right.
"Why," said the king, "if Dame Gunnhild tries to fray us, do you but turn that cloak of yours inside out, and you will frighten her"-- for it chanced that the scald's red cloak had a white woollen lining, whereof he was somewhat proud, being a lover of bright dress.
"It is ill to mock a spirit," the scald said; "wherefore do I believe the less that a Wise Woman will bide in the place that it haunts." So they talked until we came to the woodland; and when we came among the trees a silence fell on us.
"It is of no use," I said, "let us go back.

You are right, and she cannot bide here." "Why, now that I have got over my fear so far," Olaf said, "I will go on, even to the water's edge.

Then will we go back." I could not gainsay him, as may be known, and so we went on.

It was easy at first to thread our way through the trees, but presently they were thicker, and it was dark.