Arnwulf the Bearsark taught him axe-play and sword-play, and he had a small buckler of his own, not of linden-wood like those of the Wick folk, but of wickerwork after the fashion of his mother's people.

He learned to wrestle toughly with the lads of his own age, and to throw a light spear truly at a mark.

He was fleet of foot and scoured the fells like a goat, and he could breast the tide in the pool of the great foss up to the very edge of the white water where the trolls lived.
There was a wise woman dwelt on the bay of Sigg.

Katla was her name, a woman still black-browed though she was very old, and clever at mending hunters' scars.

To her house Biorn went with Leif; and when they had made a meal of her barley-cakes and sour milk, and passed the news of the coast, Leif would fall to probing her craft and get but surly answers.