Read SOME YEARS AGO I came upon the historical story of the discovery of America by Leif Ericsson in A for Free Online

have thought of that. It's in the spring we get the easterlies.
    BJARNI That's just what I said.
    THINGMAN But, Bjarni, could you get to this place, do you think? I mean, this summer.
    BJARNI Oh, we'd get there all right. We'd get there somehow or other, but it might take some time. We might not be able to come back this year.
    [ DISSOLVE TO:
    Bjarni's Ship
    ( The ship is seen labouring in a rough sea, doing her best to beat against the wind on the starboard tack. Bjarni is working at the steering oar; he is virile and competent, and showing at his best. Callender's voice is heard as commentary. )
    CALLENDER Well, Bjarni was quite right. He met head winds which prevented him from sailing to Greenland along his latitude, as Eric had done years before. These ships would not beat against the wind, and if the wind was strong you could not row them up against the wind, either. Bjarni had to bear away southwards and work to the west as best he could each day, as the wind veered and changed. He was hindered by the fact that he had no compass and he didn't know the latitude of the place that he was going to; his ship had never been there before, so he hadn't got the notch upon his thwart. He didn't know where he was going to or how far he had gone towards it, but he went on. He was a very brave man.
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    [DISSOLVE TO:
    The Classroom
    ( Callender is indicating on the map. )
    CALLENDER He came down here, zigzagging about in his head winds, trying to get westwards. He ended up by missing Greenland altogether; he passed south of Cape, Farewell, here. By that time he had been a long time at sea and he didn't in the least know where he was, but he went on. He was that kind of man. And in the end, he came out on the coast of Newfoundland, here. And he was very disappointed.
    DISSOLVE TO:
    L
    Bjarni's Ship
    ( The ship is shown sailing near the coast of a well-wooded, fertile country in fine, sunny weather. This should be a very beautiful scene, in contrast to the rough seas and grey skies of the previous shots. The crew are all staring at the shore, entranced. Bjarni is at the helm, and looking very discontented. )
    FIRST MAN Lord, it's been worth a bad passage to come out at a fine country like this one. It's the best country I have ever seen.
    BJARNI We have come wrong, all thanks to those infernal head winds. This is not the place that we are looking for.
    FIRST MAN Are you sure of that, Lord? Leif Ericsson said that there was pasture, and there is pasture here, and fine weather, and tall trees.
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    BJARNI I know what I am doing. They told me definitely that I should come to a bad land of rocks and glaciers first; this place is nothing like it. We have come wrong.
    SECOND MAN But, Lord, this is a good land.
    BJARNI It's not the land that we are looking for. We will sail north for a bit, and see if we can find the bad land with the rocks and glaciers. From there we have to sail south for five days and turn the corner of the land, and we shall come to Ericsfiord.
    FIRST MAN Lord, we haven't got much water left, and there is very little wood. Shall we go in to the beach and land in this good place, and find a stream, and cut some wood? We have been a long time at sea.
    BJARNI Nonsense. We've got plenty of wood, and there are two whole barrels of water that we haven't touched yet. Of course we won't land; we are going on to find the place with the rocks and the glaciers. You just want a run on shore, that's all that's the matter with you. I often wonder why chaps like you go to sea at all, if you don't like it.
    FIRST MAN I often wonder that myself.
    BJARNI Get forward, and slack off the weather sheet. (Hails) Stand by the vangs; heave in on the lee sheet. Leadsman, what water have you got?
    [FADE TO:
    Bjarni's Ship—Later
    ( The ship is seen off the coast of Labrador, sailing northwards. The coast is misty and rocky, Bjarni is looking puzzled and discontented. Callender's voice is heard as commentary. )
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    CALLENDER He sailed north up the