Kjartan was then fifteen years old, and was both big of body and manly in appearance.
The summer that year was very wet, but in the autumn there came dry days.

By this time the hay-work at Froda was so far advanced that all the home field was mown, and nearly the half of it was quite dry.
There came then a fine dry day, clear and bright, with not a cloud to be seen in all the sky.

Thorodd, the yeoman, rose early in the morning and arranged the work of each one; some began to cart off the hay, and some to put it into stalks, while the women were set to toss and dry it.

Thorgunna also had her share assigned to her, and the work went on well during the day.

When it drew near to three in the afternoon, a mass of dark clouds was seen rising in the north which came rapidly across the sky and took its course right above the farm.
They thought it certain that there was rain in the cloud and Thorodd bade his people rake the hay together; but Thorgunna continued to scatter hers, in spite of the orders that were given.