The Story of Burnt Njal Part 6 Sections 87 - 101
Author: 101
Date: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

The Story of Burnt Njal: Part 6: Sections 87 - 101 The Story of Burnt Njal (Njal’s Saga) Part 6: Sections 87 - 101 Online Medieval and Classical Library Release #11

87. THRAIN TOOK TO HRAPP

That same summer Njal’s sons fared to Norway from the Orkneys, as was before written, and they were there at the fair during the summer. Then Thrain Sigfus’ son busked his ship for Iceland, and was all but “boun.” At that time Earl Hacon went to a feast at Gudbrand’s house. That night Killing-Hrapp came to the shrine of Earl Hacon and Gudbrand, and he went inside the house, and there he saw Thorgerda Shrinebride sitting, and she was as tall as a fullgrown man. She had a great gold ring on her arm, and a wimple on her head; he strips her of her wimple, and takes the gold ring from off her. Then he sees Thor’s car, and takes from him a second gold ring; a third he took from Irpa; and then dragged them all out, and spoiled them of all their gear.

After that he laid fire to the shrine, and burnt it down, and then he goes away just as it began to dawn. He walks across a ploughed field, and there six men sprang up with weapons, and fall upon him at once; but he made a stout defence, and the end of the business was that he slays three men, but wounds Thrand to the death, and drives two to the woods, so that they could bear no news to the earl. He then went up to Thrand and said, “It is now in my power to slay thee if I will, but I will not do that; and now I will set more store by the ties that are between us than ye have shown to me.”

Now Hrapp means to turn back to the wood, but now he sees that men have come between him and the wood, so he dares not venture to turn thither, but lays him down in a thicket, and so lies there a while.

Earl Hacon and Gudbrand went that morning early to the shrine and found it burnt down; but the three gods were outside, stripped of all their bravery.

Then Gudbrand began to speak, and said, “Much might is given to our gods, when here they have walked of themselves out of the fire!”

“The gods can have naught to do with it,” says the earl; “a man must have burnt the shrine, and borne the gods out; but the gods do not avenge everything on the spot. That man who has done this will no doubt be driven away out of Valhalla, and never come in thither.”

Just then up ran four of the earl’s men, and told them ill tidings for they said they had found three men slain in the field, and Thrand wounded to the death.

“Who can have done this?” says the earl.

“Killing-Hrapp,” they say.

“Then he must have burnt down the shrine,” says the earl.

They said they thought he was like enough to have done it.

“And where may he be now?” says the earl.

They said that Thrand had told them that he had lain down in a thicket.

The earl goes thither to look for him, but Hrapp was off and away. Then the earl set his men to search for him, but still they could not find him. So the earl was in the hue and cry himself, but first he bade them rest a while.

Then the earl went aside by himself, away from other men, and bade that no man should follow him, and so he stays a while. He fell down on both his knees, and held his hands before his eyes; after that he went back to them, and then he said to them, “Come with me.”

So they went along with him. He turns short away from the path on which they had walked before, and they came to a dell. There up sprang Hrapp before them, and there it was that he had hidden himself at first.

The earl urges on his men to run after him, but Hrapp was so swift-footed that they never came near him. Hrapp made for Hlada. There both Thrain and Njal’s sons lay “boun” for sea at the same time. Hrapp runs to where Njal’s sons are.

“Help me, like good men and true,” he said, “for the earl will slay me.”

Helgi looked at him, and said, “Thou lookest like an unlucky man, and the man who will not take thee in will have the best of it.”

“Would that the worst might befall you from me,” says Hrapp.

“I am the man,” says Helgi, “to avenge me on thee for this as time rolls on.”

Then Hrapp turned to Thrain Sigfus’ son, and bade him shelter him.

“What hast thou on thy hand?” says Thrain.

“I have burnt a shrine under the earl’s eyes, and slain some men, and now he will be here speedily, for he has joined in the hue and cry himself.”

“It hardly beseems me to do this,” says Thrain, “when the earl has done me so much good.”

Then he shewed Thrain the precious things which he had borne out of the shrine, and offered to give him the goods, but Thrain said he could not take them unless he gave him other goods of the same worth for them.

“Then,” said Hrapp, “here will I take my stand, and here shall I be slain before thine eyes, and then thou wilt have to abide by every man’s blame.”

Then they see the earl and his band of men coming, and then Thrain took Hrapp under his safeguard, and let them shove off the boat, and put out to his ship.

Then Thrain said, “Now this will be thy best hiding place, to knock out the bottoms of two casks, and then thou shalt get into them.”

So it was done, and he got into the casks, and then they were lashed together, and lowered overboard.

Then comes the earl with his band to Njal’s sons, and asked if Hrapp had come there.

They said that he had come.

The earl asked whither he had gone thence?

They said they had not kept eyes on him, and could not say.

“He,” said the earl, “should have great honour from me who would tell me where Hrapp was.”

Then Grim said softly to Helgi, “Why should we not say, What know I whether Thrain will repay us with any good?”

“We should not tell a whit more for that,” says Helgi, “when his life lies at stake.”

“May be,” said Grim, “the earl will turn his vengeance on us, for he is so wroth that some one will have to fall before him.”

“That must not move us,” says Helgi, “but still we will pull our ship out, and so away to sea as soon as ever we get a wind.”

So they rowed out under an isle that lay there, and wait there for a fair breeze.

The earl went about among the sailors, and tried them all, but they, one and all, denied that they knew aught of Hrapp.

Then the earl said, “Now we will go to Thrain, my brother in arms, and he will give Hrapp up, if he knows anything of him.”

After that they took a long-ship and went off to the merchant ship.

Thrain sees the earl coming, and stands up and greets him kindly.

The earl took his greeting well and spoke thus, — “We are seeking for a man whose name is Hrapp, and he is an Icelander. He has done us all kind of ill; and now we will ask you to be good enough to give him up, or to tell us where he is.”

“Ye know, lord,” said Thrain, “that I slew your outlaw, and then put my fife in peril, and for that I had of you great honour.”

“More honour shalt thou now have,” says the earl.

Now Thrain thought within himself, and could not make up his mind how the earl would take it, so he denies that Hrapp is here, and bade the earl to look for him. He spent little time on that, and went on land alone, away from other men, and was then very wroth, so that no man dared to speak to him.

“Shew me to Njal’s sons,” said the earl, “and I will force them to tell me the truth.”

Then he was told that they had put out of the harbour.

“Then there is no help for it,” says the earl, “but still there were two water-casks alongside of Thrain’s ship, and in them a man may well have been hid, and if Thrain has bidden him, there he must be; and now we will go a second time to see Thrain.”

Thrain sees that the earl means to put off again and said, “However wroth the earl was last time, now he will be half as wroth again, and now the life of every man on board the ship lies at stake.”

They all gave their words to hide the matter, for they were all sore afraid. Then they took some sacks out of the lading, and put Hrapp down into the hold in their stead, and other sacks that were light were laid over him.

Now comes the earl, just as they were done stowing Hrapp away. Thrain greeted the earl well. The earl was rather slow to return it, and they saw that the earl was very wroth.

Then said the earl to Thrain, “Give thou up Hrapp, for I am quite sure that thou hast hidden him.”

“Where shall I have hidden him, Lord?” says Thrain.

“That thou knowest best,” says the earl; “but if I must guess, then I think that thou hiddest him in the water-casks a while ago.”

“Well!” says Thrain, “I would rather not be taken for a liar, far sooner would I that ye should search the ship.”

Then the earl went on board the ship and hunted and hunted, but found him not.

“Dost thou speak me free now?” says Thrain.

“Far from it,” says the earl, “and yet I cannot tell why we cannot find him, but methinks I see through it all when I come on shore, but when I come here, I can see nothing.”

With that he made them row him ashore. He was so wroth that there was no speaking to him. His son Sweyn was there with him, and he said, “A strange turn of mind this to let guiltless men smart for one’s wrath!”

Then the earl went away alone aside from other men, and after that he went back to them at once, and said, “Let us row out to them again,” and they did so.

“Where can he have been hidden?” says Sweyn.

“There’s not much good in knowing that,” says the earl, “for now he will be away thence; two sacks lay there by the rest of the lading, and Hrapp must have come into the lading in their place.”

Then Thrain began to speak, and said, “They are running off the ship again, and they must mean to pay us another visit. Now we will take him out of the lading, and stow other things in his stead, but let the sacks still lie loose. They did so, and then Thrain spoke: “Now let us fold Hrapp in the sail.”

It was then brailed up to the yard, and they did so.

Then the earl comes to Thrain and his men, and he was very wroth, and said, “Wilt thou now give up the man, Thrain?” and he is worse now than before.

“I would have given him up long ago,” answers Thrain, “if he had been in my keeping, or where can he have been?”

“In the lading,” says the earl.

“Then why did ye not seek him there?” says Thrain.

“That never came into our mind,” says the earl.

After that they sought him over all the ship, and found him not.

“Will you now hold me free?” says Thrain.

“Surely not,” says the earl, “for I know that thou hast hidden away the man, though I find him not; but I would rather that thou shouldst be a dastard to me than I to thee,” says the earl, and then they went on shore.

“Now,” says the earl, “I seem to see that Thrain has hidden away Hrapp in the sail.”

Just then, up sprung a fair breeze, and Thrain and his men sailed out to sea. He then spoke these words which have long been held in mind since —

“Let us make the Vulture fly, Nothing now gars Thrain flinch.”

But when the earl heard of Thrain’s words, then he said, “‘Tis not my want of foresight which caused this, but rather their ill-fellowship, which will drag them both to death.”

Thrain was a short time out on the sea, and so came to Iceland, and fared home to his house. Hrapp went along with Thrain, and was with him that year; but the spring after, Thrain got him a homestead at Hrappstede, and he dwelt there; but yet he spent most of his time at Gritwater. He was thought to spoil everything there, and some men even said that he was too good friends with Hallgerda, and that he led her astray, but some spoke against that.

Thrain gave the Vulture to his kinsman, Mord the Reckless; that Mord slew Oddi Haldor’s son, east in Gautawick by Berufirth.

All Thrain’s kinsmen looked on him as a chief.

88. EARL HACON FIGHTS WITH NJAL’S SONS.

Now we must take up the story, and say how, when Earl Hacon missed Thrain, he spoke to Sweyn his son, and said, “Let us take four long-ships, and let us fare against Njal’s sons and slay them, for they must have known all about it with Thrain.”

“‘Tis not good counsel,” says Sweyn, “to throw the blame on guiltless men, but to let him escape who is guilty.”

“I shall have my way in this,” says the earl.

Now they hold on after Njal’s sons, and seek for them, and find them under an island.

Grim first saw the earl’s ships and said to Helgi, “Here are war ships sailing up, and I see that here is the earl, and he can mean to offer us no peace.”

“It is said,” said Helgi, “that he is the boldest man who holds his own against all comers, and so we will defend ourselves.”

They all bade him take the course he thought best, and then they took to their arms.

Now the earl comes up and called out to them, and bade them give themselves up.

Helgi said that they would defend themselves so long as they could.

Then the earl offered peace and quarter to all who would neither defend themselves nor Helgi; but Helgi was so much beloved that all said they would rather die with him.

Then the earl and his men fall on them, but they defended themselves well, and Njal’s sons were ever where there was most need. The earl often offered peace, but they all made the same answer, and said they would never yield.

Then Aslak of Longisle pressed them hard and came on board their ship thrice. Then Grim said, “Thou pressest on hard, and ‘twere well that thou gettest what thou seekest;” and with that he snatched up a spear and hurled it at him, and hit him under the chin, and Aslak got his death wound there and then.

A little after, Helgi slew Egil the earl’s banner-bearer.

Then Sweyn, Earl Hacon’s son, fell on them, and made men hem them in and bear them down with shields, and so they were taken captive.

The earl was for letting them all be slain at once, but Sweyn said that should not be, and said too that it was night.

Then the earl said, “Well, then, slay them to-morrow, but bind them fast to-night.”

“So, I ween, it must be,” says Sweyn; “but never yet have I met brisker men than these, and I call it the greatest manscathe to take their lives.”

“They have slain two of our briskest men,” said the earl, “and for that they shall be slain.”

“Because they were brisker men themselves,” says Sweyn; “but still in this it must be done as thou willest.”

So they were bound and fettered.

After that the earl fell asleep; but when all men slept, Grim spoke to Helgi, and said, “Away would I get if I could.”

“Let us try some trick then,” says Helgi.

Grim sees that there lies an axe edge up, so Grim crawled thither, and gets the bowstring which bound him cut asunder against the axe, but still he got great wounds on his arms.

Then he set Helgi loose, and after that they crawled over the ship’s side, and got on shore, so that neither Hacon nor his men were ware of them. Then they broke off their fetters, and walked away to the other side of the island. By that time it began to dawn. There they found a ship, and knew that there was come Kari Solmund’s son. They went at once to meet him, and told him of their wrongs and hardships, and showed him their wounds, and said the earl would be then asleep.

“Ill is it,” said Kari, “that ye should suffer such wrongs for wicked men; but what now would be most to your minds?”

“To fall on the earl,” they say, “and slay, him.”

“This will not be fated,” says Kari; “but still ye do not lack heart, but we will first know whether he is there now.”

After that they fared thither, and then the earl was up and away.

Then Kari sailed in to Hlada to meet the earl, and brought him the Orkney scatts, so the earl said, “Hast thou taken Njal’s sons into thy keeping?”

“So it is, sure enough,” says Kari.

“Wilt thou hand Njal’s sons over to me?” asks the earl.

“No, I will not,” said Kari.

“Wilt thou swear this,” says the earl, “that thou wilt not fall on me with Njal’s sons?”

Then Eric, the earl’s son, spoke and said, “Such things ought not to be asked. Kari has always been our friend, and things should not have gone as they have, had I been by. Njal’s sons should have been set free from all blame, but they should have had chastisement who had wrought for it. Methinks now it would be more seemly to give Njal’s sons good gifts for the hardships and wrongs which have been put upon them, and the wounds they have got.”

“So it ought to be, sure enough,” says the earl, “but I know not whether they will take an atonement.”

Then the earl said that Kari should try the feeling of Njal’s sons as to an atonement.

After that Kari spoke to Helgi, and asked whether he would take any amends from the earl or not.

“I will take them,” said Helgi, “from his son Eric, but I will have nothing to do with the earl.”

Then Kari told Eric their answer.

“So it shall be.” says Eric. “He shall take the amends from me if he thinks it better; and tell them this too, that I bid them to my house, and my father shall do them no harm.”

This bidding they took, and went to Eric’s house, and were with him till Kari was ready to sail west across the sea to meet Earl Sigurd.

Then Eric made a feast for Kari, and gave him gifts, and Njal’s sons gifts too. After that Kari fared west across the sea, and met Earl Sigurd, and he greeted them very well, and they were with the earl that winter.

But when the spring came, Kari asked Njal’s sons to go on warfare with him, but Grim said they would only do so if he would fare with them afterwards out to Iceland. Kari gave his word to do that, and then they fared with him a-searoving. They harried south about Anglesea and all the Southern isles. Thence they held on to Cantyre, and landed there, and fought with the landsmen, and got thence much goods, and so fared to their ships.

Thence they fared south to Wales, and harried there. Then they held on for Alan, and there they met Godred, and fought with him, and got the victory, and slew Dungal the king’s son. There they took great spoil. Thence they held on north to Coll, and found Earl Gilli there, and he greeted them well and there they stayed with him a while. The earl fared with them to the Orkneys to meet Earl Sigurd, but next spring Earl Sigurd gave away his sister Nereida to Earl Gilli, and then he fared back to the Southern isles.

89. NJAL’S SONS AND KARI COME OUT TO ICELAND

That summer Kari and Njal’s sons busked them for Iceland, and when they were “all-boun” they went to see the earl. The earl gave them good gifts, and they parted with great friendship.

Now they put to sea and have a short passage, and they got a fine fair breeze, and made the land at Eyrar. Then they got them horses and ride from the ship to Bergthorsknoll, but when they came home all men were glad to see them. They flitted home their goods and laid up the ship, and Kari was there that winter with Njal.

But the spring after, Kari asked for Njal’s daughter, Helga, to wife, and Helgi and Grim backed his suit; and so the end of it was that she was betrothed to Kari and the day for the wedding-feast was fixed, and the feast was held half a month before mid-summer, and they were that winter with Njal.

Then Kari bought him land at Dyrholms, east away by Mydale, and set up a farm there; they put in there a grieve and housekeeper to see after the farm, but they themselves were ever with Njal.

90. THE QUARREL OF NJAL’S SONS WITH THRAIN SIGFUS’ SON

Hrapp owned a farm at Hrappstede, but for all that he was always at Gritwater, and he was thought to spoil everything there. Thrain was good to him.

Once on a time it happened that Kettle of the Mark was at Bergthorsknoll; then Njal’s sons told him of their wrongs and hardships, and said they had much to lay at Thrain Sigfus son’s door, whenever they chose to speak about it.

NjaI said it would be best that Kettle should talk with his brother Thrain about it, and he gave his word to do so.

So they gave Kettle breathing-time to talk to Thrain.

A little after they spoke of the matter again to Kettle, but he said that be would repeat few of the words that had passed between them, “For it was pretty plain that Thrain thought I set too great store on being your brother-in-law.”

Then they dropped talking about it, and thought they saw that things looked ugly, and so they asked their father for his counsel as to what was to be done, but they told him they would not let things rest as they then stood.

“Such things,” said Njal, “are not so strange. It will be thought that they are slain without a cause, if they are slain now, and my counsel is, that as many men as may be should be brought to talk with them about these things, and thus as many as we can find may be ear-witnesses if they answer ill as to these things. Then Kari shall talk about them too, for he is just the man with the right turn of mind for this; then the dislike between you will grow and grow, for they will heap bad words on bad words when men bring the matter forward, for they are foolish men. It may also well be that it may be said that my sons are slow to take up a quarrel, but ye shall bear that for the sake of gaining time, for there are two sides to everything that is done, and ye can always pick a quarrel; but still ye shall let so much of your purpose out, as to say that if any wrong be put upon you that ye do mean something. But if ye had taken counsel from me at first, then these things should never have been spoken about at all, and then ye would have gotten no disgrace from them; but now ye have the greatest risk of it, and so it will go on ever growing and growing with your disgrace, that ye will never get rid of it until ye bring yourselves into a strait, and have to fight your way out with weapons; but in that there is a long and weary night in which ye will have to grope your way.”

After that they ceased speaking about it; but the matter became the daily talk of many men.

One day it happened that those brothers spoke to Kari and bade him go to Gritwater. Kari said he thought he might go elsewhither on a better journey, but still he would go if that were Njal’s counsel. So after that Kari fares to meet Thrain, and then they talk over the matter, and they did not each look at it in the same way.

Kari comes home, and Njal’s sons ask how things had gone between Thrain and him. Kari said he would rather not repeat the words that had passed, “But,” he went on, “it is to be looked for that the like words will be spoken when ye yourselves can hear them.”

Thrain had fifteen house-carles trained to arms in his house, and eight of them rode with him whithersoever he went. Thrain was very fond of show and dress, and always rode in a blue cloak, and had on a gilded helm, and the spear — the earl’s gift — in his band, and a fair shield, and a sword at his belt. Along with him always went Gunnar Lambi’s son, and Lambi Sigurd’s son, and Grani Gunnar of Lithend’s son. But nearest of all to him went Killing-Hrapp. Lodinn was the name of his serving-man, he too went with Thrain when he journeyed; Tjorvi was the name of Lodinn’s brother, and he too was one of Thrain’s band. The worst of all, in their words against Njal’s sons, were Hrapp and Grani; and it was mostly their doing that no atonement was offered to them.

Njal’s sons often spoke to Kari that he should ride with them; and it came to that at last, for he said it would be well that they heard Thrain’s answer.

Then they busked them, four of Njal’s sons, and Kari the fifth, and so they fare to Gritwater.

There was a wide porch in the homestead there, so that many men might stand in it side by side. There was a woman out of doors, and she saw their coming, and told Thrain of it; he bade them to go out into the porch, and take their arms, and they did so.

Thrain stood in mid-door, but Killing-Hrapp and Grani Gunnar’s son stood on either hand of him; then next stood Gunnar Lambi’s son, then Lodinn and Tjorvi, then Lambi Sigurd’s son; then each of the others took his place right and left; for the house-carles were all at home.

Skarphedinn and his men walk up from below, and he went first, then Kari, then Hauskuld, then Grim, then Helgi. But when they had come up to the door, then not a word of welcome passed the lips of those who stood before them.

“May we all be welcome here?” said Skarphedinn.

Hallgerda stood in the porch, and had been talking low to Hrapp, then she spoke out loud: “None of those who are here will say that ye are welcome.”

Then Skarphedinn sang a song:

“Prop of sea-waves’ fire (1), thy fretting Cannot cast a weight on us, Warriors wight; yes, wolf and eagle Willingly I feed to-day; Carline thrust into the ingle, Or a tramping whore, art thou; Lord of skates that skim the sea-belt (2), Odin’s mocking cup (3) I mix”

“Thy words,” said Skarphedinn, “will not be worth much, for thou art either a hag, only fit to sit in the ingle, or a harlot.”

“These words of thine thou shalt pay for,” she says, “ere thou farest home.”

“Thee am I come to see, Thrain,” said Helgi, “and to know if thou wilt make me any amends for those wrongs and hardships which befell me for thy sake in Norway.”

“I never knew,” said Thrain, “that ye two brothers were wont to measure your manhood by money; or, how long shall such a claim for amends stand over?”

“Many will say,” says Helgi, “that thou oughtest to offer us atonement, since thy life was at stake.”

Then Hrapp said, “‘Twas just luck that swayed the balance, when he got stripes who ought to bear them; and she dragged you under disgrace and hardships, but us away from them.”

“Little good luck was there in that,” says Helgi, “to break faith with the earl, and to take to thee instead.”

“Thinkest thou not that thou hast some amends to seek from me,” says Hrapp. “I will atone thee in a way that, methinks, were fitting.”

“The only dealings we shall have,” says Helgi, “will be those which will not stand thee in good stead.”

“Don’t bandy words with Hrapp,” said Skarphedinn, “but give him a red skin for a grey.” (4)

“Hold thy tongue, Skarphedinn,” said Hrapp, “or I will not spare to bring my axe on thy head.”

“‘Twill be proved soon enough, I dare say,” says Skarphedinn, “which of us is to scatter gravel over the other’s head.”

“Away with you home, ye `Dungbeardlings!’” says Hallgerda, “and so we will call you always from this day forth; but your father we will call `the Beardless Carle.’”

They did not fare home before all who were there had made themselves guilty of uttering those words, save Thrain; he forbade men to utter them.

Then Njal’s sons went away, and fared till they came home, then they told their father.

“Did ye call any men to witness of those words?” says Njal.

“We called none,” says Skarphedinn; “we do not mean to follow that suit up except on the battle-field.”

“No one will now think,” says Bergthora, “that ye have the heart to lift your weapons.”

“Spare thy tongue, mistress!” says Kari, “in egging on thy sons, for they will be quite eager enough.”

After that they all talk long in secret, Njal and his sons, and Kari Solmund’s son, their brother-in-law.

ENDNOTES:

(l) “Prop of sea-waves’ fire,” a periphrasis for woman that bears gold on her arm. (2) “Skates that skim.” etc.. a periphrasis for ships. (3) “Odin’s mocking cup,” mocking songs. (4) An allusion to the Beast Epic, where the cunning fox laughs at the flayed condition of his stupid foes, the wolf and bear. We should say, “Don’t stop to speak with him, but rather beat him black and blue.”

91. THRAIN SIGFUS’ SON’S SLAYING

Now there was great talk about this quarrel of theirs, and all seemed to know that it would not settle down peacefully.

Runolf, the son of Wolf Aurpriest, east in the Dale, was a great friend of Thrain’s, and had asked Thrain to come and see him, and it was settled that he should come east when about three weeks or a month were wanting to winter.

Thrain bade Hrapp, and Grani, and Gunnar Lambi’s son, and Lambi Sigurd’s son, and Lodinn, and Tjorvi, eight of them in all, to go on this journey with him. Hallgerda and Thorgerda were to go too. At the same time Thrain gave it out that he meant to stay in the Mark with his brother Kettle, and said how many nights he meant to be away from home.

They all of them had full arms. So they rode east across Markfleet, and found there some gangrel women, and they begged them to put them across the Fleet west on their horses, and they did so.

Then they rode into the Dale, and had a hearty welcome; there Kettle of the Mark met them, and there they sate two nights.

Both Runolf and Kettle besought Thrain that he would make up his quarrel with Njal’s sons; but he said he would never pay any money, and answered crossly, for he said he thought himself quite a match for Njal’s sons wherever they met.

“So it may be,” says Runolf; “but so far as I can see, no man has been their match since Gunnar of Lithend died and it is likelier that ye will both drag one another down to death.”

Thrain said that was not to be dreaded.

Then Thrain fared up into the Mark, and was there two nights more; after that he rode down into the Dale, and was sent away from both houses with fitting gifts.

Now the Markfleet was then flowing between sheets of ice on both sides, and there were tongues of ice bridging it across every here and there.

Thrain said that he meant to ride home that evening, but Runolf said that he ought not to ride home; he said, too, that it would be more wary not to fare back as he had said he would before he left home.

“That is fear, and I will none of it,” answers Thrain.

Now those gangrel women whom they had put across the Fleet came to Bergthorsknoll, and Bergthora asked whence they came, but they answered, “Away east under Eyjafell.”

“Then, who put you across Markfleet?” said Bergthora.

“Those,” said they, “who were the most boastful and bravest clad of men.”

“Who?” asked Bergthora.

“Thrain Sigfus’ son,” said they, “and his company, but we thought it best to tell thee that they were so full-tonged towards this house, against thy husband and his sons.”

“Listeners do not often hear good of themselves,” says Bergthora.

After that they went their way, and Bergthora gave them gifts on their going, and asked them when Thrain might be coming home.

They said that he would be from home four or five nights.

After that Bergthora told her sons and her son-in-law Kari, and they talked long and low about the matter.

But that same morning when Thrain and his men rode from the east, Njal woke up early and heard how Skarphedinn’s axe came against the panel.

Then Njal rises up, and goes out, and sees that his sons are all there with their weapons, and Kari, his son-in-law too. Skarphedinn was foremost. He was in a blue cape, and had a targe, and his axe aloft on his shoulder. Next to him went Helgi; he was in a red kirtle, had a helm on his head, and a red shield, on which a hart was marked. Next to him went Kari; he had on a silken jerkin, a gilded helm and shield, and on it was drawn a lion. They were all in bright holiday clothes.

Njal called out to Skarphedinn, “Whither art thou going, kinsman?”

“On a sheep hunt,” he said.

“So it was once before,” said Njal, “but then ye hunted men.”

Skarphedinn laughed at that, and said, “Hear ye what the old man says? He is not without his doubts.”

“When was it that thou spokest thus before,” asks Kari.

“When I slew Sigmund the White,” says Skarphedinn, “Gunnar of Lithend’s kinsman.”

“For what?” asks Kari.

“He had slain Thord Freedmanson, my foster-father.”

Njal went home, but they fared up into the Redslips, and bided there; thence they could see the others as soon as ever they rode from the east out of the Dale.

There was sunshine that day and bright weather.

Now Thrain and his men ride down out of the Dale along the river bank.

Lambi Sigurd’s son said, “Shields gleam away yonder in the Redslips when the sun shines on them, and there must be some men lying in wait there.”

“Then,” says Thrain, “we will turn our way lower down the Fleet, and then they will come to meet us if they have any business with us.”

So they turn down the Fleet. “Now they have caughtsight of us,” said Skarphedinn, “for lo! they turn their path elsewhither, and now we have no other choice than to run down and meet them.”

“Many men,” said Kari, “would rather not lie in wait if the balance of force were not more on their side than it is on ours; they are eight, but we are five.”

Now they turn down along the Fleet, and see a tongue of ice bridging the stream lower down and mean to cross there.

Thrain and his men take their stand upon the ice away from the tongue, and Thrain said, “What can these men want? They are five, and we are eight.”

“I guess,” said Lambi Sigurd’s son, “that they would still run the risk though more men stood against them.”

Thrain throws off his cloak, and takes off his helm.

Now it happened to Skarphedinn, as they ran down along the Fleet, that his shoe-string snapped asunder, and he stayed behind.

“Why so slow, Skarphedinn?” quoth Grim.

“I am tying my shoe,” he says.

“Let us get on ahead,” says Kari; “methinks he will not be slower than we.”

So they turn off to the tongue, and run as fast as they can. Skarphedinn sprang up as soon as he was ready, and had lifted his axe, “the ogress of war,” aloft, and runs right down to the Fleet. But the Fleet was so deep that there was no fording it for a long way up or down.

A great sheet of ice had been thrown up by the flood on the other side of the Fleet as smooth and slippery as glass, and there Thrain and his men stood in the midst of the sheet.

Skarphedinn takes a spring into the air, and leaps over the stream between the icebanks, and does not check his course, but rushes still onwards with a slide. The sheet of ice was very slippery, and so he went as fast as a bird flies. Thrain was just about to put his helm on his head; and now Skarphedinn bore down on them, and hews at Thrain with his axe, “the ogress of war,” and smote him on the head, and clove him down to the teeth, so that his jaw-teeth fell out on the ice. This feat was done with such a quick sleight that no one could get a blow at him; he glided away from them at once at full speed. Tjorvi, indeed, threw his shield before him on the ice, but he leapt over it, and still kept his feet, and slid quite to the end of the sheet of ice.

There Kari and his brothers came to meet him.

“This was done like a man,” says Kari.

“Your share is still left,” says Skarphedinn, and sang a song:

“To the strife of swords not slower, After all, I came than you, For with ready stroke the sturdy Squanderer of wealth I felled; But since Grim’s and Helgi’s sea-stag (1) Norway’s Earl erst took and stripped, Now ‘tis time for sea-fire bearers (2) Such dishonour to avenge.”

And this other song he sang:

“Swiftly down I dashed my weapon, Gashing giant, byrnie-breacher (3), She, the noisy ogre’s namesake (4), Soon with flesh the ravens glutted; Now your words to Hrapp remember, On broad ice now rouse the storm, With dull crash war’s eager ogress Battle’s earliest note hath sung.”

“That befits us well, and we will do it well,” says Helgi.

Then they turn up towards them. Both Grim and Helgi see where Hrapp is, and they turned on him at once. Hrapp hews at Grim there and then with his axe; Helgi sees this and cuts at Hrapp’s arm, and cut it off, and down fell the axe.

“In this,” says Hrapp, “thou hast done a most needful work, for this hand hath wrought harm and death to many a man.”

“And so here an end shall be put to it,” says Grim; and with that he ran him through with a spear, and then Hrapp fell down dead.

Tjorvi turns against Kari and hurls a spear at him. Kari leapt up in the air, and the spear flew below his feet. Then Kari rushes at him, and hews at him on the breast with his sword, and the blow passed at once into his chest, and he got his death there and then.

Then Skarphedinn seizes both Gunnar Lambi’s son, and Grani Gunnar’s son, and said, “Here have I caught two whelps! but what shall we do with them?

“It is in thy power,” says Helgi, “to slay both or either of them, if you wish them dead.”

“I cannot find it in my heart to do both — help Hogni and slay his brother,” says Skarphedinn.

“Then the day will once come,” says Helgi, “when thou wilt wish that thou hadst slain him, for never will he be true to thee, nor will any one of the others who are now here.”

“I shall not fear them,” answers Skarphedinn.

After that they gave peace to Grani Gunnar’s son, and Gunnar Lambi’s son, and Lambi Sigurd’s son, and Lodinn.

After that they went down to the Fleet where Skarphedinn had leapt over it, and Kari and the others measured the length of the leap with their spear-shafts, and it was twelve ells (5).

Then they turned homewards, and Njal asked what tidings. They told him all just as it had happened, and Njal said, “These are great tidings, and it is more likely that hence will come the death of one of my sons, if not more evil.”

Gunnar Lambi’s son bore the body of Thrain with him to Gritwater, and he was laid in a cairn there.

ENDNOTES:

(1) “Sea-stag,” periphrasis for ship. (2) “Sea-fire bearers,” the bearers of gold, men, that is, Helgi and Grim. (3) “Byrnie-breacher,” piercer of coats of mail. (4) “Noisy ogre’s namesake,” an allusion to the name of Skarp hedinn’s axe, “the ogress of war.” (5) Twelve ells, about twenty-four feet (the Norse ell being something more than two feet), a good jump, but not beyond the power of man. Comp. “Orkn. Saga”, ch. 113, new ed., vol. i., 457, where Earl Harold leaps nine ells over a dike.

92. KETTLE TAKES HAUSKULD AS HIS FOSTER-SON

Kettle of the Mark had to wife Thorgerda Njal’s daughter, but he was Thrain’s brother, and he thought he was come into a strait, so he rode to Njal’s house, and asked whether he were willing to atone in any way for Thrain’s slaying?

“I will atone for it handsomely,” answered Njal; “and my wish is that thou shouldst look after the matter with thy brothers who have to take the price of the atonement, that they may be ready to join in it.”

Kettle said he would do so with all his heart, and Kettle rode home first; a little after, he summoned all his brothers to Lithend, and then he had a talk with them; and Hogni was on his side all through the talk; and so it came about that men were chosen to utter the award; and a meeting was agreed on, and the fair price of a man was awarded for Thrain’s slaying, and they all had a share in the blood-money who had a lawful right to it. After that pledges of peace and good faith were agreed to, and they were settled in the most sure and binding way.

Njal paid down all the money out of hand well and bravely; and so things were quiet for a while.

One day Njal rode up into the Mark, and he and Kettle talked together the whole day; Njal rode home at even, and no man knew of what they had taken counsel.

A little after Kettle fares to Gritwater, and he said to Thorgerda, “Long have I loved my brother Thrain much, and now I will shew it, for I will ask Hauskuld Thrain’s son to be my foster-child.”

“Thou shalt have thy choice of this,” she says; “and thou shalt give this lad all the help in thy power when he is grown up, and avenge him if he is slain with weapons, and bestow money on him for his wife’s dower; and besides, thou shalt swear to do all this.”

Now Hauskuld fares home with Kettle, and is with him some time.

93. NJAL TAKES HAUSKULD TO FOSTER

Once on a time Njal rides up into the Mark, and he had a hearty welcome. He was there that night, and in the evening Njal called out to the lad Hauskuld, and he went up to him at once.

Njal had a ring of gold on his hand, and showed it to the lad. He took hold of the gold, and looked at it, and put it on his finger.

“Wilt thou take the gold as a gift?” said Njal.

“That I will,” said the lad.

“Knowest thou,” says Njal, “what brought thy father to his death?”

“I know,” answers the lad, “that Skarphedinn slew him; but we need not keep that in mind, when an atonement has been made for it, and a full price paid for him.”

“Better answered than asked,” said Njal; “and thou wilt live to be a good man and true,” he adds.

“Methinks thy forecasting,” says Hauskuld, “is worth having, for I know that thou art foresighted and unlying.”

“Now will I offer to foster thee,” said Njal, “if thou wilt take the offer.”

He said he would be willing to take both that honour and any other good offer which he might make. So the end of the matter was, that Hauskuld fared home with Njal as his foster-son.

He suffered no harm to come nigh the lad, and loved him much. Njal’s sons took him about with them, and did him honour in every way. And so things go on till Hauskuld is full grown. He was both tall and strong; the fairest of men to look on, and well haired; blithe of speech, bountiful, well behaved; as well trained to arms as the best; fairspoken to all men, and much beloved.

Njal’s sons and Hauskuld were never apart, either in word or deed.

94. OF FLOSI THORD’S SON

There was a man named Flosi, he was the son of Thord Freyspriest (1). Flosi had to wife Steinvora, daughter of Hall of the Side. She was base born, and her mother’s name was Solvora, daughter of Herjolf the White. Flosi dwelt at Swinefell, and was a mighty chief. He was tall of stature, and strong, withal, the most forward and boldest of men. His brother’s name was Starkad (2); he was not by the same mother as Flosi.

The other brothers of Flosi were Thorgeir and Stein, Kolbein and Egil. Hildigunna was the name of the daughter of Starkad Flosi’s brother. She was a proud, high-spirited maiden, and one of the fairest of women. She was so skilful with her hands, that few women were equally skilful. She was the grimmest and hardest-hearted of all women; but still a woman of open hand and heart when any fitting call was made upon her.

ENDNOTES:

(1) Thord was the son of Auzur, the son of Asbjorn Eyjangr the son of Bjorn, the son of Helgi, the son of Bjorn the Roughfooted, the son of Grim, the Lord of Sogn. The mother of Flosi was Ingunna, daughter of Thorir of Espihole, the son of Hamond Hellskin, the son of Hjor, the son of Half, who ruled over the men of Half, the son of Hjorfeif, the lover of women. The mother of Thorir was Ingunna, daughter of Helgi the Lean, who took the land round Eyjafirth, as the first settler. (2) The mother of Starkad was Thraslauga, daughter of Thorstein titling the son of Gerleif; but the mother of Thraslauga was Aud; she was a daughter of Eyvind Karf, one of the first settlers, and sister of Modolf the Wise.

95. OF HALL OF THE SIDE

Hall was the name of a man who was called Hall of the Side. He was the son of Thorstein Baudvar’s son (1). Hall had to wife Joreida, daughter of Thidrandi (2) the Wise. Thorstein was the name of Hall’s brother, and he was nick-named Broad-paunch. His son was Kol, whom Kari slays in Wales. The sons of Hall of the Side were Thorstein and Egil, Thorwald and Ljot, and Thidrandi, whom, it is said, the goddesses slew.

There was a man named Thorir, whose surname was Holt-Thorir; his sons were these: — Thorgeir Craggeir, and Thorleif Crow, from whom the Wood-dwellers are come, and Thorgrim the Big.

ENDNOTES:

(1) Hall’s mother’s name was Thordisa, and she was a daughter of Auzur, the son of Hrodlaug, the son of Earl Rognvald of Maeren, the son of Eystein the Noisy. (2) Thidrandi was the son of Kettle Rumble, the son of Thorir, the son of Thidrandi of Verudale. The brothers of Thidrandi were Kettle Rumble, in Njordwick, and Thorwald, the father of Helgi Droplaug’s son. Hallkatla was the sister of Joreida. She was the mother of Thorkel Geiti’s son, and Thidrandi.

96. OF THE CHANGE OF FAITH

There had been a change of rulers in Norway, Earl Hacon was dead and gone, but in his stead was come Olaf Tryggvi’s son. That was the end of Earl Hacon, that Kark the thrall cut his throat at Rimul in Gaulardale.

Along with that was heard that there had been a change of faith in Norway; they had cast off the old faith, but King Olaf had christened the western lands, Shetland, and the Orkneys, and the Faroe Isles.

Then many men spoke so that Njal heard it, that it was a strange and wicked thing to throw off the old faith.

Then Njal spoke and said, “It seems to me as though this new faith must be much better, and he will be happy who follows this rather than the other; and if those men come out hither who preach this faith, then I will back them well.”

He went often alone away from other men and muttered to himself.

That same harvest a ship came out into the firths east to Berufirth, at a spot called Gautawick. The captain’s name was Thangbrand. He was a son of Willibald, a count of Saxony. Thangbrand was sent out hither by King Olaf Tryggvi’s son, to preach the faith. Along with him came that man of Iceland whose name was Gudleif (1). Gudleif was a great man-slayer, and one of the strongest of men, and hardy and forward in everything.

Two brothers dwelt at Beruness; the name of the one was Thorleif, but the other was Kettle. They were sons of Holmstein, the son of Auzur of Broaddale. These brothers held a meeting and forbade men to have any dealings with them. This Hall of the Side heard.

He dwelt at Thvattwater in Alftafirth; he rode to the ship with twenty-nine men, and he fares at once to find Thangbrand, and spoke to him and asked him, “Trade is rather dull, is it not?”

He answered that so it was.

“Now will I say my errand,” says Hall; “it is, that I wish to ask you all to my house, and run the risk of my being able to get rid of your wares for you.”

Thangbrand thanked him, and fared to Thvattwater that harvest.

It so happened one morning that Thangbrand was out early and made them pitch a tent on land, and sang mass in it, and took much pains with it, for it was a great high day.

Hall spoke to Thangbrand and asked, “In memory of whom keepest thou this day?”

“In memory of Michael the archangel,” says Thangbrand.

“What follows that angel?” asks Hall.

“Much good,” says Thangbrand. “He will weigh all the good that thou doest, and he is so merciful, that whenever any one pleases him, he makes his good deeds weigh more.”

“I would like to have him for my friend,” says Hall.

“That thou mayest well have,” says Thangbrand, “only give thyself over to him by God’s help this very day.”

“I only make this condition,” says Hall, “that thou givest thy word for him that he will then become my guardian angel.”

“That I will promise,” says Thangbrand.

Then Hall was baptized, and all his household.

ENDNOTES:

(1) He was the son of Ari, the son of Mar, the son of Atli, the son of Wolf Squinteye, the son of Hogni the White, the son of Otryg, the son of Oblaud, the son of Hjorleif the lover of women, King of Hordaland.

97. OF THANGBRAND’S JOURNEYS

The spring after Thangbrand set out to preach Christianity, and Hall went with him. But when they came west across Lonsheath to Staffell, there they found a man dwelling named Thorkell. He spoke most against the faith, and challenged Thangbrand to single combat. Then Thangbrand bore a rood-cross (1) before his shield, and the end of their combat was that Thangbrand won the day and slew Thorkell.

Thence they fared to Hornfirth and turned in as guests at Borgarhaven, west of Heinabergs sand. There Hilldir the Old dwelt (2), and then Hilldir and all his household took upon them the new faith.

Thence they fared to Fellcombe, and went in as guests to Calffell. There dwelt Kol Thorstein’s son, Hall’s kinsman, and he took upon him the faith and all his house.

Thence they fared to Swinefell, and Flosi only took the sign of the cross, but gave his word to back them at the Thing.

Thence they fared west to Woodcombe, and went in as guests at Kirkby. There dwelt Surt Asbjorn’s son, the son of Thorstein, the son of Kettle the Foolish. These had all of them been Christians from father to son.

After that they fared out of Woodcombe on to Headbrink. By that time the story of their journey was spread far and wide. There was a man named Sorcerer-Hedinn who dwelt in Carlinedale. There heathen men made a bargain with him that he should put Thangbrand to death with all his company. He fared upon Arnstacksheath, and there made a great sacrifice when Thangbrand was riding from the east. Then the earth burst asunder under his horse, but he sprang off his horse and saved himself on the brink of the gulf, but the earth swallowed up the horse and all his harness, and they never saw him more.

Then Thangbrand praised God.

ENDNOTES:

(1) Rood-cross, a crucifix. (2) His son was Glum who fared to the burning with Flosi.

98. OF THANGBRAND AND GUDLEIF

Gudleif now searches for Sorcerer-Hedinn and finds him on the heath, and chases him down into Carlinedale, and got within spearshot of him, and shoots a spear at him and through him.

Thence they fared to Dyrholms and held a meeting there, and preached the faith there, and there Ingialld, the son of Thorsteinn Highbankawk, became a Christian.

Thence they fared to the Fleetlithe and preached the faith there.

There Weatherlid the Skald, and Ari his son, spoke most against the faith, and for that they slew Weatherlid, and then this song was sung about it —

“He who proved his blade on bucklers, South went through the land to whet Brand that oft hath felled his foeman, ‘Gainst the forge which foams with song (1); Mighty wielder of war’s sickle Made his sword’s avenging edge Hard on hero’s helm-prop rattle (2), Skull of Weatherlid the Skald.”

Thence Thangbrand fared to Bergthorsknoll, and Njal took the faith and all his house, but Mord and Valgard went much against it, and thence they fared out across the rivers; so they went on into Hawkdale and there they baptized Hall (3), and he was then three winters old.

Thence Thangbrand fared to Grimsness, there Thorwald the Scurvy gathered a band against him, and sent word to Wolf Uggi’s son that he must fare against Thangbrand and slay him, and made this song on him —

“To the wolf in Woden’s harness, Uggi’s worthy warlike son, I, steel’s swinger dearly loving, This my dimple bidding send; That the wolf of Gods (4) he chaseth — Man who snaps at chink of gold — Wolf who base our Gods blasphemeth, I the other wolf (5) will crush.”

Wolf sang another song in return:

“Swarthy skarf from mouth that skimmeth Of the man who speaks in song Never will I catch, though surely Wealthy warrior it hath sent; Tender of the sea-horse snorting, E’en though ill deeds are on foot, Still to risk mine eyes are open; Harmful ‘tis to snap at flies (6).”

“And,” says he, “I don’t mean to be made a catspaw by him, but let him take heed lest his tongue twists a noose for his own neck.”

And after that the messenger fared back to Thorwald the Scurvy and told him Wolf’s words. Thorwald had many men about him, and gave it out that he would lie in wait for them on Bluewood-heath.

Now those two, Thangbrand and Gudleif, ride out of Hawkdale, and there they came upon a man who rode to meet them. That man asked for Gudleif, and when he found him he said, “Thou shalt gain by being the brother of Thorgil of Reykiahole, for I will let thee know that they have set many ambushes, and this too, that Thorwald the Scurvy is now with his band at Hestbeck on Grimsness.”

“We shall not the less for all that ride to meet him,” says Gudleif, and then they turned down to Hestbeck. Thorwald was then come across the brook, and Gudleif said to Thangbrand, “Here is now Thorwald; let us rush on him now.”

Thangbrand shot a spear through Thorwald, but Gudleif smote him on the shoulder and hewed his arm off, and that was his death.

After that they ride up to the Thing, and it was a near thing that the kinsmen of Thorwald had fallen on Thangbrand, but Njal and the eastfirthers stood by Thangbrand.

Then Hjallti Skeggi’s son sang this rhyme at the Hill of Laws:

“Ever will I Gods blaspheme Freyja methinks a dog does seem, Freyja a dog? Aye! let them be Both dogs together Odin and she (7).”

Hjallti fared abroad that summer and Gizur the White with him, but Thangbrand’s ship was wrecked away east at Bulandsness, and the ship’s name was Bison.

Thangbrand and his messmate fared right through the west country, and Steinvora, the mother of Ref the Skald, came against him; she preached the heathen faith to Thangbrand and made him a long speech. Thangbrand held his peace while she spoke, but made a long speech after her, and turned all that she had said the wrong way against her.

“Hast thou heard,” she said, “how Thor challenged Christ to single combat, and how he did not dare to fight with Thor?”

“I have heard tell,” says Thangbrand, “that Thor was naught but dust and ashes, if God had not willed that he should live.”

“Knowest thou,” she says, “who it was that shattered thy ship?”

“What hast thou to say about that?” he asks.

“That I will tell thee,” she says:

“He that giant’s offspring (8) slayeth Broke the mew-field’s bison stout (9), Thus the Gods, bell’s warder (10) grieving, Crushed the falcon of the strand (11); To the courser of the causeway (12) Little good was Christ I ween, When Thor shattered ships to pieces Gylfi’s hart (13) no God could help.”

And again she sung another song:

“Thangbrand’s vessel from her moorings, Sea-king’s steed, Thor wrathful tore, Shook and shattered all her timbers, Hurled her broadside on the beach; Ne’er again shall Viking’s snow-shoe (14), On the briny billows glide, For a storm by Thor awakened, Dashed the bark to splinters small.”

After that Thangbrand and Steinvora parted, and they fared west to Bardastrand.

ENDNOTES:

(1) “Forge which foams with song,” the poet’s head, in which songs are forged, and gush forth like foaming mead. (2) “Hero’s helm-prop,” the hero’s, man’s, head which supports his helm. (3) It is needless to say that this Hall was not Hall of the Side. (4) “Wolf of Gods,” the “caput lupinum,” the outlaw of heaven, the outcast from Valhalla, Thangbrand. (5) “The other wolf,” Gudleif. (6) “Swarthy skarf,” the skarf, or “pelecanus carbo”, the cormorant. He compares the message of Thorwald to the cormorant skimming over the waves, and says he will never take it. “Snap at flies,” a very common Icelandic metaphor from fish rising to a fly. (7) Maurer thinks the allusion is here to some mythological legend on Odin’s adventures which has not come down to us. (8) “He that giant’s,” etc., Thor. (9) “Mew-field’s bison,” the sea-going ship, which sails over the plain of the sea-mew. (10) “Bell’s warder,” the Christian priest whose bell-ringing formed part of the rites of the new faith. (11) “Falcon of the strand,” ship. (12) “Courser of the causeway,” ship. (13) “Gylfi’s hart,” ship. (14) “Viking’s snow-shoe,” sea-king’s ship.

99. OF GEST ODDLEIF’S SON

Gest Oddleit’s son dwelt at Hagi on Bardastrand. He was one of the wisest of men, so that he foresaw the fates and fortunes of men. He made a feast for Thangbrand and his men. They fared to Hagi with sixty men. Then it was said that there were two hundred heathen men to meet them, and that a Baresark was looked for to come thither, whose name was Otrygg, and all were afraid of him. Of him such great things as these were said, that he feared neither fire nor sword, and the heathen men were sore afraid at his coming. Then Thangbrand asked if men were willing to take the faith, but all the heathen met spoke against it.

“Well,” says Thangbrand, “I will give you the means whereby ye shall prove whether my faith is better. We will hallow two fires. The heathen men shall hallow one and I the other, but a third shall be unhallowed; and if the Baresark is afraid of the one that I hallow, but treads both the others, then ye shall take the faith.”

“That is well spoken,” says Gest, “and I will agree to this for myself and my household.”

And when Gest had so spoken, then many more agreed to it.

Then it was said that the Baresark was coming up to the homestead, and then the fires were made and burnt strong. Then men took their arms and sprang up on the benches, and so waited.

The Baresark rushed in with his weapons. He comes into the room, and treads at once the fire which the heathen men had hallowed, and so comes to the fire that Thangbrand had hallowed, and dares not to tread it, but said that he was on fire all over. He hews with his sword at the bench, but strikes a crossbeam as he brandished the weapon aloft. Thangbrand smote the arm of the Baresark with his crucifix, and so mighty a token followed that the sword fell from the Baresark’s hand.

Then Thangbrand thrusts a sword into his breast, and Gudleif smote him on the arm and hewed it off. Then many went up and slew the Baresark.

After that Thangbrand asked if they would take the faith now?

Gest said he had only spoken what he meant to keep to.

Then Thangbrand baptized Gest and all his house and many others. Then Thangbrand took counsel with Gest whether he should go any further west among the firths, but Gest set his face against that, and said they were a hard race of men there, and ill to deal with, “but if it be foredoomed that this faith shall make its way, then it will be taken as law at the Althing, and then all the chiefs out of the districts will be there.”

“I did all that I could at the Thing,” says Thangbrand, “and it was very uphill work.”

“Still thou hast done most of the work,” says Gest, “though it may be fated that others shall make Christianity law; but it is here as the saying runs, `No tree falls at the first stroke.’”

After that Gest gave Thangbrand good gifts, and he fared back south. Thangbrand fared to the Southlander’s Quarter, and so to the Eastfirths. He turned in as a guest at Bergthorsknoll, and Njal gave him good gifts. Thence he rode east to Alftafirth to meet Hall of the Side. He caused his ship to be mended, and heathen men called it “Iron-basket.” On board that ship Thangbrand fared abroad, and Gudleif with him.

100. OF GIZUR THE WHITE AND HJALLTI

That same summer Hjallti Skeggi’s son was outlawed at the Thing for blasphemy against the Gods.

Thangbrand told King Olaf of all the mischief that the Icelanders had done to him, and said that they were such sorcerers there that the earth burst asunder under his horse and swallowed up the horse.

Then King Olaf was so wroth that he made them seize all the men from Iceland and set them in dungeons, and meant to slay them.

Then they, Gizur the White and Hjallti, came up and offered to lay themselves in pledge for those men, and fare out to Iceland and preach the faith. The king took this well, and they got them all set free again.

Then Gizur and Hjallti busked their ship for Iceland, and were soon “boun.” They made the land at Eyrar when ten weeks of summer had passed; they got them horses at once, but left other men to strip their ship. Then they ride with thirty men to the Thing, and sent word to the Christian men that they must be ready to stand by them.

Hjallti stayed behind at Reydarmull, for he had heard that he had been made an outlaw for blasphemy, but when they came to the “Boiling Kettle” (1) down below the brink of the Rift (2), there came Hjallti after them, and said he would not let the heathen men see that he was afraid of them.

Then many Christian men rode to meet them, and they ride in battle array to the Thing. The heathen men had drawn up their men in array to meet them, and it was a near thing that the whole body of the Thing had come to blows, but still it did not go so far.

ENDNOTES:

(1) “Boiling kettle.” This was a hyer, or hot spring. (2) This was the “Raven’s Rift,” opposite to the “Great Rift” on the other side of Thingfield.

101. OF THORGEIR OF LIGHTWATER

There was a man named Thorgeir who dwelt at Lightwater; he was the son of Tjorfi, the son of Thorkel the Long, the son of Kettle Longneck. His mother’s name was Thoruna, and she was the daughter of Thorstein, the son of Sigmund, the son of Bard of the Nip. Gudrida was the name of his wife; she was a daughter of Thorkel the Black of Hleidrargarth. His brother was Worm Wallet-back, the father of Hlenni the Old of Saurby (1).

The Christian men set up their booths, and Gizur the White and Hjallti were in the booths of the men from Mossfell. The day after both sides went to the Hill of Laws, and each, the Christian men as well as the heathen, took witness, and declared themselves out of the other’s laws, and then there was such an uproar on the Hill of Laws that no man could hear the other’s voice.

After that men went away, and all thought things looked like the greatest entanglement. The Christian men chose as their Speaker Hall of the Side, but Hall went to Thorgeir, the priest of Lightwater, who was the old Speaker of the law, and gave him three marks of silver (2) to utter what the law should be, but still that was most hazardous counsel, since he was an heathen.

Thorgeir lay all that day on the ground, and spread a cloak over his head, so that no man spoke with him; but the day after men went to the Hill of Laws, and then Thorgeir bade them be silent and listen, and spoke thus: “It seems to me as though our matters were come to a dead lock, if we are not all to have one and the same law; for if there be a sundering of the laws, then there will be a sundering of the peace, and we shall never be able to live in the land. Now, I will ask both Christian men and heathen whether they will hold to those laws which I utter?”

They all said they would.

He said he wished to take an oath of them, and pledges that they would hold to them, and they all said “yea” to that, and so he took pledges from them.

“This is the beginning of our laws,” he said, “that all men shall be Christian here in the land, and believe in one God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, but leave off all idol-worship, not expose children to perish, and not eat horseflesh. It shall be outlawry if such things are proved openly against any man; but if these things are done by stealth, then it shall be blameless.”

But all this heathendom was all done away with within a few years’ space, so that those things were not allowed to be done either by stealth or openly.

Thorgeir then uttered the law as to keeping the Lord’s day and fast days, Yuletide and Easter, and all the greatest highdays and holidays.

The heathen men thought they had been greatly cheated; but still the true faith was brought into the law, and so all men became Christian here in the land.

After that men fare home from the Thing.

ENDNOTES:

(1) Kettle and Thorkel were both sons of Thorir Tag, the son of Kettle the Seal, the son of Ornolf, the son of Bjornolf, the son of Grim Hairycheek, the son of Kettle Haeing, the son of Hallbjorn Halftroll of Ravensfood. (2) This was no bribe, but his lawful fee.

Copyright Š 1995. All rights reserved. Document maintained at http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/OMACL/Njal/6part.html by the SunSITE Manager. Last update 1/8/96. SunSITE Manager: manager@sunsite.berkeley.edu