Burnt Njal --- chap. 61 - 70 by Icelandic Saga Lyrics
CHAPTER LXI.
GUNNAR'S DREAM.
Now we must go back and say that Gunnar rides east over Thurso water,
but when he had gone a little way from the river he grew very drowsy,
and bade them lie down and rest there.
They did so. He fell fast asleep, and struggled much as he slumbered.
Then Kolskegg said, "Gunnar dreams now". But Hjort said, "I would like
to wake him".
"That shall not be," said Kolskegg, "but he shall dream his dream out".
Gunnar lay a very long while, and threw off his shield from him, and he
grew very warm. Kolskegg said, "What hast thou dreamt, kinsman?"
"That have I dreamt," says Gunnar, "which if I had dreamt it there I
would never have ridden with so few men from Tongue."
"Tell us thy dream," says Kolskegg.
Then Gunnar sang a song.
Chief, that chargest foes in fight!
Now I fear that I have ridden
Short of men from Tongue, this harvest;
Raven's fast I sure shall break.
Lord, that scatters Ocean's fire![24]
This at least, I long to say,
Kite with wolf shall fight for marrow,
Ill I dreamt with wandering thought.
"I dreamt, methought, that I was riding on by Knafahills, and there I
thought I saw many wolves, and they all made at me; but I turned away
from them straight towards Rangriver, and then methought they pressed
hard on me on all sides, but I kept them at bay, and shot all those
that were foremost, till they came so close to me that I could not use
my bow against them. Then I took my sword, and I smote with it with one
hand, but thrust at them with my bill with the other. Shield myself then
I did not, and methought then I knew not what shielded me. Then I slew
many wolves, and thou, too, Kolskegg; but Hjort methought they pulled
down, and tore open his breast, and one methought had his heart in his
maw; but I grew so wroth that I hewed that wolf asunder just below the
brisket, and after that methought the wolves turned and fled. Now my
counsel is, brother Hjort, that thou ridest back west to Tongue."
"I will not do that," says Hjort; "though I know my death is sure, I
will stand by thee still."
Then they rode and came east by Knafahills, and Kolskegg said--
"Seest thou, kinsman! many spears stand up by the hills, and men with
weapons."
"It does not take me unawares," says Gunnar, "that my dream comes true."
"What is best to be done now?" says Kolskegg; "I guess thou wilt not run
away from them."
"They shall not have that to jeer about," says Gunnar, "but we will ride
on down to the ness by Rangriver; there is some vantage ground there."
Now they rode on to the ness, and made them ready there, and as they
rode on past them Kol called out and said--
"Whither art thou running to now, Gunnar?"
But Kolskegg said, "Say the same thing farther on when this day has come
to an end".
CHAPTER LXII.
THE SLAYING OF HJORT AND FOURTEEN MEN.
After that Starkad egged on his men, and then they turn down upon them
into the ness. Sigurd Swinehead came first and had a red targe, but in
his other hand he held a cutlass. Gunnar sees him and shoots an arrow at
him from his bow; he held the shield up aloft when he saw the arrow
flying high, and the shaft passes through the shield and into his eye,
and so came out at the nape of his neck, and that was the first man
slain.
A second arrow Gunnar shot at Ulfhedinn, one of Starkad's men, and that
struck him about the middle and he fell at the feet of a yeoman, and the
yeoman over him. Kolskegg cast a stone and struck the yeoman on the
head, and that was his death-blow.
Then Starkad said, "'Twill never answer our end that he should use his
bow, but let us come on well and stoutly". Then each man egged on the
other, and Gunnar guarded himself with his bow and arrows as long as he
could; after that he throws them down, and then he takes his bill and
sword and fights with both hands. There is long the hardest fight, but
still Gunnar and Kolskegg slew man after man.
Then Thorgeir Starkad's son said, "I vowed to bring Hildigunna thy head,
Gunnar."
Then Gunnar sang a song--
Thou, that battle-sleet down bringeth,
Scarce I trow thou speakest truth;
She, the girl with golden armlets,
Cannot care for such a gift;
But, O serpent's hoard despoiler!
If the maid must have my head--
Maid whose wrist Rhine's fire[25] wreatheth,
Closer come to crash of spear.
"She will not think that so much worth having," says Gunnar; "but still
to get it thou wilt have to come nearer!"
Thorgeir said to his brothers--
"Let us run all of us upon him at once; he has no shield and we shall
have his life in our hands."
So Bork and Thorkel both ran forward and were quicker than Thorgeir.
Bork made a blow at Gunnar, and Gunnar threw his bill so hard in the way
that the sword flew out of Bork's hand; then he sees Thorkel standing on
his other hand within stroke of sword. Gunnar was standing with his body
swayed a little on one side, and he makes a sweep with his sword, and
caught Thorkel on the neck, and off flew his head.
Kol Egil's son said, "Let me get at Kolskegg," and turning to Kolskegg
he said, "This I have often said, that we two would be just about an
even match in fight".
"That we can soon prove," says Kolskegg.
Kol thrust at him with his spear; Kolskegg had just slain a man and had
his hands full, and so he could not throw his shield before the blow,
and the thrust came upon his thigh, on the outside of the limb and went
through it.
Kolskegg turned sharp round, and strode towards him, and smote him with
his short sword on the thigh, and cut off his leg, and said, "Did it
touch thee or not?"
"Now," says Kol, "I pay for being bare of my shield."
So he stood a while on his other leg and looked at the stump.
"Thou needest not to look at it," said Kolskegg; "'tis even as thou
seest, the leg is off."
Then Kol fell down dead.
But when Egil sees this, he runs at Gunnar and makes a cut at him;
Gunnar thrusts at him with the bill and struck him in the middle, and
Gunnar hoists him up on the bill and hurls him out into Rangriver.
Then Starkad said, "Wretch that thou art indeed, Thorir Easterling, when
thou sittest by; but thy host and father-in-law Egil is slain."
Then the Easterling sprung up and was very wroth. Hjort had been the
death of two men, and the Easterling leapt on him and smote him full on
the breast. Then Hjort fell down dead on the spot.
Gunnar sees this and was swift to smite at the Easterling, and cuts him
asunder at the waist.
A little while after Gunnar hurls the bill at Bork, and struck him in
the middle, and the bill went through him and stuck in the ground.
Then Kolskegg cut off Hauk Egil's son's head, and Gunnar smites off
Otter's hand at the elbow-joint. Then Starkad said--
"Let us fly now. We have not to do with men!"
Gunnar said, "Ye two will think it a sad story if there is naught on you
to show that ye have both been in the battle".
Then Gunnar ran after Starkad and Thorgeir, and gave them each a wound.
After that they parted; and Gunnar and his brothers had then wounded
many men who got away from the field, but fourteen lost their lives, and
Hjort the fifteenth.
Gunnar brought Hjort home, laid out on his shield, and he was buried in
a cairn there. Many men grieved for him, for he had many dear friends.
Starkad came home, too, and Hildigunna dressed his wounds and
Thorgeir's, and said, "Ye would have given a great deal not to have
fallen out with Gunnar".
"So we would," says Starkad.
CHAPTER LXIII.
NJAL'S COUNSEL TO GUNNAR.
Steinvor, at Sandgil, besought Thorgrim the Easterling to take in hand
the care of her goods, and not to sail away from Iceland, and so to keep
in mind the death of his messmate and kinsman.
"My messmate Thorir," said he, "foretold that I should fall by Gunnar's
hand if I stayed here in the land, and he must have foreseen that when
he foreknew his own death."
"I will give thee," she says, "Gudruna my daughter to wife, and all my
goods into the bargain."
"I knew not," he said, "that thou wouldest pay such a long price."
After that they struck the bargain that he shall have her, and the
wedding feast was to be the next summer.
Now Gunnar rides to Bergthorsknoll, and Kolskegg with him. Njal was out
of doors and his sons, and they went to meet Gunnar and gave them a
hearty welcome. After that they fell a-talking, and Gunnar said--
"Hither am I come to seek good counsel and help at thy hand."
"That is thy due," said Njal.
"I have fallen into a great strait," says Gunnar, "and slain many men,
and I wish to know what thou wilt make of the matter?"
"Many will say this," said Njal, "that thou hast been driven into it
much against thy will; but now thou shalt give me time to take counsel
with myself."
Then Njal went away all by himself, and thought over a plan, and came
back and said--
"Now have I thought over the matter somewhat, and it seems to me as
though this must be carried through--if it be carried through at
all--with hardihood and daring. Thorgeir has got my kinswoman Thorfinna
with child, and I will hand over to thee the suit for seduction. Another
suit of outlawry against Starkad I hand over also to thee, for having
hewn trees in my wood on the Threecorner ridge. Both these suits shalt
thou take up. Thou shalt fare too to the spot where ye fought, and dig
up the dead, and name witnesses to the wounds, and make all the dead
outlaws, for that they came against thee with that mind to give thee and
thy brothers wounds or swift death. But if this be tried at the Thing,
and it be brought up against thee that thou first gave Thorgeir a blow,
and so mayest neither plead thine own cause nor that of others, then I
will answer in that matter, and say that I gave thee back thy rights at
the Thingskala-Thing, so that thou shouldest be able to plead thine own
suit as well as that of others, and then there will be an answer to that
point. Thou shalt also go to see Tyrfing of Berianess, and he must hand
over to thee a suit against Aunund of Witchwood, who has the blood feud
after his brother Egil."
Then first of all Gunnar rode home; but a few nights after Njal's sons
and Gunnar rode thither where the bodies were, and dug them up that were
buried there. Then Gunnar summoned them all as outlaws for assault and
treachery, and rode home after that.
CHAPTER LXIV.
OF VALGARD AND MORD.
That same harvest Valgard the guileful came out to Iceland, and fared
home to Hof. Then Thorgeir went to see Valgard and Mord, and told them
what a strait they were in if Gunnar were to be allowed to make all
those men outlaws whom he had slain.
Valgard said that must be Njal's counsel, and yet every thing had not
come out yet which he was likely to have taught him.
Then Thorgeir begged those kinsmen for help and backing, but they held
out a long while, and at last asked for and got a large sum of money.
That, too, was part of their plan, that Mord should ask for Thorkatla,
Gizur the white's daughter, and Thorgeir was to ride at once west across
the river with Valgard and Mord.
So the day after they rode twelve of them together and came to Mossfell.
There they were heartily welcomed, and they put the question to Gizur
about the wooing, and the end of it was that the match should be made,
and the wedding feast was to be in half a month's space at Mossfell.
They ride home, and after that they ride to the wedding, and there was a
crowd of guests to meet them, and it went off well. Thorkatla went home
with Mord and took the housekeeping in hand but Valgard went abroad
again the next summer.
Now Mord eggs on Thorgeir to set his suit on foot against Gunnar, and
Thorgeir went to find Aunund; he bids him now to begin a suit for
manslaughter for his brother Egil and his sons; "but I will begin one
for the manslaughter of my brothers, and for the wounds of myself and my
father".
He said he was quite ready to do that, and then they set out, and give
notice of the manslaughter, and summon nine neighbours who dwelt nearest
to the spot where the deed was done. This beginning of the suit was
heard of at Lithend; and then Gunnar rides to see Njal, and told him,
and asked what he wished them to do next.
"Now," says Njal, "thou shalt summon those who dwell next to the spot,
and thy neighbours; and call men to witness before the neighbours, and
choose out Kol as the slayer in the manslaughter of Hjort thy brother:
for that is lawful and right; then thou shalt give notice of the suit
for manslaughter at Kol's hand, though he be dead. Then shall thou call
men to witness, and summon the neighbours to ride to the Althing to bear
witness of the fact, whether they, Kol and his companions, were on the
spot, and in onslaught when Hjort was slain. Thou shalt also summon
Thorgeir for the suit of seduction, and Aunund at the suit of Tyrfing."
Gunnar now did in everything as Njal gave him counsel. This men thought
a strange beginning of suits, and now these matters come before the
Thing. Gunnar rides to the Thing, and Njal's sons and the sons of
Sigfus. Gunnar had sent messengers to his cousins and kinsmen, that they
should ride to the Thing, and come with as many men as they could, and
told them that this matter would lead to much strife. So they gathered
together in a great band from the west.
Mord rode to the Thing and Runolf of the Dale, and those under the
Threecorner, and Aunund of Witchwood. But when they come to the Thing,
they join them in one company with Gizur the white and Geir the priest.
CHAPTER LXV.
OF FINES AND ATONEMENTS.
Gunnar, and the sons of Sigfus, and Njal's sons, went altogether in one
band, and they marched so swiftly and closely that men who came in their
way had to take heed lest they should get a fall; and nothing was so
often spoken about over the whole Thing as these great lawsuits.
Gunnar went to meet his cousins, and Olaf and his men greeted him well.
They asked Gunnar about the fight, but he told them all about it, and
was just in all he said; he told them, too, what steps he had taken
since.
Then Olaf said, "'Tis worth much to see how close Njal stands by thee in
all counsel".
Gunnar said he should never be able to repay that, but then he begged
them for help; and they said that was his due.
Now the suits on both sides came before the court, and each pleads his
cause.
Mord asked--"How it was that a man could have the right to set a suit on
foot who, like Gunnar, had already made himself an outlaw by striking
Thorgeir a blow?"
"Wast thou," answered Njal, "at Thingskala-Thing last autumn?"
"Surely I was," says Mord.
"Heardest thou," asks Njal, "how Gunnar offered him full atonement? Then
I gave back Gunnar his right to do all lawful deeds."
"That is right and good law," says Mord, "but how does the matter stand
if Gunnar has laid the slaying of Hjort at Kol's door, when it was the
Easterling that slew him?"
"That was right and lawful," says Njal, "when he chose him as the slayer
before witnesses."
"That was lawful and right, no doubt," says Mord; "but for what did
Gunnar summon them all as outlaws?"
"Thou needest not to ask about that," says Njal, "when they went out to
deal wounds and manslaughter."
"Yes," says Mord, "but neither befell Gunnar."
"Gunnar's brothers," said Njal, "Kolskegg and Hjort, were there, and one
of them got his death and the other a flesh wound."
"Thou speakest nothing but what is law," says Mord, "though it is hard
to abide by it."
Then Hjallti Skeggis son of Thursodale, stood forth and said--
"I have had no share in any of your lawsuits; but I wish to know whether
thou wilt do something, Gunnar, for the sake of my words and
friendship."
"What askest thou?" says Gunnar.
"This," he says, "that ye lay down the whole suit to the award and
judgment of good men and true."
"If I do so," said Gunnar, "then thou shalt never be against me,
whatever men I may have to deal with."
"I will give my word to that," says Hjallti.
After that he tried his best with Gunnar's adversaries, and brought it
about that they were all set at one again. And after that each side gave
the other pledges of peace; but for Thorgeir's wound came the suit for
seduction, and for the hewing in the wood, Starkad's wound. Thorgeir's
brothers were atoned for by half fines, but half fell away for the
onslaught on Gunnar. Egil's staying and Tyrfing's lawsuit were set off
against each other. For Hjort's slaying, the slaying of Kol and of the
Easterling were to come, and as for all the rest, they were atoned for
with half fines.
Njal was in this award, and Asgrim Ellidagrim's son, and Hjallti
Skeggi's son.
Njal had much money out at interest with Starkad, and at Sandgil too,
and he gave it all to Gunnar to make up these fines.
So many friends had Gunnar at the Thing, that he not only paid up there
and then all the fines on the spot, but gave besides gifts to many
chiefs who had lent him help; and he had the greatest honour from the
suit; and all were agreed in this, that no man was his match in all the
South Quarter.
So Gunnar rides home from the Thing and sits there in peace, but still
his adversaries envied him much for his honour.
CHAPTER LXVI.
OF THORGEIR OTKELL'S SON.
Now we must tell of Thorgeir Otkell's son; he grew up to be a tall
strong man, true-hearted and guileless, but rather too ready to listen
to fair words. He had many friends among the best men, and was much
beloved by his kinsmen.
Once on a time Thorgeir Starkad's son had been to see his kinsman Mord.
"I can ill brook," he says, "that settlement of matters which we and
Gunnar had, but I have bought thy help so long as we two are above
ground; I wish thou wouldest think out some plan and lay it deep; this
is why I say it right out, because I know that thou art Gunnar's
greatest foe, and he too thine. I will much increase thine honour if
thou takest pains in this matter."
"It will always seem as though I were greedy of gain, but so it must be.
Yet it will be hard to take care that thou mayest not seem to be a
truce-breaker, or peace-breaker, and yet carry out thy point. But now I
have been told that Kolskegg means to try a suit, and regain a fourth
part of Moeidsknoll, which was paid to thy father as an atonement for
his son. He has taken up this suit for his mother, but this too is
Gunnar's counsel, to pay in goods and not to let the land go. We must
wait till this comes about, and then declare that he has broken the
settlement made with you. He has also taken a cornfield from Thorgeir
Otkell's son, and so broken the settlement with him too. Thou shalt go
to see Thorgeir Otkell's son, and bring him into the matter with thee,
and then fall on Gunnar; but if ye fail in aught of this, and cannot get
him hunted down, still ye shall set on him over and over again, I must
tell thee that Njal has 'spaed' his fortune, and foretold about his
life, if he slays more than once in the same stock, that it would lead
him to his death, if it so fell out that he broke the settlement made
after the deed. Therefore shalt thou bring Thorgeir into the suit,
because he has already slain his father; and now, if ye two are together
in an affray, thou shalt shield thyself; but he will go boldly on, and
then Gunnar will slay him. Then he has slain twice in the same stock,
but thou shalt fly from the fight. And if this is to drag him to his
death he will break the settlement afterwards, and so we may wait till
then."
After that Thorgeir goes home and tells his father secretly. Then they
agreed among themselves that they should work out this plot by stealth.
CHAPTER LXVII.
OF THORGEIR STARKAD'S SON.
Sometime after Thorgeir Starkad's son fared to Kirkby to see his
namesake, and they went aside to speak, and talked secretly all day; but
at the end Thorgeir Starkad's son, gave his namesake a spear inlaid with
gold, and rode home afterwards; they made the greatest friendship the
one with the other.
At the Thingskala-Thing in the autumn, Kolskegg laid claim to the land
at Moeidsknoll, but Gunnar took witness, and offered ready money, or
another piece of land at a lawful price to those under the Threecorner.
Thorgeir took witness also, that Gunnar was breaking the settlement made
between them.
After that the Thing was broken up, and so the next year wore away.
Those namesakes were always meeting, and there was the greatest
friendship between them. Kolskegg spoke to Gunnar and said--
"I am told that there is great friendship between those namesakes, and
it is the talk of many men that they will prove untrue, and I would that
thou wouldst be ware of thyself."
"Death will come to me when it will come," says Gunnar, "wherever I may
be, if that is my fate."
Then they left off talking about it.
About autumn, Gunnar gave out that they would work one week there at
home, and the next down in the isles, and so make an end of their
haymaking. At the same time, he let it be known that every man would
have to leave the house, save himself and the women.
Thorgeir under Threecorner goes to see his namesake, but as soon as they
met they began to talk after their wont, and Thorgeir Starkad's son,
said--
"I would that we could harden our hearts and fall on Gunnar."
"Well," says Thorgeir Otkell's son, "every struggle with Gunnar has had
but one end, that few have gained the day; besides, methinks it sounds
ill to be called a peace-breaker."
"They have broken the peace, not we," says Thorgeir Starkad's son.
"Gunnar took away from thee thy cornfield; and he has taken Moeidsknoll
from my father and me."
And so they settle it between them to fall on Gunnar; and then Thorgeir
said that Gunnar would be all alone at home in a few nights' space, "and
then thou shalt come to meet me with eleven men, but I will have as
many".
After that Thorgeir rode home.
CHAPTER LXVIII.
OF NJAL AND THOSE NAMESAKES.
Now when Kolskegg and the house-carles had been three nights in the
isles, Thorgeir Starkad's son had news of that, and sends word to his
namesake that he should come to meet him on Threecorner ridge.
After that Thorgeir of the Threecorner busked him with eleven men; he
rides up on the ridge and there waits for his namesake.
And now Gunnar is at home in his house, and those namesakes ride into a
wood hard by. There such a drowsiness came over them that they could do
naught else but sleep. So they hung their shields up in the boughs, and
tethered their horses, and laid their weapons by their sides.
Njal was that night up in Thorolfsfell, and could not sleep at all, but
went out and in by turns.
Thorhilda asked Njal why he could not sleep?
"Many things now flit before my eyes," said he; "I see many fetches of
Gunnar's bitter foes, and what is very strange is this, they seem to be
mad with rage, and yet they fare without plan or purpose."
A little after, a man rode up to the door and got off his horse's back
and went in, and there was come the shepherd of Thorhilda and her
husband.
"Didst thou find the sheep?" she asked.
"I found what might be more worth," said he.
"What was that?" asked Njal.
"I found twenty-four men up in the wood yonder; they had tethered their
horses, but slept themselves. Their shields they had hung up in the
boughs."
But so closely had he looked at them that he told of all their weapons
and war-gear and clothes, and then Njal knew plainly who each of them
must have been, and said to him--
"'Twere good hiring if there were many such shepherds; and this shall
ever stand to thy good; but still I will send thee on an errand."
He said at once he would go.
"Thou shalt go," says Njal, "to Lithend and tell Gunnar that he must
fare to Gritwater, and then send after men; but I will go to meet with
those who are in the wood and scare them away. This thing hath well come
to pass, so that they shall gain nothing by this journey, but lose
much."
The shepherd set off and told Gunnar as plainly as he could the whole
story. Then Gunnar rode to Gritwater and summoned men to him.
Now it is to be told of Njal how he rides to meet these namesakes.
"Unwarily ye lie here," he says, "or for what end shall this journey
have been made? And Gunnar is not a man to be trifled with. But if the
truth must be told then, this is the greatest treason. Ye shall also
know this, that Gunnar is gathering force, and he will come here in the
twinkling of an eye, and slay you all, unless ye ride away home."
They bestirred them at once, for they were in great fear, and took their
weapons, and mounted their horses and galloped home under the
Threecorner.
Njal fared to meet Gunnar and bade him not to break up his company.
"But I will go and seek for an atonement; now they will be finely
frightened; but for this treason no less a sum shall be paid when one
has to deal with all of them, than shall be paid for the slaying of one
or other of those namesakes, though such a thing should come to pass.
This money I will take into my keeping, and so lay it out that it may be
ready to thy hand when thou hast need of it."
CHAPTER LXIX.
OLAF THE PEACOCK'S GIFTS TO GUNNAR.
Gunnar thanked Njal for his aid, and Njal rode away under the
Threecorner, and told those namesakes that Gunnar would not break up his
band of men before he had fought it out with them.
They began to offer terms for themselves, and were full of dread, and
bade Njal to come between them with an offer of atonement.
Njal said that could only be if there were no guile behind. Then they
begged him to have a share in the award, and said they would hold to
what he awarded.
Njal said he would make no award unless it were at the Thing, and unless
the best men were by; and they agreed to that.
Then Njal came between them, so that they gave each other pledges of
peace and atonement.
Njal was to utter the award, and to name as his fellows those whom he
chose.
A little while after those namesakes met Mord Valgard's son, and Mord
blamed them much for having laid the matter in Njal's hands, when he was
Gunnar's great friend. He said that would turn out ill for them.
Now men ride to the Althing after their wont, and now both sides are at
the Thing.
Njal begged for a hearing, and asked all the best men who were come
thither, what right at law they thought Gunnar had against those
namesakes for their treason. They said they thought such a man had great
right on his side.
Njal went on to ask, whether he had a right of action against all of
them, or whether the leaders had to answer for them all in the suit?
They say that most of the blame would fall on the leaders, but a great
deal still on them all.
"Many will say this," said Mord, "that it was not without a cause when
Gunnar broke the settlement made with those namesakes."
"That is no breach of settlement," says Njal, "that any man should take
the law against another; for with law shall our land be built up and
settled, and with lawlessness wasted and spoiled."
Then Njal tells them that Gunnar had offered land for Moeidsknoll, or
other goods.
Then those namesakes thought they had been beguiled by Mord, and scolded
him much, and said that this fine was all his doing.
Njal named twelve men as judges in the suit, and then every man paid a
hundred in silver who had gone out, but each of those namesakes two
hundred.
Njal took this money into his keeping, but either side gave the other
pledges of peace, and Njal gave out the terms.
Then Gunnar rode from the Thing west to the Dales, till he came to
Hjardarholt, and Olaf the peacock gave him a hearty welcome. There he
sat half a month, and rode far and wide about the Dales, and all
welcomed him with joyful hands. But at their parting Olaf said--
"I will give thee three things of price, a gold ring, and a cloak which
Moorkjartan the Erse king owned, and a hound that was given me in
Ireland; he is big, and no worse follower than a sturdy man. Besides, it
is part of his nature that he has man's wit, and he will bay at every
man whom he knows is thy foe, but never at thy friends; he can see, too,
in any man's face, whether he means thee well or ill, and he will lay
down his life to be true to thee. This hound's name is Sam."
After that he spoke to the hound, "Now shalt thou follow Gunnar, and do
him all the service thou canst".
The hound went at once to Gunnar and laid himself down at his feet.
Olaf bade Gunnar to be ware of himself, and said he had many enviers,
"For now thou art thought to be a famous man throughout all the land".
Gunnar thanked him for his gifts and good counsel, and rode home.
Now Gunnar sits at home for some time, and all is quiet.
CHAPTER LXX.
MORD'S COUNSEL.
A little after, those namesakes and Mord met, and they were not at all
of one mind. They thought they had lost much goods for Mord's sake, but
had got nothing in return; and they bade him set on foot some other plot
which might do Gunnar harm.
Mord said so it should be. "But now this is my counsel, that thou,
Thorgeir Otkell's son shouldest beguile Ormilda, Gunnar's kinswoman; but
Gunnar will let his displeasure grow against thee at that, and then I
will spread that story abroad that Gunnar will not suffer thee to do
such things."
"Then ye two shall some time after make an attack on Gunnar, but still
ye must not seek him at home, for there is no thinking of that while the
hound is alive."
So they settled this plan among them that it should be brought about.
Thorgeir began to turn his steps towards Ormilda, and Gunnar thought
that ill, and great dislike arose between them.
So the winter wore away. Now comes the summer, and their secret meetings
went on oftener than before.
As for Thorgeir of the Threecorner and Mord, they were always meeting;
and they plan an onslaught on Gunnar, when he rides down to the isles to
see after the work done by his house-carles.
One day Mord was ware of it when Gunnar rode down to the isles, and sent
a man off under the Threecorner to tell Thorgeir that then would be the
likeliest time to try to fall on Gunnar.
They bestirred them at once, and fare thence twelve together, but when
they came to Kirkby there they found thirteen men waiting for them.
Then they made up their minds to ride down to Rangriver and lie in wait
there for Gunnar.
But when Gunnar rode up from the isles, Kolskegg rode with him. Gunnar
had his bow and his arrows and his bill. Kolskegg had his short sword
and weapons to match.
GUNNAR'S DREAM.
Now we must go back and say that Gunnar rides east over Thurso water,
but when he had gone a little way from the river he grew very drowsy,
and bade them lie down and rest there.
They did so. He fell fast asleep, and struggled much as he slumbered.
Then Kolskegg said, "Gunnar dreams now". But Hjort said, "I would like
to wake him".
"That shall not be," said Kolskegg, "but he shall dream his dream out".
Gunnar lay a very long while, and threw off his shield from him, and he
grew very warm. Kolskegg said, "What hast thou dreamt, kinsman?"
"That have I dreamt," says Gunnar, "which if I had dreamt it there I
would never have ridden with so few men from Tongue."
"Tell us thy dream," says Kolskegg.
Then Gunnar sang a song.
Chief, that chargest foes in fight!
Now I fear that I have ridden
Short of men from Tongue, this harvest;
Raven's fast I sure shall break.
Lord, that scatters Ocean's fire![24]
This at least, I long to say,
Kite with wolf shall fight for marrow,
Ill I dreamt with wandering thought.
"I dreamt, methought, that I was riding on by Knafahills, and there I
thought I saw many wolves, and they all made at me; but I turned away
from them straight towards Rangriver, and then methought they pressed
hard on me on all sides, but I kept them at bay, and shot all those
that were foremost, till they came so close to me that I could not use
my bow against them. Then I took my sword, and I smote with it with one
hand, but thrust at them with my bill with the other. Shield myself then
I did not, and methought then I knew not what shielded me. Then I slew
many wolves, and thou, too, Kolskegg; but Hjort methought they pulled
down, and tore open his breast, and one methought had his heart in his
maw; but I grew so wroth that I hewed that wolf asunder just below the
brisket, and after that methought the wolves turned and fled. Now my
counsel is, brother Hjort, that thou ridest back west to Tongue."
"I will not do that," says Hjort; "though I know my death is sure, I
will stand by thee still."
Then they rode and came east by Knafahills, and Kolskegg said--
"Seest thou, kinsman! many spears stand up by the hills, and men with
weapons."
"It does not take me unawares," says Gunnar, "that my dream comes true."
"What is best to be done now?" says Kolskegg; "I guess thou wilt not run
away from them."
"They shall not have that to jeer about," says Gunnar, "but we will ride
on down to the ness by Rangriver; there is some vantage ground there."
Now they rode on to the ness, and made them ready there, and as they
rode on past them Kol called out and said--
"Whither art thou running to now, Gunnar?"
But Kolskegg said, "Say the same thing farther on when this day has come
to an end".
CHAPTER LXII.
THE SLAYING OF HJORT AND FOURTEEN MEN.
After that Starkad egged on his men, and then they turn down upon them
into the ness. Sigurd Swinehead came first and had a red targe, but in
his other hand he held a cutlass. Gunnar sees him and shoots an arrow at
him from his bow; he held the shield up aloft when he saw the arrow
flying high, and the shaft passes through the shield and into his eye,
and so came out at the nape of his neck, and that was the first man
slain.
A second arrow Gunnar shot at Ulfhedinn, one of Starkad's men, and that
struck him about the middle and he fell at the feet of a yeoman, and the
yeoman over him. Kolskegg cast a stone and struck the yeoman on the
head, and that was his death-blow.
Then Starkad said, "'Twill never answer our end that he should use his
bow, but let us come on well and stoutly". Then each man egged on the
other, and Gunnar guarded himself with his bow and arrows as long as he
could; after that he throws them down, and then he takes his bill and
sword and fights with both hands. There is long the hardest fight, but
still Gunnar and Kolskegg slew man after man.
Then Thorgeir Starkad's son said, "I vowed to bring Hildigunna thy head,
Gunnar."
Then Gunnar sang a song--
Thou, that battle-sleet down bringeth,
Scarce I trow thou speakest truth;
She, the girl with golden armlets,
Cannot care for such a gift;
But, O serpent's hoard despoiler!
If the maid must have my head--
Maid whose wrist Rhine's fire[25] wreatheth,
Closer come to crash of spear.
"She will not think that so much worth having," says Gunnar; "but still
to get it thou wilt have to come nearer!"
Thorgeir said to his brothers--
"Let us run all of us upon him at once; he has no shield and we shall
have his life in our hands."
So Bork and Thorkel both ran forward and were quicker than Thorgeir.
Bork made a blow at Gunnar, and Gunnar threw his bill so hard in the way
that the sword flew out of Bork's hand; then he sees Thorkel standing on
his other hand within stroke of sword. Gunnar was standing with his body
swayed a little on one side, and he makes a sweep with his sword, and
caught Thorkel on the neck, and off flew his head.
Kol Egil's son said, "Let me get at Kolskegg," and turning to Kolskegg
he said, "This I have often said, that we two would be just about an
even match in fight".
"That we can soon prove," says Kolskegg.
Kol thrust at him with his spear; Kolskegg had just slain a man and had
his hands full, and so he could not throw his shield before the blow,
and the thrust came upon his thigh, on the outside of the limb and went
through it.
Kolskegg turned sharp round, and strode towards him, and smote him with
his short sword on the thigh, and cut off his leg, and said, "Did it
touch thee or not?"
"Now," says Kol, "I pay for being bare of my shield."
So he stood a while on his other leg and looked at the stump.
"Thou needest not to look at it," said Kolskegg; "'tis even as thou
seest, the leg is off."
Then Kol fell down dead.
But when Egil sees this, he runs at Gunnar and makes a cut at him;
Gunnar thrusts at him with the bill and struck him in the middle, and
Gunnar hoists him up on the bill and hurls him out into Rangriver.
Then Starkad said, "Wretch that thou art indeed, Thorir Easterling, when
thou sittest by; but thy host and father-in-law Egil is slain."
Then the Easterling sprung up and was very wroth. Hjort had been the
death of two men, and the Easterling leapt on him and smote him full on
the breast. Then Hjort fell down dead on the spot.
Gunnar sees this and was swift to smite at the Easterling, and cuts him
asunder at the waist.
A little while after Gunnar hurls the bill at Bork, and struck him in
the middle, and the bill went through him and stuck in the ground.
Then Kolskegg cut off Hauk Egil's son's head, and Gunnar smites off
Otter's hand at the elbow-joint. Then Starkad said--
"Let us fly now. We have not to do with men!"
Gunnar said, "Ye two will think it a sad story if there is naught on you
to show that ye have both been in the battle".
Then Gunnar ran after Starkad and Thorgeir, and gave them each a wound.
After that they parted; and Gunnar and his brothers had then wounded
many men who got away from the field, but fourteen lost their lives, and
Hjort the fifteenth.
Gunnar brought Hjort home, laid out on his shield, and he was buried in
a cairn there. Many men grieved for him, for he had many dear friends.
Starkad came home, too, and Hildigunna dressed his wounds and
Thorgeir's, and said, "Ye would have given a great deal not to have
fallen out with Gunnar".
"So we would," says Starkad.
CHAPTER LXIII.
NJAL'S COUNSEL TO GUNNAR.
Steinvor, at Sandgil, besought Thorgrim the Easterling to take in hand
the care of her goods, and not to sail away from Iceland, and so to keep
in mind the death of his messmate and kinsman.
"My messmate Thorir," said he, "foretold that I should fall by Gunnar's
hand if I stayed here in the land, and he must have foreseen that when
he foreknew his own death."
"I will give thee," she says, "Gudruna my daughter to wife, and all my
goods into the bargain."
"I knew not," he said, "that thou wouldest pay such a long price."
After that they struck the bargain that he shall have her, and the
wedding feast was to be the next summer.
Now Gunnar rides to Bergthorsknoll, and Kolskegg with him. Njal was out
of doors and his sons, and they went to meet Gunnar and gave them a
hearty welcome. After that they fell a-talking, and Gunnar said--
"Hither am I come to seek good counsel and help at thy hand."
"That is thy due," said Njal.
"I have fallen into a great strait," says Gunnar, "and slain many men,
and I wish to know what thou wilt make of the matter?"
"Many will say this," said Njal, "that thou hast been driven into it
much against thy will; but now thou shalt give me time to take counsel
with myself."
Then Njal went away all by himself, and thought over a plan, and came
back and said--
"Now have I thought over the matter somewhat, and it seems to me as
though this must be carried through--if it be carried through at
all--with hardihood and daring. Thorgeir has got my kinswoman Thorfinna
with child, and I will hand over to thee the suit for seduction. Another
suit of outlawry against Starkad I hand over also to thee, for having
hewn trees in my wood on the Threecorner ridge. Both these suits shalt
thou take up. Thou shalt fare too to the spot where ye fought, and dig
up the dead, and name witnesses to the wounds, and make all the dead
outlaws, for that they came against thee with that mind to give thee and
thy brothers wounds or swift death. But if this be tried at the Thing,
and it be brought up against thee that thou first gave Thorgeir a blow,
and so mayest neither plead thine own cause nor that of others, then I
will answer in that matter, and say that I gave thee back thy rights at
the Thingskala-Thing, so that thou shouldest be able to plead thine own
suit as well as that of others, and then there will be an answer to that
point. Thou shalt also go to see Tyrfing of Berianess, and he must hand
over to thee a suit against Aunund of Witchwood, who has the blood feud
after his brother Egil."
Then first of all Gunnar rode home; but a few nights after Njal's sons
and Gunnar rode thither where the bodies were, and dug them up that were
buried there. Then Gunnar summoned them all as outlaws for assault and
treachery, and rode home after that.
CHAPTER LXIV.
OF VALGARD AND MORD.
That same harvest Valgard the guileful came out to Iceland, and fared
home to Hof. Then Thorgeir went to see Valgard and Mord, and told them
what a strait they were in if Gunnar were to be allowed to make all
those men outlaws whom he had slain.
Valgard said that must be Njal's counsel, and yet every thing had not
come out yet which he was likely to have taught him.
Then Thorgeir begged those kinsmen for help and backing, but they held
out a long while, and at last asked for and got a large sum of money.
That, too, was part of their plan, that Mord should ask for Thorkatla,
Gizur the white's daughter, and Thorgeir was to ride at once west across
the river with Valgard and Mord.
So the day after they rode twelve of them together and came to Mossfell.
There they were heartily welcomed, and they put the question to Gizur
about the wooing, and the end of it was that the match should be made,
and the wedding feast was to be in half a month's space at Mossfell.
They ride home, and after that they ride to the wedding, and there was a
crowd of guests to meet them, and it went off well. Thorkatla went home
with Mord and took the housekeeping in hand but Valgard went abroad
again the next summer.
Now Mord eggs on Thorgeir to set his suit on foot against Gunnar, and
Thorgeir went to find Aunund; he bids him now to begin a suit for
manslaughter for his brother Egil and his sons; "but I will begin one
for the manslaughter of my brothers, and for the wounds of myself and my
father".
He said he was quite ready to do that, and then they set out, and give
notice of the manslaughter, and summon nine neighbours who dwelt nearest
to the spot where the deed was done. This beginning of the suit was
heard of at Lithend; and then Gunnar rides to see Njal, and told him,
and asked what he wished them to do next.
"Now," says Njal, "thou shalt summon those who dwell next to the spot,
and thy neighbours; and call men to witness before the neighbours, and
choose out Kol as the slayer in the manslaughter of Hjort thy brother:
for that is lawful and right; then thou shalt give notice of the suit
for manslaughter at Kol's hand, though he be dead. Then shall thou call
men to witness, and summon the neighbours to ride to the Althing to bear
witness of the fact, whether they, Kol and his companions, were on the
spot, and in onslaught when Hjort was slain. Thou shalt also summon
Thorgeir for the suit of seduction, and Aunund at the suit of Tyrfing."
Gunnar now did in everything as Njal gave him counsel. This men thought
a strange beginning of suits, and now these matters come before the
Thing. Gunnar rides to the Thing, and Njal's sons and the sons of
Sigfus. Gunnar had sent messengers to his cousins and kinsmen, that they
should ride to the Thing, and come with as many men as they could, and
told them that this matter would lead to much strife. So they gathered
together in a great band from the west.
Mord rode to the Thing and Runolf of the Dale, and those under the
Threecorner, and Aunund of Witchwood. But when they come to the Thing,
they join them in one company with Gizur the white and Geir the priest.
CHAPTER LXV.
OF FINES AND ATONEMENTS.
Gunnar, and the sons of Sigfus, and Njal's sons, went altogether in one
band, and they marched so swiftly and closely that men who came in their
way had to take heed lest they should get a fall; and nothing was so
often spoken about over the whole Thing as these great lawsuits.
Gunnar went to meet his cousins, and Olaf and his men greeted him well.
They asked Gunnar about the fight, but he told them all about it, and
was just in all he said; he told them, too, what steps he had taken
since.
Then Olaf said, "'Tis worth much to see how close Njal stands by thee in
all counsel".
Gunnar said he should never be able to repay that, but then he begged
them for help; and they said that was his due.
Now the suits on both sides came before the court, and each pleads his
cause.
Mord asked--"How it was that a man could have the right to set a suit on
foot who, like Gunnar, had already made himself an outlaw by striking
Thorgeir a blow?"
"Wast thou," answered Njal, "at Thingskala-Thing last autumn?"
"Surely I was," says Mord.
"Heardest thou," asks Njal, "how Gunnar offered him full atonement? Then
I gave back Gunnar his right to do all lawful deeds."
"That is right and good law," says Mord, "but how does the matter stand
if Gunnar has laid the slaying of Hjort at Kol's door, when it was the
Easterling that slew him?"
"That was right and lawful," says Njal, "when he chose him as the slayer
before witnesses."
"That was lawful and right, no doubt," says Mord; "but for what did
Gunnar summon them all as outlaws?"
"Thou needest not to ask about that," says Njal, "when they went out to
deal wounds and manslaughter."
"Yes," says Mord, "but neither befell Gunnar."
"Gunnar's brothers," said Njal, "Kolskegg and Hjort, were there, and one
of them got his death and the other a flesh wound."
"Thou speakest nothing but what is law," says Mord, "though it is hard
to abide by it."
Then Hjallti Skeggis son of Thursodale, stood forth and said--
"I have had no share in any of your lawsuits; but I wish to know whether
thou wilt do something, Gunnar, for the sake of my words and
friendship."
"What askest thou?" says Gunnar.
"This," he says, "that ye lay down the whole suit to the award and
judgment of good men and true."
"If I do so," said Gunnar, "then thou shalt never be against me,
whatever men I may have to deal with."
"I will give my word to that," says Hjallti.
After that he tried his best with Gunnar's adversaries, and brought it
about that they were all set at one again. And after that each side gave
the other pledges of peace; but for Thorgeir's wound came the suit for
seduction, and for the hewing in the wood, Starkad's wound. Thorgeir's
brothers were atoned for by half fines, but half fell away for the
onslaught on Gunnar. Egil's staying and Tyrfing's lawsuit were set off
against each other. For Hjort's slaying, the slaying of Kol and of the
Easterling were to come, and as for all the rest, they were atoned for
with half fines.
Njal was in this award, and Asgrim Ellidagrim's son, and Hjallti
Skeggi's son.
Njal had much money out at interest with Starkad, and at Sandgil too,
and he gave it all to Gunnar to make up these fines.
So many friends had Gunnar at the Thing, that he not only paid up there
and then all the fines on the spot, but gave besides gifts to many
chiefs who had lent him help; and he had the greatest honour from the
suit; and all were agreed in this, that no man was his match in all the
South Quarter.
So Gunnar rides home from the Thing and sits there in peace, but still
his adversaries envied him much for his honour.
CHAPTER LXVI.
OF THORGEIR OTKELL'S SON.
Now we must tell of Thorgeir Otkell's son; he grew up to be a tall
strong man, true-hearted and guileless, but rather too ready to listen
to fair words. He had many friends among the best men, and was much
beloved by his kinsmen.
Once on a time Thorgeir Starkad's son had been to see his kinsman Mord.
"I can ill brook," he says, "that settlement of matters which we and
Gunnar had, but I have bought thy help so long as we two are above
ground; I wish thou wouldest think out some plan and lay it deep; this
is why I say it right out, because I know that thou art Gunnar's
greatest foe, and he too thine. I will much increase thine honour if
thou takest pains in this matter."
"It will always seem as though I were greedy of gain, but so it must be.
Yet it will be hard to take care that thou mayest not seem to be a
truce-breaker, or peace-breaker, and yet carry out thy point. But now I
have been told that Kolskegg means to try a suit, and regain a fourth
part of Moeidsknoll, which was paid to thy father as an atonement for
his son. He has taken up this suit for his mother, but this too is
Gunnar's counsel, to pay in goods and not to let the land go. We must
wait till this comes about, and then declare that he has broken the
settlement made with you. He has also taken a cornfield from Thorgeir
Otkell's son, and so broken the settlement with him too. Thou shalt go
to see Thorgeir Otkell's son, and bring him into the matter with thee,
and then fall on Gunnar; but if ye fail in aught of this, and cannot get
him hunted down, still ye shall set on him over and over again, I must
tell thee that Njal has 'spaed' his fortune, and foretold about his
life, if he slays more than once in the same stock, that it would lead
him to his death, if it so fell out that he broke the settlement made
after the deed. Therefore shalt thou bring Thorgeir into the suit,
because he has already slain his father; and now, if ye two are together
in an affray, thou shalt shield thyself; but he will go boldly on, and
then Gunnar will slay him. Then he has slain twice in the same stock,
but thou shalt fly from the fight. And if this is to drag him to his
death he will break the settlement afterwards, and so we may wait till
then."
After that Thorgeir goes home and tells his father secretly. Then they
agreed among themselves that they should work out this plot by stealth.
CHAPTER LXVII.
OF THORGEIR STARKAD'S SON.
Sometime after Thorgeir Starkad's son fared to Kirkby to see his
namesake, and they went aside to speak, and talked secretly all day; but
at the end Thorgeir Starkad's son, gave his namesake a spear inlaid with
gold, and rode home afterwards; they made the greatest friendship the
one with the other.
At the Thingskala-Thing in the autumn, Kolskegg laid claim to the land
at Moeidsknoll, but Gunnar took witness, and offered ready money, or
another piece of land at a lawful price to those under the Threecorner.
Thorgeir took witness also, that Gunnar was breaking the settlement made
between them.
After that the Thing was broken up, and so the next year wore away.
Those namesakes were always meeting, and there was the greatest
friendship between them. Kolskegg spoke to Gunnar and said--
"I am told that there is great friendship between those namesakes, and
it is the talk of many men that they will prove untrue, and I would that
thou wouldst be ware of thyself."
"Death will come to me when it will come," says Gunnar, "wherever I may
be, if that is my fate."
Then they left off talking about it.
About autumn, Gunnar gave out that they would work one week there at
home, and the next down in the isles, and so make an end of their
haymaking. At the same time, he let it be known that every man would
have to leave the house, save himself and the women.
Thorgeir under Threecorner goes to see his namesake, but as soon as they
met they began to talk after their wont, and Thorgeir Starkad's son,
said--
"I would that we could harden our hearts and fall on Gunnar."
"Well," says Thorgeir Otkell's son, "every struggle with Gunnar has had
but one end, that few have gained the day; besides, methinks it sounds
ill to be called a peace-breaker."
"They have broken the peace, not we," says Thorgeir Starkad's son.
"Gunnar took away from thee thy cornfield; and he has taken Moeidsknoll
from my father and me."
And so they settle it between them to fall on Gunnar; and then Thorgeir
said that Gunnar would be all alone at home in a few nights' space, "and
then thou shalt come to meet me with eleven men, but I will have as
many".
After that Thorgeir rode home.
CHAPTER LXVIII.
OF NJAL AND THOSE NAMESAKES.
Now when Kolskegg and the house-carles had been three nights in the
isles, Thorgeir Starkad's son had news of that, and sends word to his
namesake that he should come to meet him on Threecorner ridge.
After that Thorgeir of the Threecorner busked him with eleven men; he
rides up on the ridge and there waits for his namesake.
And now Gunnar is at home in his house, and those namesakes ride into a
wood hard by. There such a drowsiness came over them that they could do
naught else but sleep. So they hung their shields up in the boughs, and
tethered their horses, and laid their weapons by their sides.
Njal was that night up in Thorolfsfell, and could not sleep at all, but
went out and in by turns.
Thorhilda asked Njal why he could not sleep?
"Many things now flit before my eyes," said he; "I see many fetches of
Gunnar's bitter foes, and what is very strange is this, they seem to be
mad with rage, and yet they fare without plan or purpose."
A little after, a man rode up to the door and got off his horse's back
and went in, and there was come the shepherd of Thorhilda and her
husband.
"Didst thou find the sheep?" she asked.
"I found what might be more worth," said he.
"What was that?" asked Njal.
"I found twenty-four men up in the wood yonder; they had tethered their
horses, but slept themselves. Their shields they had hung up in the
boughs."
But so closely had he looked at them that he told of all their weapons
and war-gear and clothes, and then Njal knew plainly who each of them
must have been, and said to him--
"'Twere good hiring if there were many such shepherds; and this shall
ever stand to thy good; but still I will send thee on an errand."
He said at once he would go.
"Thou shalt go," says Njal, "to Lithend and tell Gunnar that he must
fare to Gritwater, and then send after men; but I will go to meet with
those who are in the wood and scare them away. This thing hath well come
to pass, so that they shall gain nothing by this journey, but lose
much."
The shepherd set off and told Gunnar as plainly as he could the whole
story. Then Gunnar rode to Gritwater and summoned men to him.
Now it is to be told of Njal how he rides to meet these namesakes.
"Unwarily ye lie here," he says, "or for what end shall this journey
have been made? And Gunnar is not a man to be trifled with. But if the
truth must be told then, this is the greatest treason. Ye shall also
know this, that Gunnar is gathering force, and he will come here in the
twinkling of an eye, and slay you all, unless ye ride away home."
They bestirred them at once, for they were in great fear, and took their
weapons, and mounted their horses and galloped home under the
Threecorner.
Njal fared to meet Gunnar and bade him not to break up his company.
"But I will go and seek for an atonement; now they will be finely
frightened; but for this treason no less a sum shall be paid when one
has to deal with all of them, than shall be paid for the slaying of one
or other of those namesakes, though such a thing should come to pass.
This money I will take into my keeping, and so lay it out that it may be
ready to thy hand when thou hast need of it."
CHAPTER LXIX.
OLAF THE PEACOCK'S GIFTS TO GUNNAR.
Gunnar thanked Njal for his aid, and Njal rode away under the
Threecorner, and told those namesakes that Gunnar would not break up his
band of men before he had fought it out with them.
They began to offer terms for themselves, and were full of dread, and
bade Njal to come between them with an offer of atonement.
Njal said that could only be if there were no guile behind. Then they
begged him to have a share in the award, and said they would hold to
what he awarded.
Njal said he would make no award unless it were at the Thing, and unless
the best men were by; and they agreed to that.
Then Njal came between them, so that they gave each other pledges of
peace and atonement.
Njal was to utter the award, and to name as his fellows those whom he
chose.
A little while after those namesakes met Mord Valgard's son, and Mord
blamed them much for having laid the matter in Njal's hands, when he was
Gunnar's great friend. He said that would turn out ill for them.
Now men ride to the Althing after their wont, and now both sides are at
the Thing.
Njal begged for a hearing, and asked all the best men who were come
thither, what right at law they thought Gunnar had against those
namesakes for their treason. They said they thought such a man had great
right on his side.
Njal went on to ask, whether he had a right of action against all of
them, or whether the leaders had to answer for them all in the suit?
They say that most of the blame would fall on the leaders, but a great
deal still on them all.
"Many will say this," said Mord, "that it was not without a cause when
Gunnar broke the settlement made with those namesakes."
"That is no breach of settlement," says Njal, "that any man should take
the law against another; for with law shall our land be built up and
settled, and with lawlessness wasted and spoiled."
Then Njal tells them that Gunnar had offered land for Moeidsknoll, or
other goods.
Then those namesakes thought they had been beguiled by Mord, and scolded
him much, and said that this fine was all his doing.
Njal named twelve men as judges in the suit, and then every man paid a
hundred in silver who had gone out, but each of those namesakes two
hundred.
Njal took this money into his keeping, but either side gave the other
pledges of peace, and Njal gave out the terms.
Then Gunnar rode from the Thing west to the Dales, till he came to
Hjardarholt, and Olaf the peacock gave him a hearty welcome. There he
sat half a month, and rode far and wide about the Dales, and all
welcomed him with joyful hands. But at their parting Olaf said--
"I will give thee three things of price, a gold ring, and a cloak which
Moorkjartan the Erse king owned, and a hound that was given me in
Ireland; he is big, and no worse follower than a sturdy man. Besides, it
is part of his nature that he has man's wit, and he will bay at every
man whom he knows is thy foe, but never at thy friends; he can see, too,
in any man's face, whether he means thee well or ill, and he will lay
down his life to be true to thee. This hound's name is Sam."
After that he spoke to the hound, "Now shalt thou follow Gunnar, and do
him all the service thou canst".
The hound went at once to Gunnar and laid himself down at his feet.
Olaf bade Gunnar to be ware of himself, and said he had many enviers,
"For now thou art thought to be a famous man throughout all the land".
Gunnar thanked him for his gifts and good counsel, and rode home.
Now Gunnar sits at home for some time, and all is quiet.
CHAPTER LXX.
MORD'S COUNSEL.
A little after, those namesakes and Mord met, and they were not at all
of one mind. They thought they had lost much goods for Mord's sake, but
had got nothing in return; and they bade him set on foot some other plot
which might do Gunnar harm.
Mord said so it should be. "But now this is my counsel, that thou,
Thorgeir Otkell's son shouldest beguile Ormilda, Gunnar's kinswoman; but
Gunnar will let his displeasure grow against thee at that, and then I
will spread that story abroad that Gunnar will not suffer thee to do
such things."
"Then ye two shall some time after make an attack on Gunnar, but still
ye must not seek him at home, for there is no thinking of that while the
hound is alive."
So they settled this plan among them that it should be brought about.
Thorgeir began to turn his steps towards Ormilda, and Gunnar thought
that ill, and great dislike arose between them.
So the winter wore away. Now comes the summer, and their secret meetings
went on oftener than before.
As for Thorgeir of the Threecorner and Mord, they were always meeting;
and they plan an onslaught on Gunnar, when he rides down to the isles to
see after the work done by his house-carles.
One day Mord was ware of it when Gunnar rode down to the isles, and sent
a man off under the Threecorner to tell Thorgeir that then would be the
likeliest time to try to fall on Gunnar.
They bestirred them at once, and fare thence twelve together, but when
they came to Kirkby there they found thirteen men waiting for them.
Then they made up their minds to ride down to Rangriver and lie in wait
there for Gunnar.
But when Gunnar rode up from the isles, Kolskegg rode with him. Gunnar
had his bow and his arrows and his bill. Kolskegg had his short sword
and weapons to match.