GUNNAR AND GEIR THE PRIEST STRIVE AT THE THING.
There was a man named Skapti. He was the son of Thorod. That father and
son were great chiefs, and very well skilled in law. Thorod was thought
to be rather crafty and guileful. They stood by Gizur the white in every
quarrel.
As for the Lithemen and the dwellers by Rangriver, they came in a great
body to the Thing. Gunnar was so beloved that all said with one voice
that they would back him.
Now they all come to the Thing and fit up their booths. In company with
Gizur the white were these chiefs: Skapti Thorod's son, Asgrim
Ellidagrim's son, Oddi of Kidberg, and Halldor Ornolf's son.
Now one day men went to the Hill of Laws, and then Geir the priest stood
up and gave notice that he had a suit of manslaughter against Gunnar for
the slaying of Otkell. Another suit of manslaughter he brought against
Gunnar for the slaying of Hallbjorn the white; then too he went on in
the same way as to the slaying of Audulf, and so too as to the slaying
of Skamkell. Then too he laid a suit of manslaughter against Kolskegg
for the slaying of Hallkell.
And when he had given due notice of all his suits of manslaughter it was
said that he spoke well. He asked, too, in what Quarter court the suits
lay, and in what house in the district the defendants dwelt. After that
men went away from the Hill of Laws, and so the Thing goes on till the
day when the courts were to be set to try suits. Then either side
gathered their men together in great strength.
Geir the priest and Gizur the white stood at the court of the men of
Rangriver looking north, and Gunnar and Njal stood looking south towards
the court.
Geir the priest bade Gunnar to listen to his oath, and then he took the
oath, and afterwards declared his suit.
Then he let men bear witness of the notice given of the suit; then he
called upon the neighbours who were to form the inquest to take their
seats; then he called on Gunnar to challenge the inquest; and then he
called on the inquest to utter their finding. Then the neighbours who
were summoned on the inquest went to the court and took witness, and
said that there was a bar to their finding in the suit as to Audulf's
slaying, because the next of kin who ought to follow it up was in
Norway, and so they had nothing to do with that suit.
After that they uttered their finding in the suit as to Otkell, and
brought in Gunnar as truly guilty of killing him.
Then Geir the priest called on Gunnar for his defence, and took witness
of all the steps in the suit which had been proved.
Then Gunnar, in his turn, called on Geir the priest to listen to his
oath, and to the defence which he was about to bring forward in the
suit. Then he took the oath and said--
"This defence I make to this suit, that I took witness and outlawed
Otkell before my neighbours for that bloody wound which I got when
Otkell gave me a hurt with his spur; but thee, Geir the priest, I forbid
by a lawful protest made before a priest to pursue this suit, and so,
too, I forbid the judges to hear it; and with this I make all the steps
hitherto taken in this suit void and of none-effect. I forbid thee by a
lawful protest, a full, fair, and binding protest, as I have a right to
forbid thee by the common custom of the Thing and by the law of the
land.
"Besides, I will tell thee something else which I mean to do," says
Gunnar.
"What!" says Geir, "wilt thou challenge me to the island as thou art
wont, and not bear the law?"
"Not that," says Gunnar; "I shall summon thee at the Hill of Laws for
that thou calledst those men on the inquest who had no right to deal
with Audulf's slaying, and I will declare thee for that guilty of
outlawry."
Then Njal said, "Things must not take this turn, for the only end of it
will be that this strife will be carried to the uttermost. Each of you,
as it seems to me, has much on his side. There are some of these
manslaughters, Gunnar, about which thou canst say nothing to hinder the
court from finding thee guilty; but thou hast set on foot a suit against
Geir, in which he, too, must be found guilty. Thou too, Geir the priest,
shalt know that this suit of outlawry which hangs over thee shall not
fall to the ground if thou wilt not listen to my words."
Thorod the priest said, "It seems to us as though the most peaceful way
would be that a settlement and atonement were come to in the suit. But
why sayest thou so little, Gizur the white?"
"It seems to me," says Gizur, "as though we shall need to have strong
props for our suit; we may see, too, that Gunnar's friends stand near
him, and so the best turn for us that things can take will be that good
men and true should utter an award on the suit, if Gunnar so wills it."
"I have ever been willing to make matters up," says Gunnar; "and,
besides, ye have much wrong to follow up, but still I think I was hard
driven to do as I did."
And now the end of those suits was, by the counsel of the wisest men,
that all the suits were put to arbitration; six men were to make this
award, and it was uttered there and then at the Thing.
The award was that Skamkell should be unatoned. The blood money for
Otkell's death was to be set off against the hurt Gunnar got from the
spur; and as for the rest of the manslaughters, they were paid for after
the worth of the men, and Gunnar's kinsmen gave money so that all the
fines might be paid up at the Thing.
Then Geir the priest and Gizur the white went up and gave Gunnar pledges
that they would keep the peace in good faith.
Gunnar rode home from the Thing, and thanked men for their help, and
gave gifts to many, and got the greatest honour from the suit.
Now Gunnar sits at home in his honour.